Carpet Types Explained: How to Choose the Best Carpet for Your Home

Best Carpet Types for Your Home | Havertown Carpet Guide

If you are shopping for new carpet for your home, it is important to know the basics of different types of carpet. Whether you are a new homeowner on the Main Line navigating floor buying for the first time, or a seasoned homeowner in Chester County who is looking to replace your carpet after decades of wear, we are here to help. As your trusted local flooring experts, Havertown Carpet Co., can help guide you make the right choice for carpet for every room.

 

Carpet types are defined by two different factors- the fiber material and the construction style. 

 

 - Fiber materials: what the carpet is made of 

- Construction style: what is visible to your eye

 

Rest assured that Havertown Carpet Co. carries all major brands of carpet in our local showrooms in Havertown, Malvern, and West Chester, we have multiple options for all fiber and construction that will suit your lifestyle and your budget.

 

Let’s take a deeper dive into Fiber Materials.

 

Nylon-  Nylon is the most popular synthetic fiber and is known for durability, resilience, and stain resistance, making it ideal for high-traffic areas such as family rooms or as a stair runner. We carry a large variety of nylon carpet in our showrooms and are happy to help our customers select the nylon carpet that is best for high traffic areas in their home.

 

We helped these customers in Exton select a Stanton Bravo as both a runner (not pictured) and matching area rug for their basement. Since Stanton Bravo is a nylon fiber, it has the durability and stain resistance that is needed in frequently used, high traffic areas of this home.

 

Pictured above: A Stanton area rug finishes the look of a basement TV area. 

Polyester- Polyester is known for exceptional softness and vibrant colors. It is generally more affordable and stain-resistant than nylon, but can be less durable in higher traffic areas. It is best suited for bedrooms, living rooms, and sunrooms due to its softness and UV resistance. Polyester is less expensive than nylon or wool, making it popular for rentals and short-term needs. Polyester carpets are ideal for low to medium traffic areas of your home.

 

Our customer in West Chester was looking for a perfect carpet to make an area rug for her dining room. She wanted to match specific colors and textures in her home, and our showroom staff in Chester County was able to help her select a perfect match. She chose Nourison Somerset Scrollwork for her dining room area. You can see the sun streaming in on the carpet, which is not a concern due to the UV resistance found in polyesters.

Pictured above: A polyester area rug custom designed for a sun-filled space.

 

Wool- Wool is a natural, luxurious fiber known for its comfort, high durability, and ability to retain shape. It is synonymous with luxury, and it is renowned for its long-lasting strength. Wool is a popular eco-friendly flooring option, but typically is more expensive than other fibers. It is great for low to medium traffic areas of your home.

 

We installed Karastan Established Appeal in Phoenixville as a runner for customers who wanted a wool rug. This runner extended to the third floor of this home as well, and is one of the reasons that lifestyle factors are considered in our recommendations for carpet for our customers. Our showrooms in Delaware County and in Chester County carry lines, such as the Karastan Black Label, that offer 100% wool carpet options that are sure to stun.

Pictured above: A wool runner is a great choice in homes with more limited foot traffic.

Triexta- Triexta is a synthetic fiber that blends the desirable softness of polyester with the resilience of nylon. It is a fiber exclusively used by Mohawk in their SmartStrand line and features NanoLoc, an advanced nanotechnology that surrounds the carpet fiber, creating a superior barrier against spills and soil that is permanent—it will neither wash away nor wear off. Furthermore, NanoLoc provides water-repelling properties in addition to its stain resistance.

 

Havertown Carpet Co. displays the Mohawk SmartStrand color walls in our showrooms near you. We also stock some of the most popular SmartStrand products. Here, we installed SmartStrand Home in an upstairs hallway as a wall to wall carpet in Haverford.

 

Now let’s take a deeper look at Carpet Styles.

Carpet styles (also known as pile) is the key factor when looking at carpet styles. As the top layer of fibers attached to the backing, it impacts a carpet's texture, density, and overall durability. In simple terms, the carpet pile is the surface of the carpet.

 

• Cut Pile (Plush/Saxony): Cut pile carpets offer a soft and dense feel due to their exposed fiber ends. These carpets are ideal for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere in bedrooms and formal living rooms. A notable characteristic of cut pile carpets is their tendency to more easily show vacuum marks and footprints compared to other carpet types. They come in various heights, catering to different preferences:

               -Low pile: Provides a sleek, modern aesthetic and is easier to maintain.

               -Medium pile: Offers a good balance of comfort and long-term durability.

               -High pile: Delivers a luxurious, deeply cushioned experience.

 

 

 

    

Note the difference in piles impacts how easily you can see vacuum lines and footprints on the carpet.

 

• Loop Pile (Berber): Loop Piles offer excellent durability and are highly effective at hiding tracks, making them an ideal choice for high-traffic areas like hallways or living rooms. This is because the fibers are left uncut in tightly woven loops. Berber carpet is a popular type of loop pile known for providing a firm, supportive underfoot experience and adding a unique textured appearance. Its ability to conceal dirt and footprints also makes Berber a practical and stylish option for active households. However, customers should be aware that while loop pile is often more durable than cut pile, it has a risk of snagging on objects like heels or pet claws.

 

• Cut-and-Loop Pattern: Cut and loop pile carpet, as the name suggests, combines both cut and looped fibers to create unique textures and patterns. This style offers an ideal balance of softness and durability, making it an excellent choice for adding dimension to various rooms, such as your home office or living areas.

 

• Frieze (Twist): Frieze carpet, formerly known as shag, offers a casual and relaxed aesthetic, making it excellent for informal areas. This durable, high-pile carpet is characterized by its long, heavily twisted fibers, which effectively hide footprints.

     

We have installed jobs throughout the area such as in Bryn Mawr, Radnor, Haverford, and Chadds Ford where our customers have difference preferences for the carpet style for their home. These images can give a few ideas based on how plush you would like your carpet to be.

 

 

 

Factors to Consider

 

To help you select the ideal carpet for your home, our sales estimator will ask you to consider the following questions during their free in-home estimate:

 

• -Traffic: How frequently is the area used?

• -Purpose: What will the room primarily be used for?

• -Accessibility: Is there a direct entrance from outside into the room?

• -Pets: Do pets have access to this room?

 

These factors all help guide the estimator to offer the best carpet for your home. When you choose to work with Havertown Carpet Co, you are choosing a local flooring store with high standards for customer satisfaction. Part of that satisfaction is making sure we get the right carpet for you.

Visit Havertown Carpet Today

When you’re ready to find the perfect carpet for your home, visit Havertown Carpet in Delaware County. We can explain the difference between carpet types for your home.

📍 Visit Our Showroom: 1125 West Chester Pike, Havertown, PA
📞 Call Us: (610) 789-3422
💻 Website: www.havertowncarpet.com

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