Glen Allen Carpet Cleaners – When only the best carpet cleaning will do
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Professional Carpet Cleaning in Glen Allen
Best Carpet Cleaning in Glen Allen, Va
We are a Richmond based carpet cleaning business. Our entire focus is on cleaning carpets, tile, upholstery, and air ducts. We know all the pros and cons of the different cleaning options and will gladly share those with you in a free quote. Give us a call at 804-395-5230 and one of our staff will be glad to help.
Glen Allen Carpet - Carpet Details
How is Carpet Made
Carpeting is the plush and colorful floor covering that many homes enjoy. What differentiates a carpet from a rug is that a carpet is usually fixed to the floor and often extends from wall to wall. A rug, however, is usually a much smaller floor covering that can be easily moved or removed from an area.
The earliest carpets are believed to have been woven by nomads. These thick carpets were placed over the sand floors of their tent dwellings. Carpets of today have come a long way to provide the plush, warm comfort, and beautiful colors that can easily turn any house into a home.
The Fiber
Before delving into the various ways carpeting is made, an understanding of the various fibers used to create these floor coverings is important. The various types of fiber are chosen for a variety of reasons. Some for their durability and cost. Some are chosen for their appearance and ease of manufacturing.
Most carpets are created from these fibers that can be a single type of fiber or even a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. These fibers are then processed to create large spools of yarn. This yarn is then used to create the carpeting.
Nylon
Nylon is a synthetic fiber. It is a type of polymer that is of a silky consistency that can be melt-processed into fibers. Various additives can be mixed with nylon to create specific property variations that can provide different types of fiber for carpeting.
Nylon has been one of the most common types of fiber used in carpeting since the 20th century. This fiber can be dyed topically or dyed while in a molten state. It is also very wear-resistant. This is why it is the most widely used carpeting in industrial and commercial settings.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene or Olefin carpet fibers are another very common type of fiber. It is a rather cheap synthetic fiber that makes it an easy choice for carpeting.
Unfortunately, this material is not as easy to dye and does not wear as well as other fiber materials.
Polypropylene is usually used in Berber carpets. Large loop Berber made of polypropylene, however, tends to mat down quickly. The smaller loop Berber can retain its shape longer. This type of carpeting is suited for light domestic use. Basically, for the areas of the home that do not get much traffic.
Wool
Wool is a natural fiber obtained from sheep and other animals. It is very durable and offers a beautiful option for carpeting. This material is rather plentiful and can be easily dyed to provide beautiful colors that can match any home’s décor.
Most wool carpets, however, are often a blend of wool with a synthetic material. This helps to increase the carpet’s durability. Wool is relatively expensive compared to other fiber materials. This is probably why it is a smaller portion of the carpeting market.
Polyester
Polyester is another synthetic material used for carpeting. When the price of raw materials began increasing in the early 2000s, polyester became a more competitive option. Polyester is dyed by infusing color during the molten state.
Polyester can provide a great option for carpeting because of its hydrophobic properties. This allows it to be very stain-resistant. This makes it a wonderful choice for households with children. Polyester is relatively cost-effective by maintaining the mid to low-priced carpeting. The only disadvantage to polyester is that it can easily mat down due to traffic.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber created by the Dupont Corporation. Unfortunately, this material was known to easily fuzz or pill over time. This was due to the fibers degrading and breaking away during contact. Over the years, changes to acrylic have made it more durable, but it still faces some issues.
Acrylic can be difficult to dye. However, once the dye is complete, the fiber is colorfast. This makes it more easily washable without the worry of color fading or wearing out over time. Acrylic also has the feel and appearance of wool.
Putting the Fiber Together
Once the right fiber is chosen and it is spun into yarns, the next step is to actually create the carpeting. First, a backing material must be created. For the most part, these backing materials are made of woven polypropylene. This backing allows the fiber yarns to be weaved into it to create the carpeting.
The backing is then put through the tufting machine. This is the machine that weaves the fiber yarn into the backing. This large machine uses between 800 to 2000 needles, depending on the style of carpeting being created. This machine creates loops of yarn on the backing to provide the plushness of the carpeting.
After Tufting
There are many styles of carpeting that require various steps to complete. While the tufting machine creates loops, these loops can be small or large, depending on the type of carpeting being created. If the loops are kept, this is often referred to as Berber carpeting.
The Berber carpeting provides more durability and can be more easily cleaned. Unfortunately, when the loops are left uncut, they can be less soft and cushy than other carpets. In addition, these loops can create issues of snagging.
Cut Pile
For many types of carpeting, the loops are cut off to allow each yarn to provide individual softness to the carpet. These types of carpets are often easy to clean and vacuum without the snagging hazard. This type of carpeting is the most inviting type of carpeting that most homeowners enjoy.
Variations to the cut pile can create different types of carpeting. Some styles can be created by changing the angle at which the loops are cut. Different thicknesses and lengths can create a variety of styles and comforts to please any carpet owner.
The downside of cut pile carpeting is that it is easier to see marks from feet or even vacuums. This can even reduce the twist of the fiber that allows it to stand up to crushing and matting. Heavier twists can help create a texture that can stand up to wear and hide dirt.
Dying the Carpet
The final step in creating the carpeting is the dying process. However, there are many types of fibers and yarns that are dyed before the tufting. This allows for design creation and various patterns in the carpeting. Dying the carpeting after it is created can allow better control of the color and ensure a more uniform look to the carpet.
Once these large rolls of carpeting are completed, they are shipped to various retailers. At these retail stores, customers can explore the various styles, colors, and materials to find the perfect carpeting that will meet their needs.