- A
- Abrasion Resistance
Abrasion resistance refers to a material's ability to withstand surface wear and tear caused by friction or rubbing against other materials. It's a crucial property for materials used in applications where frequent grinding, scratching, or rubbing occurs.
- Adhesives
A substance that dries to a film capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.
- Attached Cushion
A cushioning material, such as foam, rubber, urethane, etc., adhered to the backing fabric side of a carpet to provide additional dimensional stability, thickness and padding.
- Average Pile Weight
Mass per unit area of the pile yarn including buried portions of the pile yarn. Expressed as either ozs/sq yd or gms/sq m
- Axminster / Woven Carpet
Carpets woven on Axminster looms. Weaving originated in Axminster, England in 1700’s. Pile tufts are individually inserted from spools of colored yarns and anchored by stiff weft shots of jute, kraftcord, or synthetic fibers running across the carpet width. Surface yarns are cut at one height. Axminster offers complex, vibrant patterns and intricate designs which can be custom designed. It is naturally flame retardant (self-extinguishing), renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly. A distinguishing feature is its ribbed backing which can be rolled length-wise, but not width-wise.Interlocking pile and backing yarns, is constructed primarily for strength and durability, gives designers ability to custom create woven to plan designs without repeats. Can add carving and loop over tufting as accent.
- B
- Backing
- Materials (fabrics or yarns) making up the back of the carpet as opposed to the carpet pile or face.
- Primary Back- In tufting, a woven or non-woven fabric in which the pile yarn is inserted by tufting needles. Usually, woven or non-woven polypropylene for carpet, and often, cotton duck for rugs.
- Secondary Back - Fabric laminated to the back of carpet to reinforce and increase dimensional stability. Usually, woven jute or woven or non-woven polypropylene
- Attached Carpet Pad is a layer of material placed beneath carpet attached to the carpet itself. It's designed to enhance comfort, protect the carpet, improve insulation, and reduce noise.
- Backings of Woven Carpet are the "construction yarns" compromising chain warp, stuffer warp and shot or fill, which are interwoven with the face yarn during carpet fabric formation.
Key aspects of an attached carpet cushion pad:- Purpose: To provide cushioning, protect the carpet from wear, and improve the overall feel and soundproofing of the flooring.
- Materials: Common materials include foam (recycled or prime), fiber, or rubber.
- Installation: While some carpets come with pre-attached padding, it can also be installed as a separate layer, secured to the subfloor or the carpet.
Benefits of carpet cushion pad:- Carpet Protection: Protects the carpet from wear, tear, and damage, extending its lifespan.
- Increased Comfort: Provides a softer feel underfoot.
- Soundproofing: Reduces noise transmission between rooms.
- Insulation: Helps to regulate room temperature.
- Appearance Retention: Helps the carpet retain its original appearance longer.
- Barber Pole
A section of yarn showing the change in contrast through the skein. Barber pole plying takes two contrasting singles yarns and plies them together.
- Binding
A band or strip sewn over a carpet edge to protect, strengthen or decorate the edge.
- Bleeding
Transfer of fibre dyes from carpet or other fabrics by a liquid, usually water, with subsequent redepositing on other fibres.
- Borders
- Carpet borders are decorative trims or edges added to carpets and rugs to create a framed effect. They are used in various applications, including wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs, stair runners, and hallway carpets.
- Broadloom
A term used to denote carpet produced in widths wider than two metres or six feet. Typically installed wall-to-wall.
- Broadloom Carpet
Also known as wall-to-wall carpet, is sold in rolls manufactured in 12’, 13’2” and 15’ widths. It is typically installed with a cushion and glued or stretched over floor substrate. It offers large-scale, custom design options.
- C
- Carpet Benefits
Adds thermal and sound insulation, reduces noise and offers comfort underfoot. Carpet offers a wide array of textures, hues, and pattern. Its traction increases safety factors. Carpet fibers attract allergens and particles that can be vacuumed, improving the indoor air quality.
- Carpet Pad or Cushion
There are various types of cushion: urethane, natural, synthetic, bonded, double stick or rebonded. Refer to manufacturer’s recommendations for installation. Cushion can increase underfoot comfort and extend carpet wear. more information
- Carpet Texture
Stylistic appearance is impacted by the tactile qualities and twist of yarns, the density, construction, and finishing. Typical options include cut pile, frieze, level loop, cut and loop, multi-level loop, tip-shear, plush, Saxony, and velvet.
- Carpet Tiles
A modular flooring products that performs well in high traffic areas. It is cost effective (less waste and less installation labor. If it has recycled content, there are environmental advantages. Available in tufted, printed an Axminster constructions.
- Colour Fastness
Resistance to fading. Degree of fastness of colour is tested to standard procedures.
- Corridor Runner
A hotel corridor runner carpet is a long, narrow rug designed to be placed in hotel hallways or corridors, providing a cushioned and often decorative element to the space.
- D
- Density
Is determined by the closeness of yarn tufts and shown as stitched per inch (SPI). The higher the number, the denser the product is.
- Dyeing Methods
Carpet dyeing methods can be broadly classified into pre-dyed and post-dyed approaches. Pre-dyed methods involve dyeing the fibers before they are woven or tufted, with solution dyeing being a common example. Post-dyed methods, on the other hand, involve dyeing the carpet after the fibers have been assembled. Additional methods include batch dyeing (also known as beck dyeing), continuous dyeing, and screen printing.
Pre-dyed methods:- Solution dyeing: Color is added to the raw material (polymer) during the extrusion process, resulting in a color that is integral to the fiber. This method is commonly used for high-end commercial carpets and offers excellent resistance to fading and bleaching.
- Stock dyeing: The raw material is dyed before being spun into yarn.
Post-dyed methods:- Beck dyeing (Batch dyeing): The tufted carpet is immersed in dye vats for several hours. This method is often used for small production runs and heavier face weight carpets.
- Continuous dyeing: The carpet is run through a dyeing machine, where dye is sprayed or dragged on. This method can also involve other processes, like printing, to create patterns or multi-colored effects.
- Screen printing: Color is applied to the carpet using a series of silk screens.
- Digital Dye Injections: This method allows for highly detailed and precise patterns on carpet tiles, enabling the creation of complex designs that can match across multiple tiles.
- F
- Fading
Loss of colour. Caused by actinic radiation, such as sunlight or artificial light; atmospheric gases, including ozone, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulphide; cleaning and bleaching chemicals , such as sodium hypochlorite and other household and industrial products; chlorine chemicals for swimming pools.
- Fiber Content
Wool nylon, olefin (Polypropylene), acrylic, modacrylic, Triexta, and polyester yarns. Wool is natural, offering durability, resilience, flame resistance and luxurious aesthetics. Nylon is economical, very strong, wear and crush resistant based on its density. Mixing yarns (80 wool/20 nylon) can extend its wear.
- Finishing
A collective term denoting final processing of carpet subsequent to tufting, weaving, and dyeing. Carpet finishing processes include shearing, brushing , application of secondary backing, application of cushion backing, application of soil retardant, and antistatic chemicals, back heating, latex application, and steaming.
- Flammability Testing, ASTM D2859
All textile floor coverings sold in the US must meet ASTM D2859 requirements (Methenamine Pill Test). The pass/fail test determines the flame resistance of the carpet.
- Flat Weave
Naturally flame resistant, surface repels water, and since moisture does not remain on the surface, woolen fabrics tend to feel dry and comfortable even in damp weather. Wool can absorb almost double its own weight in water and still feel reasonable. Typically wool/jute/cotton/PET. Flat-weaves do not have a pile, because they are woven on a loom. Flat-woven rugs are made by hand or machine by weaving vertical yarns (warps) through the horizontal yarns (wefts). Because they are not woven onto a backing,the rugs are reversible. more information
- Flooded Plans (FFP)
Shows carpet design in plan.
- G
- Gauge
Refers to the number of rows per inch of carpet width. 1/10 gauge carpet has 10 rows per inch which is denser than 1/8 gauge with 8 rows per inch.
- GPL (Green Label Plus)
GPL is an independent laboratory testing program identifying carpet products, adhesives, and cushion properties that improve the indoor air quality. It assures low VOC emissions. Certification can earn LEED credits. more information
- H
- Hand Knotted
A hand-knotted rug is woven by hand on a loom. The weaver inserts knots into the rug and ties each of them by hand. This time-consuming, labor-intensive method.
- Hand Tufted
This type of carpet/rug is made by hand and tool. The rugmaker punches tufts through the back of a cotton canvas.
- High Traffic Areas
High traffic patterns in hospitality, entertainment establishments, commercial, institutional and health care projects require a more durable construction and yarn combinations especially in public areas, corridors, and entertainment venues where heavy foot traffic occurs.
- I
- Impermeable Backing
Does not allow water or liquid to pass through the backing.
- J
- Jacquard
An apparatus for a carpet weaving loom that produces patterns from coloured yarns. The pattern information is contained on perforated cards. The holes in the cads activate the mechanism that selects the colour to be raised to the pile surface. Both Axminster and Wilton looms have these devices although computer aided jacquard looms have replaced the necessity for cards in the majority of manufacturers.
- M
- Match
Pattern match designates the arrangement and dimensions of the repeating units making up the design of patterned carpet, including woven patterns, prints, tufted, and others. Pattern repeat dimensions and match are significant to specifiers and purchasing agents because they influence the amount of excess carpet needed in multiple width installations.
- Moresque
A distinctive textural appearance given to carpet by the use of yarns that have been twisted with other yarns of different colours or shades. Moresque carpet in suitable colours is a good soil hider in high traffic areas.
- P
- Pattern Repeat
Refers to the distance from one point to another where the design pattern appears again. It is measured in length and width. The most common types in carpet are full drop and half drop. Pattern repeats impact overall yardage required and its installation.
- Pile Crush
Loss of pile thickness by compression and blending off tufts caused by traffic and heavy furniture. The tufts collapse into the air space between them. It may be irreversible if the yarn has inadequate resilience and/or the pile has insufficient density for the traffic load.
- Pile Height
A band or strip sewn over a carpet edge to protect, strengthen or decorate the edge.
- Pile Reversal
An irreversible, localized change in the orientation of the pile of a carpet. The phenomenon is also referred to as "watermarking", "pooling", and "shading".
- Pile Weight
Also known as face weight. The weight of pile per square yard, calculated in ounces. It excludes carpet backing.
- Printed Carpet
- R
- Row Count
In woven carpet this is the number of pile yarn tufts per running inch//dm lengthwise. Analogous to "stitches per inch/dm" in tufted carpet.
- S
- Seaming Diagram
Done during the planning/install phase, shows where all seams and cross seams will be located.
- Seams
In a carpet installation, the line formed by joining the edge of two pieces of carpet by the use of various seaming tapes, hand sewing, or other techniques.
- Shading
A change in the appearance of carpet due to localized distortions in the orientation of the fibres, tufts, or loops. Shading is not a change of colour or hue, but a difference in light reflection. Sometimes referred to as "pile reversal".
- Specification Properties
In addition to specifying carpet roll width or tile size, construction and installation method, information such as pattern repeat, pile density and height, wear resistance, acoustical properties, fire resistance, soil/stain resistance, color and light fastness, antistatic and sustainability properties, and applicable codes should be called out.
- Strike off
A woven or printed sample that shows a selected area of the carpet design. Designers approve (sign-off) on samples before order goes into production.
- T
- Tuft bind
Force required to pull a tuft from the carpet.
- Tufted carpet
Carpet manufactured by the tufting process, which compromises insertion of pile tufts by a row of eyed needles, which penetrate a primary backing fabric, thus forming tufts from the yarn threaded through the eyes of the tufting needles.
- W
- Watermarking
See Pile Reversal.
- Wilton
Wilton is one of the oldest weaving styles of manufacturing carpet. Wilton carpets are made with only one backing that is woven around the pile yarn and can come in a range of different finishes. more information
- Y
- Yarn (Fiber)
Most Common in hospitality:
Nylon: Solution Dyed and Yarn Dyed
Wool: used in Hand Tufted and Hand knotted mostly
80/20: 80% Wool 20% Nylon - Axminster and Print
Ballrooms = 80/20 or Nylon
Guestrooms = 80/20, Nylon, Wool, PET
Corridors = 80/20, Nylon or Wool
Dining Areas = 80/20 or Solution ylon (SDN)
Casinos = 80/20 (especially for fire ratings) or 80/20 carpet tile
Convention Centers = 80/20 or Nylon Carpet Tile
Country Clubs = 80/20 or Nylon
Cruise Ships = 80/20 (especially for fire ratings and IMO)
Theaters = 80/20 or SDN
Public Space/Lobby = 80/20, Nylon or Wool
Outdoor or open air = PET
