What does carpet pile mean?

When you are choosing a new carpet, you need to consider the fibre (there are options from natural ones like wool to man-made like polypropylene) and the pile (or construction) that you want, so what does carpet pile mean?  It refers to the surface of the carpet – the loops of the fibre are attached to the backing of the carpet; these loops are then either left as they are or cut at a length and/or angle.

What types of carpet pile are there?

There are two type of carpet pile to choose from; loop pile and cut pile carpets.  Quite simply, the loop is left intact on loop pile and cut on cut pile carpets.

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Loop pile

This type of pile is left in its woven form with the yarn loop intact, it is also known as ‘uncut’.  This makes a robust, tough carpet with a natural appearance, that is ideal for busy areas in family homes and commercial usage.   As well as being a hard-wearing choice, loop pile does not show footprints and hides soil and dirt well.  Spills tend to sit on the top of the loops, making it an easy-clean option.  The tighter the loops are, the more the carpet will resist crushing from heavy foot traffic.

When all the fibre loops are the same length it is called ‘level loop’.  Berber is a popular style of level loop pile which is usually made using thicker yarns made into chunky loop tufts. Versatile and durable, it is most often a lighter colour with flecks of darker shades.

When the fibre loop are of varied lengths, it is called ‘patterned loop’, ‘high-low loop’ or ‘multi-level loop’.  Usually two or three different heights are used, creating a variety of textured appearances.

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Cut pile

Unlike loop pile, the yarn loop is cut leaving an upright pile that is softer, denser and more luxurious.  Cut piles are available in a range of different lengths and thicknesses.  To help it stand up it has a twist which also resists matting and crushing. Popular styles are twist, saxony, plush and freize.

Twist pile is highly twisted with a textured finish, as the loops lie in different directions.  This style is good at maintaining its appearance and hiding shading and is easy to clean.

Saxony is a traditional style which has a smooth finish.  The fibres are longer and twisted to give them more body.

Plush, also known as velvet, is thick and soft underfoot.  This luxurious option is soft and dense with shorter cut lengths.

Freize has long, twisty fibres and is sometimes referred to as ‘modern shag pile’ or ‘California shag’.  Though shorter than traditional shag pile, freize has long cut fibres that are then twisted together and kinked.  Cosy and comfortable underfoot, it hides stains well and doesn’t show footprints and vacuum lines.

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Which carpet pile is best?

Which carpet pile is best will depend on the room you are carpeting and how much it is used.

Loop pile carpet is the most hard-wearing and durable so is ideal for commercial spaces and busy household areas.  It hides dirt and dust well, but it lacks the softness underfoot of cut pile.  There are very durable cut pile options if you want a carpet that is both tough and soft, like freize cut pile.

The other option is a combination of both; a cut and loop pile. This has both cut and uncut fibres, giving it the best of both worlds, with softness and the ability to hide dirt and stains well.

If you are choosing carpet for children’s rooms and/or pets, it is best to choose a cut pile type of carpet as snagging can be an issue with uncut.

For a luxurious option, best in a room with light footfall, both plush and saxony cut pile styles are opulent and each have a gorgeous finish.

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Does the carpet pile make a difference when vacuuming?

Yes it does, ideally you will use different vacuums for loop and cut pile.  For loop pile, use a cylinder vacuum with a suction head and for cut pile, an upright with a beater bar and brush.

Whatever fibre and pile you choose, it is always important to look after your carpet with regular, thorough vacuuming.

Whatever you’re looking to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs. Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!

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