FLOORING Higher caliber carpets are worth the price

Quality should not be sacrificed for cost.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Fiber coverings for floors began centuries ago as tapestry. Their original purpose fulfilled many needs. They were good for insulation; they helped absorb moisture on interior walls. As art, they decorated and hid defects in walls and finally, probably by accident, they were used underfoot.
As tapestry was not originally meant as a floor covering, rug weaving emerged. The Khilim is the oldest recorded form of rug weaving, resembling fine tapestry.
Today, there are four main types of carpet: chenille, velvet, Axminster and Wilton.
What they mean
Chenille is a French word, meaning caterpillar. These carpets are very soft and often have a one-inch pile height. Luxurious, custom-made carpet rugs are often made of this.
Velvet is called such because with the heavyweight fiber and closely cut pile, it appears like velvet.
The Axminster is the least expensive to produce. This does not, however, interfere with the quality. An Axminster loom permits an almost unlimited combination of colors and design and patterns are available in an endless variety. The Axminster comes closest to the versatility that is naturally available in a hand-woven carpet.
Considered the most durable of all machine weaves, the Wilton is also a popular loom. It is woven with a special attachment to the loom, called the Jacquard, and uses punched cards, similar to the old IBM computer cards or the old-fashioned piano music roll. The holes in the card control the color. Wiltons are limited to five or six colors per pattern.
How to choose
When selecting a carpet, the following points should be considered:
Of all carpet dyes, blue is the most vulnerable to sunlight and subsequent fading.
Cut pile gives a formal look, while looped or knotted surfaces suggest a more informal setting.
Patterned rugs will visually decrease the size of the room.
Wall-to-wall carpet will increase the visual size of the room
Budget restrictions should not apply to carpet as it sets the tone for the room, will show wear quickly if it is not good quality and replacing it will be as costly (and more aggravating) than having purchased the better quality right from the beginning. The condition and quality of a carpet can make or break the most attractive room scheme.
For underlayment, three types are mostly used: felt, rubberized felt and pure rubber. The most common is the middle choice. Felt is the least expensive and remember, you get what you pay for. Pure rubber is considered the best.
The purpose for underlayment is three-fold. First of all, it lends better resilience underfoot. Padding absorbs a certain amount of dirt that would otherwise mar the floor beneath. And third, it protects the carpet from abrasion; otherwise the carpet could wear out from the back through constant rubbing against coarse wood or concrete.