Loop Pile Carpet vs Cut Pile Carpet
While many people make the mistake of assuming that the right choice boils down to colour, comparing loop pile carpet and cut pile carpet is just as important.
As many homeowners already know, carpet is used for a variety of purposes, such as insulating a person’s feet from a cold tile or concrete floor, making a room more comfortable as a place to sit on the floor, reducing sound or echos from walking on the surface, and adding decoration or colour to a room.
All over the world, people choose carpet for its low maintenance requirements and ‘homey’ feel that it can bring to a room. While consumers may hear buzzwords like twist, patterned, berber or plush regularly thrown around, these are actually all subcategories of either loop pile carpet or cut pile carpet – but how do you know which one is right for you?
Comparing Loop Pile Carpet And Cut Pile Carpet
When selecting a carpet, most homeowners fall into the trap of assuming that the right choice simply boils down to colour, in reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Choosing the right carpet will usually boil down to factors like the room type, whether there’s pets or kids in the house, and what type of budget you’re working with.
Once those influences are identified, shoppers will then need to decide whether loop pile carpet or cut pile carpet is the better fit. For the unfamiliar, the pile is the part of the carpet that you come into contact with, or the outward or upward facing part. Made up of fibres in tufts, loops, or strands, the pile of a carpet is its most defining characteristic.
As one of the earliest styles of carpet to be manufactured, loop pile carpet is predominantly made from uncut loops of yarn. It’s renowned for being hard wearing and practical, as the colouration and style goes a long way in terms of soil hiding. The tighter the loops are, the more resistant to matting and crushing it will be, as loops that are twisted will help the overall durability even more.
As the name would suggest, this carpet features loops of yarn constructed tightly and closely together, so that the ‘loops’ stand upright and form a level surface for the carpet. When a carpet manufacturer wants to create textured patterns, they often use loops at varying heights to construct the design. This type of carpet is low maintenance, hard wearing and very versatile, which means that it is often used in commercial spaces and high traffic areas.
Unlike other styles, loop pile carpet doesn’t show footprints either, which is also known as tracking or water marketing. Therefore, it’s suitable for a multitude of applications and spaces, without homeowners having to compromise on comfort or overall softness.
What might surprise you is that while all carpet types actually start off as loops, cut pile carpet is made from cutting those loops during the manufacturing process. This is done so that the pile stands upright with an even smooth surface, which produces a luxurious and formal look.
Therefore, it makes sense that cut pile carpet is a popular choice with homeowners in residential abodes, as it tends to provide a softer and more plush feeling underfoot. Although it’s considered to be slightly less resilient than loop, cut pile can ‘blossom’ over time, which is when the cut ends begin to unravel, making the carpet look aged and frayed. Despite this, it can be a great choice for homes with pets, as there’s no loops for claws to accidentally get caught in.
Although there are many subcategories of both loop and cut pile carpets, the latter has two particularly popular options: twist and dense plush. Twist pile is known for its resilience, while dense plush pile carpet provides a smooth and luxurious finish. Cut pile carpets can be tightly woven with high density into what is described as ‘plush’ carpet, or the cut pile can be twisted, hence the term ‘twist pile carpet’.
From a comfort perspective, cut pile carpets can feel a little softer to walk on in comparison to loop piles, as your toes can sink further into the fibres. Cut pile carpets are ideal for areas that have a reasonable level of foot traffic, so home offices, bedrooms and formal living rooms are perfect for these styles.
Given that there’s now so many options for homeowners to choose from, it’s important to do your research before settling on your carpet of choice. If you’re on the hunt for flooring solutions that best fit your style, budget and the needs of your household, the good news is that a visit to your local Tile Wizards outlet can provide all the answers and more.
Chat Flooring Materials With The Professionals
While your options for renovating on a budget are almost limitless, selecting the right type of flooring for your home renovation certainly isn’t an easy feat. With each space, comes a different preference or priority: are you chasing style, functionality, or simply want the most bang for your buck?
In operation for over 26 years, at Tile Wizards we pride ourselves on getting you more, for less. We pioneered the warehouse format, and our stores are purposefully designed to make your selection easier, and ultimately offer our customers quality, price and the right advice.
Even if you are just after some honest and friendly advice – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Tile Wizards today for a free quote. We pride ourselves on being able to work with you in order to bring your dream flooring solution to life.
