Criteria for Selecting a Carpet for your home.
How to Decide on the Perfect Carpet to Suite your Space
Jan 23, 2009
Factors that Affect Your Choice of Carpet.
Choosing the appropriate fitted carpet for your floors is affected by factors such as the function of the space, wear and tear, traffic, warmth, sound insulation and safety. The resilience and quality of the carpet are determined by the fibre quality, the weave, twist and closeness of pile (the tighter the weave and closer the pile the more resilient the carpet).
Quality Assurance of a Carpet
It is very important to deal with reputable companies. Assurance of quality means money well spent. Information of quality and grade, maintenance, suitable underlay and so on are provided by the manufacturer. Special carpet requirements can also be discussed with the manufacturer who will then give relevant advice and even produce a made to order carpet to suit your requirements. Carpet specifications have to conform to approved standards in construction, fibre, fire resistance, hygiene, health and safety and so on. For natural fibre, insect proofing is recommended.
A Guide to Choosing the Colour of the Carpet
The ICA, International Colour Authority, is an international forecastor of colour trends in carpets, clothing, interior paints, decorative effects, leather, plastics and automobile and industrial design. It is a good idea to check with the ICA forecasts to keep up with current fashions as these predictions extend up to two years ahead.
Carpet Installation Guide
Installing fitted carpets should always done by professionals and be according to manufacturer’s specifications. Where applicable, local regulations and codes should be consulted. The fixing system depends very much on the type of carpet and the size of the area to be covered. Underlay should be used where needed and is especially useful in single backed carpets and flat/low weaves as it does lengthen the life of the pile. The dimensional stability and life-span of a carpet depends to a great extent on the methods of installation and the type of underlay (if used) used.
Maintenance of and the Most Used Methods for Cleaning Carpets
For effective cleaning and maintenance of carpets, it’s suitability to the activities and function of the space is imperative. The manufactures maintenance instructions should be followed religiously and a strict schedule for regular cleaning maintained. Carpets should be vacuum cleaned daily. There are five methods commonly used for cleaning carpets:
- Dry Compound Method: a dry compound is sprinked over the pile and then vacuumed off.
- Dry Foam Method: entails massaging a pre-generated foam into the pile before vacuuming.
- Wet Shampoo Method: detergent in water is worked into the carpet pile and then removed by wet vacuuming. This method needs caution as over-wetting will ruin the floor covering. It is more effective in small localized soiled areas or the carpet.
- Hot Water Extraction Method: this method involves injecting the carpet pile with water and cleaning fuid under high pressure and temperature to loosen the dirt before vacuuming it almost immediately afterwards.
- Carbonated Cleaning Method: uses a fine spray of carbonated water and chemicals that penetrate the pile bringing the dirt to the surface prior to vacuuming.
The Beauty of Carpets
Carpets make beautiful and practical soft floor coverings that give the room warmth, coziness and opulence and can live for many years. As you research the market you will discover a very wide variety of designs, weaves and grades of quality. The secret is in making the right choice to suite your needs, ensuring good quality and maintaining a regular cleaning program.
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