What kind of carpet?

[marydmjj]

We are looking into recarpeting our house - all bedrooms, hallways, stairs, living room and family room. I want plush plush plush super soft carpet that won't show dirt, etc. We currently have a very light berber and it shows everything and isn't soft. I hate it. Should we put something different on the stairs and hallways than we put in the bedrooms and living, family rooms? Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[bicker]

The characteristics that make carpets soft work against making them durable and that's why it is so hard to find that perfect combination.

I think it is a great idea to put more durable carpeting in high-traffic areas, and put more comfortable carpeting in bedrooms.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I have 10 years of experience in the carpet industry, so maybe I can help.

The fiber type, the twist (# of twists per inch of strand), and the density (how tightly the fibers are woven) all contribute to a carpet's durability. The face weight (amount of carpet per sq. yard) contributes more to the softness, IMO.

Nylon is the most durable of the man-made fibers, followed by PET polyester and then olefin.

If you want something soft and durable, I'd recommend one of the soft nylons like Stainmaster's Tactesse or Anso's Caress. They have been made so that they are soft but still have nylon's resiliency.

Many people have put different styles and colors in different rooms, so don't think that's out of the ordinary. You can definitely go with a softer, plusher carpet for the bedrooms and get something with a higher density for the stairs and hall.

I have to finish getting ready for work today, but if you have any more questions I'll check back later this evening.

 

[marydmjj]

Thanks for the info. What, in your opinion, stays nicer: velvet plush or shag? I'm thinking that shag with specs of color will look nicer but am not sure.

 

[Living with the Land]

I don't know what type of carpet we have since it was here when we bought this house but it is great carpet. I didn't think any carpet was all that soft and comfy but this has changed my mind. It is as soft as my bed. When you are shopping just don't settle and also have them lay down a section of the carpet you choose with the padding they will be putting in so you can see how they feel together before you buy. I found out that if you get the right thing it's heavenly. I thought i wanted to tear out the carpet and put in tile in my living room. Now there is no way I would do that.

Holly

 

[anewvance]

We have berber too, the way we bought the house. What really sux is that it's all one piece and impossible to replace if you ruin one tiny area without redoing the whole area. We are pulling up our berber and putting down wood laminate...

 

[marydmjj]

It is as soft as my bed.
Holly

Oooh, I wish you knew what you had. That sounds like exactly what I want. I want to be able to lay down on the floor with my boys and have it be soft and comfy. The only place I don't care about softness is the hallway and stairs. All other rooms I want ultra-comfy.

 

[lulubelle]

I am no expert on carpet, but I do work for Fabrica and know that we manufacture some of the finest carpet and rugs in the world. I have it in my bedrooms and it is so very, very soft and plush. We carpet the White House - that is how high the quality is! Of course it is expensive, but if you want the best, ask to see the Fabrica line Good luck and have fun!

 

[jipsy]

I was going to say "magic".

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Hi. Sorry I didn't reply last night.

Shag is pretty loose and lays down easily, and it has an almost matted appearance when it's like new. I think because of that, it tends to have a high Performance Appearance Rating (PAR).

Friezes sometimes have a fairly low density but not as low as shag. They also have a high twist and that helps with the PAR, and they also sometimes have the flecks of color that some shags and most berbers have. Friezes, shags, and berbers are all dependent on personal choice -- either you like them or you don't.

It's just me, but my personal preferences lean more toward the cut piles -- textures and plushes -- and not so much toward the berbers and shags. I do like some (but not all) of the friezes. Plushes or saxonys have a smooth velvety appearance and do show foot prints and vacuum tracks more than textures, which have a knobby appearance that helps hide them.

Like I mentioned before, if you want one type that's soft and cushy for the bedrooms and another type that's a higher density for the hall and stairs, believe me a lot of people do that.