Cormar’s guide to the fourmain carpet types

CARPETS provide a comfortable, textured space and add a touch of luxury and warmth to any room. With so many different types, colours, materials and designs of carpets to choose from, it can be difficult to choose the best carpet for a space.

‘When deciding on a new carpet it’s important to understand all the options available,’ said David Cormack, Marketing Director at Cormar Carpets. ‘Most residential carpets in the UK generally fall into four categories which can help narrow down the search. Each carpet style has features that make it suitable for certain areas of the home or for those with a young family or even pets.’

Wool Loop
Wool is an excellent natural fibre that offers superb resilience to everyday wear and general soiling. It is mainly used on its own in a pure 100% form for loop pile carpets, or in 80% blends with nylon and polypropylene in a cut pile to improve its wear properties.

In a wool loop carpet, the pile of the carpet appears as a series of loops so that, in effect, you walk on the side of the yarn. This means there is no visible difference in the wear between the top and the side of the pile, making it especially good for disguising the everyday tracking that can appear in hallways and living areas
Whilst loop pile carpets made with durable European and New Zealand wool are capable of standing up to heavy traffic, it should be noted that loop pile carpets don’t always work well with pets and especially cat’s claws, or abrasive shoes as these can pull out the loops.

Wool loop carpets make the floor a real feature, adding texture as well as the contemporary look of modern flooring with all the warmth and comfort of wool. Offering distinctive designs such as stripes, loop pile carpets add dimension to a space and are an extremely popular option for stairs and hallways, making a design statement while also being practical and inviting.

Stair runners using wool loop ranges are becoming increasingly popular as a way of adding style, safety and comfort to a staircase. The addition of a canvas taped border provides another dimension to a staircase and offers the opportunity to bring in a co-ordinating or contrasting colour.

Loop pile carpets perform better in terms of safety on staircases, are much less likely to flatten over time and also offer a more clean and crisp finish to the chosen edging.

Wool Twist
Comfortable and hardwearing, wool twist carpets are ideal for all around the home and available in a choice of plain, flecked and heather shades. While 100% wool loop pile carpets can be limited in colour, 80% wool twist pile carpets tend to be produced in a wider palette of hues, ideal for injecting some colour into the home. A classic traditional-looking wool carpet, wool twist carpets are made from yarn that is tightly twisted to create a slightly textured surface – combining the natural beauty of wool with long lasting looks.

Durable and resilient, some wool twist carpets, such as Cormar’s Natural Berber range, have a distinctive colour-flecked look, which not only adds character, but can easily disguise marks and blemishes too. With a natural ‘crimp’ in the wool fibre, wool carpets have the ability to bounce back after being trodden on, allowing the carpet to retain its original appearance and reduce wear and tear, making them a practical choice for areas of the home with higher footfall. Manufactured using a variety of yarns to create different textures and finishes, denser carpets tufted on 1/10th gauge machinery are also available as a more hard-wearing option.

Easy Clean Twist
An easy clean carpet is also a great choice for well-used areas of the home. Usually made from polypropylene, these twist pile carpets are designed specifically with ‘family life’ in mind and renowned for their hardwearing capabilities. Both stain resistant and bleach cleanable, most easy clean carpets carry warranties against stain and wear, making them an ideal choice for children’s bedrooms, playrooms, and dining areas where accidents are more prone to occurring.

One of the most popular styles of carpet, cut pile twist carpets are produced by shearing off exposed fibres to produce a comfortable, inviting and easy to clean carpet. Available in varying weights and thicknesses, the yarn is tightly twisted during the manufacturing process to provide additional durability which protects against matting and crushing.

Recently re-launched with brand new colour options, Cormar’s Primo Ultra range comes with a 10-year stain and wear warranty for added peace of mind. Available in an extensive palette of 20 heather and plain shades, Primo Ultra offers an affordable carpet option that is both hardwearing and stylish.

Soft Deep Pile
Sinking your feet into a soft, deep pile carpet adds a touch of luxury to any space. Ideal for bedrooms, soft, deep pile carpets can also be used in nurseries or snug areas for an extra touch of comfort. Developments in technology have led to softer, silky fibres such as ‘Finesse’ and ‘Luxelle’, which reflect light on the pile, creating a sumptuous, silk like effect.

Combining all the practical living qualities of an easy clean polypropylene carpet with the softness of a multi-filament yarn, a soft, deep pile carpet provides a desirable balance between comfort and practicality.

If underfloor heating is being contemplated, it is important to consider the suitability of the carpet in line with the requirements of underfloor heating. With certain deep pile carpets carrying a higher tog value, it is worth checking this information with the manufacturer and ensuring the carpet is suitable before continuing.

Ultimately, the choice of carpet comes down to lifestyle, design preferences and the specific demands of the space in question. By understanding the characteristics of each carpet type, an informed decision can be made that not only complements the interior scheme, but also adds comfort and value to the living environment.