Glossary of Terms

Antistatic
The effect of processes or products used during or after the manufacture of carpets that prevent the build-up of static electricity that may be caused by friction of footwear.

Axminster
A traditional method of producing woven carpets.

Bathroom Carpet
Carpet with a special backing made to withstand damp, humid condition, which is usually washable.

Berber
A style of carpet, normally loop pile, which has natural colour effect.

Blend
The combination of two or more fibres used in the pile of the carpet.

Bonded Carpet
Bonded carpets are made face-to-face just like a sandwich the filling is the pile that is held between two specially treaded woven backings. When the pile is sliced down the middle two bonded carpets are produced. It’s almost a plain velvet pile.

Borders
Some Axminster carpets have a border option where the manufacturer produces a complimentary border, normally 27 inches in width, which is seamed around the perimeter of the broad loom piece, to form a decorative border. A large room is necessary for this to be effected.

Broadloom
Single width carpet made on a wide-width machine or loom producing carpet up to 5 metres wide.

Coir Matting
A natural product that is made from the fibre that forms the outer covering of coconut shells, hence it is also known as coconut matting. A heavy duty material ideally suited for entrance matting and available in either natural or coloured options.

Cord Carpet (Needlepunch)
Fine gauge loop pile tufted carpet.

Cushioned Vinyl
Vinyl floor covering that has an extra layer of aerated foam beneath the wear layer, giving added comfort and luxury.

Cut and Loop Pile
A carpet of varying tuft heights created by areas of both cut and loop pile producing a ‘sculptured’ effect.

Doorplates (Naplocks or Door Bars)
Metal plates that enable all types of floor coverings to be joined at doorways giving a perfect finish and preventing carpet edges from fraying. Available in a variety of finishes, including aluminium and brass.

Double Sided Tape
Adhesive tape that is used for fitting felt backed carpets. Vinyl floor coverings use a specially formulated tape that does not cause marking.

Felt Backing
A layer of felt that is applied to carpet that acts as a built-in underlay.

Gauge
This is the space between the needles of a tufting machine. The smaller the space; the denser the pile.  Depending on the gauge required, a 4 metre wide machine might have between 500 and 2,500 needles. Most twist pile carpets are produced in a 1/8 gauge, but a number are made in denser 1/10 gauge which gives a product less prone to flattening.

Gripper/Smooth Edge
Laminated strips of wood through which pins are driven, enabling carpet to be secured around the perimeter of your room without the use of tacks. Prolongs the life of your carpets, prevents your carpet from rucking and gives a neat finish.

Heat Setting
A process for stabilizing the shape of carpet yarns by exposure to high temperature.

H/S/L
The common abbreviation of Hall, Stairs and Landing.

Loop Pile
A carpet made with continuous loops. Varying the height and gauge of the loops can create various textures.

Naplocks
The correct term for doorplates.

Needlepunch
A method of producing carpet.

Nylon
The original name for polyamide, the most commonly used and most hardwearing fibre used in the manufacture of carpets.

Pattern Print

This carpet is ideal for many home situations; offering superbly detailed printed patterns and colour effects that cannot be achieved except by more expensive manufacturing methods.

Pile
The wear surface of a carpet consisting of the fibre/yarn.

Pile Construction
An appearance given to a carpet surface by the arrangement of the tufts (i.e. cut pile or loop pile or mixed).

Pile Density
This is the measure of the compactness of the pile, normally expressed in tufts per square metre.

Pile Height
The height of the tufts located above the backing, normally expressed in millimetres.

Pile Reversal
A visual effect that is caused by the reflection of light from some areas of a cut pile carpet of which the pile direction has been disturbed or altered.

Pile Weight
The weight of the fibre used to make the pile. This is normally expressed in grammes per square metre (gsm).

Plastic Protector (Drugett)
This material, made 27 inches wide, is used as an overlay to protect the carpet from exceptional abuse caused by inclement weather, dust and dirt. The Plastic Protector has small prongs on the underside to stop movement and is an ideal method for protecting carpets in halls and heavy tread areas.

Polyamide
A synthetic fibre, generally known as nylon and abbreviated to PA.

Polyester
A synthetic fibre sometimes blended with other fibres and normally used in tufted carpets.

Polypropylene
A synthetic fibre, sometimes blended with other fibres. Also frequently used in carpet backing. Often abbreviated to PP.

Primary Backing
The underside of a carpet that forms the base for the pile.

Printing
Various techniques used to create colours and designs on tufted carpets.

Saxony
A cut pile carpet made with densely packed fairly long tufts giving a luxurious appearance and feel.

Scotchguard/Scotchguard Stainrelease
Brand Names for 3M anti-soiling treatments that are applied to carpets.

Sculptured
A term commonly used to describe cut and loop pile carpet.

Secondary Backing
The additional backing applied to a tufted carpet. This term is normally used to describe carpets with a hessian or polypropylene type backing.

Shading
A natural characteristic of cut pile carpets.

Shag Pile
A cut pile carpet made with long tufts. Generally suitable for luxury domestic use only.

Stainmaster
A brand name of DuPont for the stain-resistant treatment of their fibres.

Stuckdown
Adhering the entire carpet or vinyl backing to the subfloor with glue.

Synthetics
Fibres and yarns made from petroleum by-products.

Teflon
A brand name used by DuPont for anti-stain treatment of carpets.

Tufting
A highly efficient method of producing carpet in which a number of needles arranged across the width of the machine stitch yarn into a primary backing cloth. A backing is subsequently applied.

Twist Pile
A cut pile carpet that is produced using highly twisted yarn.

Underlay
A material placed under carpet, providing softness and longer wear life for the carpet.

Velour
A cut pile carpet with a smooth, velvety appearance.

Velvet Pile
A short pile carpet that looks like velvet.

Waffle Back
Square patterned rubber compound attached to bathroom carpets.

Width
This is the measurement across the carpet. BS3655 allows for a width variation within the tolerance of +/-1.25% on any carpet. This fact should be borne in mind when ordering carpet.

Wilton
A traditional method of weaving carpets.

Wool
The most popular natural fibre used in producing carpets. It is often mixed with other fibres.

Wool-blend
A standard that has been introduced containing 80% wool and 20% nylon or polypropylene.

Woolmark
A standard for products containing wool that is endorsed and controlled.

Yarn
A continuous strand composed of fibres used in tufting and weaving to make carpet.

Zylon
A brand name for polypropylene fibre that carries a stain-free guarantee.