Carpet Solutions
Carpet can make most any room feel more at home. Newman & Holmes offers a diverse line of Shaw's carpeting solutions, including the highly regarded Anything Goes! product line.
Installing new carpet for any room is a considerable investment. We recommend you take the time to fully understand the different types of carpet and the pros and cons of each before purchasing.
As you consider buying new carpet, it is important that you understand the...
1. Traffic of the room
2. Fabric types
3. Carpet styles
4. Color selections
5. Carpet that is right for you and how to ge it installed!
Installing new carpet for any room is a considerable investment. We recommend you take the time to fully understand the different types of carpet and the pros and cons of each before purchasing.
As you consider buying new carpet, it is important that you understand the...
1. Traffic of the room
2. Fabric types
3. Carpet styles
4. Color selections
5. Carpet that is right for you and how to ge it installed!
1. Understand Traffic Patterns - Is area high traffic?
Various rooms in the house get different levels of foot traffic throughout the day and ultimately throughout the lifetime of the carpet. Therefore, it is important to understand the levels of traffic that an area will see in order to select the appropriate fabric and style. In thinking about a few different things.
1. How many people are in your home?
2. Do you have children? How many and what ages? 3. How often do you entertain guests in your home? This room specifically? 4. How often do you vacuum this room? 5. How often do you get your carpets professionally cleaned in this room? 6. How big is the walkable area in this room? |
More = Higher Traffic
More = Higher Traffic, Younger = Higher Traffic More = Higher Traffic Less = Higher Traffic Less = Higher Traffic Small = Higher Traffic |
If the area you are installing the new carpet is a higher traffic area, you should consider a more durable fabric and style. For higher traffic areas you should consider darker colors, tighter weaves and more synthetic materials.
Obviously, everything ultimately depends on your budget and if there is a style and color that ultimately appeals to you.
2. Select a Carpet Fabric - What is most important for me?
However, before selecting a color or style of carpet, an informed consumer must understand the various types of carpet fabric that they can install in their house and which is most relevant to the particular use and level of traffic the carpet will experience.
Characteristic | Description | Wool | Nylon | Polypropylene Olefin | Acrylic Modacrylic | Polyester |
Resiliency | Determined by fiber structure and modifications. | Good to excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Fair to excellent | Good to excellent |
Abrasion Resistance | Determined by fiber and density of face fiber -- the more tightly packed the yarns, the more resistant to wear. | Good to excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Fair to excellent | Good to excellent |
Soil & Stain Resistance | Determined by color, texture, dyes, fiber structure and modifications. | Good to excellent | Good to excellent | Good if oily soils and stains are treated promptly. | Good | Good to excellent -- oily stains should be promptly treated. |
Resistance to Sunlight | Determined by fiber structure and modifications. | Poor -- If protected from ultraviolet rays, degradation does not occur as rapidly. | Good -- special dyes may be used to inhibit sun damage. | Loses strength and deteriorates unless chemically modified to resist sunlight damage. | Excellent resistance. Prolonged exposure may cause deterioration in some pieces. | Good -- may weaken with prolonged exposure. |
Static | Determined by fiber structure and modification. | Builds up in low humidity unless modified. | Builds up in low humidity unless modified. | Builds up in low humidity but at a lower level than nylon or polyester | Builds up in low humidity unless modified. | Builds up in low humidity unless modified. |
Hand | Warm, soft | Varies from warm and soft to cold and coarse. | Waxy, soft | Warm, soft | Varies -- finer deniers are soft and silky. | |
Resistance to Mildew | Determined by fiber structure and modifications | Poor if damp or soiled. | Fiber may be modified | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Flammability | Determined by fiber structure, modification, construction methods, dyes, padding and carpet installation methods | Burns slowly indirect flame; considered self-extinguishing. Burning hair odor. | Burns slowly, melts in direct flame; self-extinguishing. Structure may alter what occurs. Celery-like odor. | Melts at low temperatures (170°C); burns and emits heavy, sooty, waxy smoke. Paraffin wax odor. Pulling a heavy object across the carpet surface can cause enough friction to melt the carpet fibers. | Acrylic burns readily unless modified. Modacrylics are difficult to ignite, will not support combustion, are self-extinguishing and dripless. Acrid odor for both. | Burns slowly, melts; some are self-extinguishing. Chemical odor. |
3. Select a Carpet Style - Which style do I prefer?
Once the appropriate carpet fiber has been selected, the consumer should then focus on the carpet weave that they are considering.
The manufacturing of carpet--which can be described as sewing strands of yarn into a backing material--creates thousands of yarn loops. When the loops are cut, we create a CUT PILE carpet, often known as PLUSH. When the loops remain uncut, we create a LOOP carpet.
Both Cut and Loop Styles have various sub-styles to consider.
The manufacturing of carpet--which can be described as sewing strands of yarn into a backing material--creates thousands of yarn loops. When the loops are cut, we create a CUT PILE carpet, often known as PLUSH. When the loops remain uncut, we create a LOOP carpet.
Both Cut and Loop Styles have various sub-styles to consider.
Cut Pile
Loop Pile
Level Loop |
Multi-Level Loop |
Patterned Loop |
Cut & Loop |
4. Select a Color - How do I decide?
Color is a highly personalized choice, but it is wise to again consider the amount of traffic that is going to occur on the new carpet. It is advisable to have a darker color carpet in high traffic areas, as it will do a better job of masking potential stains and wear over time, potentially prolonging the amount of time before you need to replace the carpet again.
5. Come into the Showroom, Find the Right Carpet and Get It Installed
Once you have selected all of these things, head down to your showroom to find the perfect new carpet. Once you work with our specialized staff, we will be able to arrange for a free, in-home estimate and ultimately schedule a full installation with one of our installation experts.