Choosing the best carpet for your home requires careful consideration. Many homeowners in Houston, TX, don’t realize this until they see the vast selection of carpets available. There are carpets suitable for virtually every lifestyle.

When choosing a carpet, you’ll need to consider several factors: its use, appearance, and your budget.

You will also need to consider how much traffic the carpet will endure. Is it a high-traffic area? Do you have children and pets? Will deliver the desired comfort? Will it maintain its good shape for several years to come?

If you are looking for a carpet in Houston, TX, look no further than 99cent Floor Store. We offer years of experience helping customers achieve the flooring of their dreams.

In this guide, we help you choose the best carpet quality for your needs and budget.

How Do You Determine Carpet Quality?

Quality is the number one consideration when shopping for carpet flooring!

While there is no universal formula for determining carpet quality, below are the significant factors that contribute to a carpet’s overall quality:

Type of Fiber

The fiber used in making carpet plays a significant role in its quality. Every fiber has unique characteristics, and some fibers work better in certain conditions than others. Common types of carpet fiber include wool, nylon, olefin, acrylic, and polyester.

Face Weight

Face weight is another factor that influences carpet quality. It is the carpet pile weight per square yard of carpet, expressed in ounces. The higher the face weight, the thicker the carpet.

Fiber Twist

Fiber twist refers to how fiber filaments are spun into yarn; and how the yarn twists upon itself. A carpet with a tighter twist will resist appearance and texture changes more than a carpet with a loose twist.

Carpet Cushion

Carpet cushion plays an integral role in your carpet’s overall performance. The right cushion enhances your carpet’s comfort and makes your carpet easy to clean by stopping stains from reappearing.

A good cushion will protect your feet, insulate from cold and noise, as well as help increase the carpet’s lifespan.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Checking the warranty is perhaps the simplest way to determine the quality of any carpet as it factors in fiber, face weight, twist, and other features. It is best to choose a carpet with a warranty of at least seven years.

You should not consider any of these factors individually. You will get the best performance, comfort, and durability for your needs by considering all these details together.

Types of Carpeting Fiber to Consider

The material is a critical consideration when choosing a carpet. Carpeting material can be natural or synthetic, and both have benefits and downsides. Let’s explore the common types of carpeting material:

Wool

Wool is the most expensive material used in carpet construction. It is highly durable with natural stain resistance. This natural material is also fire resistant, eco-friendly, and does not emit VOCs. The biggest drawback of wool is that it can’t withstand heavy traffic areas and quickly absorbs water and other liquids.

Nylon

Nylon is a popular synthetic carpet material for its exceptional strength and resistance to abrasion, staining, molding, rot, and various chemicals. Besides being durable and static-free, it is easy to maintain and upholds its color quite nicely. While it is cheaper than wool, nylon is more expensive than polyester and olefin.

Polyester

Polyester is another synthetic carpeting fiber that is durable and easy to maintain. People love its soft texture and a wide variety of colors. It is cheaper than nylon and ideal for people with allergies. Polyester has come a long way with new technology.

Olefin (Polypropylene)

Olefin is a synthetic fiber that mimics natural wool. It is strong and resistant to moisture, mildew, abrasion, and fading from prolonged sun exposure. However, it often holds on to oils, which collect dirt. Olefin is less expensive than polyester, nylon, and wool.

Acrylic

Acrylic fibers offer the look and feel of natural wool at a fraction of the price. People choose acrylic for its excellent resistance to mildew, moisture, staining, fading, and static electricity. However, it is not as durable as other synthetic fibers and is unsuitable for high-traffic areas.

Carpeting Pile Explained

The pile is one of the primary characteristics that determine the carpet’s comfort, how it feels underfoot, and how it ages. It refers to the fabric loops of your carpeting. A “high pile” carpeting means that the fibers are taller and looser, such as shag carpet.

Generally, carpeting becomes softer and more luxurious with increased pile height. However, the carpet also becomes more difficult to clean. There are three primary categories of carpeting pile:

Loop-Pile Carpets

Loop pile carpeting has the fibers looped through the carpet’s backing. The yarn tips in loop-pile carpets are not exposed, so the carpets usually wear better and are excellent for heavy-traffic areas. You can use these carpets in family rooms and hallways.

Cut Pile Carpets

Cut pile is the most popular carpeting style, created by shearing the exposed fibers off. This process results in soft, attractive, and easy-to-clean carpets. Cut pile carpets have a more luxurious, formal look than their loop pile counterparts.

However, these carpets are not as durable as loop piles. Velvets, saxonies, and friezes are some examples of cut pile carpets.

Cut-Loop Pile

Cut-loop pile combines loop pile and cut pile styles to create a patterned finish that conceals wear. Cut-loop piles are an excellent option for high-traffic areas like family rooms and stairways. They are also ideal for less formal dining spaces.

Buy Quality Carpet from a Quality Store

Besides satisfying your needs, good quality carpeting will last for many years with proper care and maintenance. Now that you know how to choose the best carpet, you should find a store that sells top-quality carpeting options at a fair price.

If you are in Houston, TX, you can’t go wrong with 99 cent Floor Store. We are the best floor store for your carpeting needs, offering quality carpets from trusted brands at competitive prices.

Call us today at 281-907-6444 if you have any questions about our carpet offerings or other flooring solutions.