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Shop-at-Home Carpet and Flooring Information and Guide for Homeowners

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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