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Carpet
Selection for Heavy Traffic Applications
How to use the Carpet Quality Selection Charts:
Take a minute to understand what these charts mean. As you
scroll down you will find the corresponding carpet fibers listed along with
the color coded guide to your best carpet selection based on various carpet
specifications and how long you want your carpet to last.
Here's an example: Let's say you want your carpet to
last 5 to 7 years and you decide to choose a Nylon carpet. Just
follow the yellow color coding down to see what range the face weight, pile
density and tuft twist should be. You can always choose a carpet with a
higher specifications than shown, but you will be paying more for the carpet
and it should last a bit longer if you do.
The example below shows that if you have Low Foot Traffic
and want your Nylon carpet to last 5 to 7 years...A plush style Nylon
carpet with a Face-Weight of 30 to 35 ounces, a Pile Density of
1800 to 2200, and a Tuft Twist of 5 to 5.5 should be able to
perform well for you.
You
can always select a carpet with higher specifications if you wish, but these
are the minimum specs I suggest for your traffic level and intended life
span. So now all you have to do is choose the lifespan that you want and
then select the Carpet Fiber you want (some cost more than others, see
below)
Examples:
1. Choose
Your Carpet Fiber (Learn
about Carpet Fibers)
<----- Lowest
cost.........................................................to the highest
cost ----- >
Polyester/P.E.T. |
Olefin
(Polypropylene) |
*Sorona
(Smartstrand) |
Nylon |
2. Carpet
Face-Weight (in
ounces)
<----- Lowest
cost.........................................................to the highest
cost ----- >
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
3.
Pile-Density (Ounces
per cubic yard) (W
x 36 by pile height)
<----- Lowest
cost.........................................................to the highest
cost ----- >
1600 |
1700 |
1800 |
1900 |
2000 |
2100 |
2200 |
2300 |
2400 |
2500 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
4.
Tuft-Twist (Twists
Per inch of tuft)
<----- Lowest
cost.........................................................to the highest
cost ----- >
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
According to the
examples shown above...
The least durable carpet you
could buy would be a Polyester Carpet with a Face-Weight of 25
ounces, a Pile Density of 1600, and a Tuft Twist of 4.0. This
low quality carpet would likely cost about $15 per yard (installed with pad)
and would not last more than a year or two before matting down and looking
bad.
The most durable carpet you
could buy would be a Nylon Carpet with a Face-Weight of 65, a Pile
Density of 3000, and a Tuft Twist of 7.0. This high quality carpet
would likely cost about a $40 per yard or more. This grade of Carpet has
the capability to last 20 years or more.
Ready to begin? Scroll down to
choose your desired carpet Lifespan and then choose the Fiber you want to see
the recommended minimum specifications for Face weight, Pile density and Tuft
Twist.
Lifespan:
5
to 7 years
Heavy Traffic
Choose Your Fiber Type:
1. Polyester/P.E.T.
Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
2. Olefin
/Polypropylene
Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
3. Sorona
(Smartstrand) Lifespan:
5
to 7 years in
Heavy
Traffic Applications
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
1600 |
1700 |
1800 |
1900 |
2000 |
2100 |
2200 |
2300 |
2400 |
2500 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
4. Nylon
Lifespan:
5
to 7 years in
Heavy
Traffic Applications
The
density suggested below apply to 100% Nylon Frieze Styles. Lower density
ratings are acceptable due to the higher tuft twist.
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
1600 |
1700 |
1800 |
1900 |
2000 |
2100 |
2200 |
2300 |
2400 |
2500 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
Lifespan:
7 to 10 years
Heavy
Traffic
Choose Fiber Type:
1. Polyester/P.E.T. Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
2. Olefin (Polypropylene)
Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
3. Sorona
(Smartstrand)
Lifespan:
7 to 10 years in
Heavy
Traffic Applications
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
3100 |
3200 |
3300 |
3400 |
3500 |
3600 |
3700 |
3800 |
3900 |
4000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
4. Nylon
Lifespan:
7 to 10 years in
Heavy
Traffic Applications
The
density suggested below apply to 100% Nylon Frieze Styles. Lower density
ratings are acceptable due to the higher tuft twist.
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
3100 |
3200 |
3300 |
3400 |
3500 |
3600 |
3700 |
3800 |
3900 |
4000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
Lifespan:
10
to 15 years
Heavy
Traffic
Choose Fiber Type:
1. Polyester/P.E.T.
Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
2. Olefin
/Polypropylene
Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
3. Sorona
(Smartstrand)
Lifespan:
10
to 15 years in Heavy
Traffic Applications
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
3100 |
3200 |
3300 |
3400 |
3500 |
3600 |
3700 |
3800 |
3900 |
4000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
4. Nylon
Lifespan:
10
to 15 years in Heavy
Traffic Applications
The
density suggested below apply to 100% Nylon Frieze Styles. Lower density
ratings are acceptable due to the higher tuft twist.
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
3100 |
3200 |
3300 |
3400 |
3500 |
3600 |
3700 |
3800 |
3900 |
4000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
Lifespan:
Over
15 years
Heavy
Traffic
Choose Fiber Type:
1. Polyester/P.E.T. Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
2. Olefin
/Polypropylene
Not
recommended in heavy traffic applications
3. Sorona
(Smartstrand)
Lifespan:
Over
15 years in Heavy
Traffic Applications
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
3100 |
3200 |
3300 |
3400 |
3500 |
3600 |
3700 |
3800 |
3900 |
4000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
4. Nylon
Lifespan:
Over
15 years in Heavy
Traffic Applications
The
density suggested below apply to 100% Nylon Frieze Styles. Lower density
ratings are acceptable due to the higher tuft
twist.
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
45 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
2600 |
2700 |
2800 |
2900 |
3000 |
3100 |
3200 |
3300 |
3400 |
3500 |
3600 |
3700 |
3800 |
3900 |
4000+ |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
©Alan Fletcher All Rights Reserved. All content
is the opinion of the author. Disclaimer
*DuPont™ Sorona® Polymer (PTT),
Smartstrand® by Mohawk TM |