There is nothing quite like the feeling of walking across a carpet and sinking into its softness. But more than one kind of carpet can afford this kind of luxurious feel. When it’s time to choose carpeting for one or more rooms, it can help to understand the differences between each pile type. And one of these is cut pile.
How Cut Pile is Made
Cut pile, such as that which is available on Brintons carpets, is made with thick tufts of fibre. The thickness of any carpet is determined by the length of each tuft. In the case of cut pile carpet, the thick tufts are woven in and out of the carpet’s backing. When complete, these tufts exist in loops, which are cut across the top to create cut pile carpet.
But it’s the way in which the tufts are cut that causes the luxurious feel; cut pile carpet is cut so as to allow the tufting of each strand, which makes the carpet soft and fluffy, as well as giving it a very dense appearance. Cutting it in this way also gives it that cushion feel when walked across.
Types of Cut Pile
Under the category of cut pile carpet, there are three types: Saxony, frieze and plush. Each has a different construction and is suited to different areas of a home.
Saxony Carpet
Saxony offers underfoot softness, but with greater durability and bounce-back from traffic than its plush and frieze counterparts. A Saxony carpet contains a large number of fibres. These fibres are tightly twisted to each strand before being set straight using heat. This allows the tips of the fibres to remain distinct from one another and not blend together. As well, Saxony carpet is also constructed with thicker yarn than other cut pile types. Due to this more robust construction, Saxony carpet is less resistant to matting and the rigours of foot traffic. This makes it ideal for high-traffic areas. However, this is also the kind of carpeting which will show footprint and vacuum cleaner marks.
Frieze Carpet
Frieze cut pile carpet is known for its durability. Although it offers less softness than other cut pile carpeting types, frieze carpet is extremely hard-wearing. The construction of frieze carpet involves very tightly twisted fibres which curl around in different directions when cut, and don’t tuft like other types of cut pile. As a result, frieze carpet has a cobbled look to it. Frieze carpet is recommended for high-traffic areas in the home, as well as workspaces where foot traffic and the regular movement of office chairs occurs.
Plush Carpet
Plush carpet is the softest and thickest kind of cut pile carpet available. Plush carpeting is constructed with a high number of fibres weaved through the backing of the carpet. However, the fibres contain very little twist, if any at all. This is the feature that provides plush carpeting with its velvety and luxurious feel, as in not twisting the fibres, they can tuft to a greater degree. The more a carpet’s fibres are allowed to tuft; the plumper the carpet will appear, and the softer it will be to the touch. Plush carpeting is usually recommended for rooms with little foot traffic and where luxury is desired, such as a bedroom.
When searching for the right kind of cut pile carpet for your home, the construction of each type is important to remember. Choosing the correct type of cut pile carpet for one or more rooms will ensure that it can be used and enjoyed for as long as possible, which will also benefit your bank balance in the long run.