Flooring Buzzwords You Should Know- Carpet Edition

We’re not going to sugarcoat it, there is definitely an industry-specific language that the team at Knox Carpets is fluent in. In fact, our conversations probably sound totally foreign for someone not familiar. It’s a force of habit after spending so much time with the experts and constantly learning about the evolution of our products and installation process.

As we grow and change as a company, we’ve amassed a collection of buzzwords that we think would be valuable for our customers to understand. We always want to empower you with the knowledge to choose the right product for you.

These words run the gamut from the types of products that we use to the installation lingo to even some scientific elements that make up our different styles. As noted, there are a lot of these, so we’ll split them up into a series of posts. For our first edition of the series, we’ve decided to focus on carpets and some of the most frequently used terms associated. Enjoy!

Loom- A loom is a device which is used to weave tapestry or cloth. Its basic purpose is to hold the warm threads under specific tension. This helps to facilitate how the weft threads are woven together. There are a variety of shapes and mechanics, but the basic function of a loom is very universal.

Nylon- The most generalized designation for a family of synthetic polymers. These can melt-processed into shapes, into films, into fibers. They have significant applications in the fibers that are used in carpets.

Pile– The raised surface of a fabric. The pile is made from upright loops or strands of yard. Several specific examples of pile textiles include plush, velvet and corduroy.

Polypropylene- Also known as polypropene and PP, this is a thermoplastic polymer which is used in a multitude of different parts of our business. These include the textiles themselves, as well as packaging and labeling. To put in context how much of this stuff is produced…in 2013 the global market was 55 milllion metric tonnes.

Weft- The weft is also frequently referred to as the woof. This is the naming convention for the yarn or thread which is then drawn through the warm yarn to create cloth. The warp yarn runs lengthwise and the weft runs the opposite direction. The terms do vary around the world, but weft and warp are probably the most common. The weft is normally made from spun fibre, such as wool, flax or cotton.

Underlay- An underlay can also be referred to as an underlayment. This is a thin layer of cushioning, frequently made from foam or sponge rubber, which is laid beneath carpet. Its purpose is multifold. It provides comfort underfoot, it reduces wear on the carpet and it provides insulation against factors like heat, moisture and sound.

Questions? Flashcard practice to memorize these? Feel free to reach out to any of the Knox Carpet team. We’ll be happy to help with whatever you need.