Which Carpet

Loop or cut pile

Loop pile carpet is formed from loops of yarn standing upright. They form a near level surface if all loops are the same height, or a textured surface if the heights of the loops vary from one row to another. Loop pile tends to give a more casual look, wears well and is not as susceptible to tracking and shading (the appearance of irregular light and dark areas) which can occur with cut pile carpets.

Cut pile is basically the same as loop pile, but with the tops of the loops cut off. It generally has a more formal, luxurious look and feel. There are two basic styles of cut pile carpet – 'hard twist' which has a tight twist set into each tuft, and ‘plush’ which is loosely twisted. You should be aware that cut pile carpets might track (show footstep impressions) or shade (display irregular light and dark areas), like velvet does when you brush it in a different way. This is because, much like velvet, all the piles do not stand up vertically in a uniform way. Because of the tight twist set in each tuft, a hard twist cut pile carpet does not have such an obvious pile direction, and therefore minimises the effects of tracking and shading. All Norman Ellison cut pile are hard twist carpets.

Underlay

A good underlay will increase the comfort level of your carpet and add a nice spring. You can choose between rubber or foam underlay. Both have benefits and it is really your own personal preference.

Always choose the best underlay you can afford. Your carpet retailer should be able to provide you with an expert opinion to help you make the right choice.

Heavy or Extra Duty

Today’s carpet is a fashion item. Often it ‘looks’ out before it wears out. However carpet comes in two basic grades – heavy and extra heavy duty. Please discuss your requirements with your carpet retailer.

Carpet characteristics

No building material delivers a perfect finish and this is made even more difficult when the material being used has additional work required to process joins. In saying this however all manufacturers strive to produce the best product that they can from the material that they have to work with. In the case of carpet made from natural products such as wool; and the nature of the fibre and manufacture means your product will show some variance within the surface of the pile and this will vary dependant on the style of carpet you choose. These are not considered to be manufacturing faults but genuinely reflect the fibre and carpet style in which you have chosen. Therefore before making your carpet selection you should read through these common carpet characteristics:

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Health

The best way to manage the symptoms of asthma and other allergies is to make the home environment as healthy as possible.

• Use a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner: These retain up to 99.97% of particles. Remember to regularly change the filter and vacuum at least once a week. Or install a Beam Central vacuum system.
• Use barriers on bedding: You can find specially made pillow, mattress and duvet covers which act as barriers from dust mite faeces entering the air and from any food supplies reaching the mite colonies.
• Dry items in high heat: When drying bedding, clothes or curtains, try leaving them in the dryer for an extra half hour. Make sure that your dryer is vented. Alternatively dry them in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours to exterminate dust mites.
• Use the freezer for smaller items: This is a very effective way to kill dust mites in children’s toys, cushions, pillows or blankets. Place them in the freezer for 24 hours every few weeks.
• Ventilate your house regularly: Open windows for natural ventilation, use a dehumidifier during winter, install extractor fans in your bathrooms and kitchen, and keep the house as dry as possible to avoid mould. For more efficient ventilation you can also install a Home Ventilation System.
• General cleanliness: Try damp dusting once a week, and having a bath or shower before going to bed. By maintaining a clean house you can limit the food supply for dust mites and in turn reduce their faeces, the most common trigger for allergies in New Zealand.

Fibre

Norman Ellison manufacture carpets using a range of fibres. The fibre type is personal preference and we have listed the benefits of them below.