subject: Carpets - A Brief Summary Of Their Construction [print this page] Carpets have a long history, and they are still quite popular. Carpets are the most popular flooring decorations used around the world today. But, quite often, people totally ignore the elaborate art that goes in making these wonderful pieces of their home dcor. Not much thought is given to the make or manufacture before one invests in a carpet. However, if you are planning on buying a carpet, it is good to know about the process that is used in making them. Do not kid yourself into thinking that carpets are still woven by hand. Some of them still are, but most of them aren't. Here we shall take a brief glimpse into the contemporary processes that are used in carpet making.
Two of the main ways that carpets are constructed are by weaving and tufting. While there are many other ways that carpets are made, these are the most common.
Weaving - This is one of the most predominant way of manufacturing carpets, but it involves a rather complicated technique. The carpets are woven on a vertical design frame by utilizing an interwoven weft. The fibers of woven carpets are carefully chosen in order to construct a beautiful and durable carpet. The weaving process is extremely time consuming and it may take up to a month to complete a single carpet. The finished product is a well made carpet of extremely high quality. This is what makes woven carpets rather expensive in comparison to the others.
Tufting - This technique of manufacturing carpets is simple when compared to the process of weaving. Tufting utilizes a series of various loops in order to make the carpets. This process is much easier because the carpets are made completely by machines. The machines can be set to vary the lengths of the loops in order to make an array of different patterns and designs on the carpets. The quality of the carpets are based on the accuracy of the designs, which includes an elaborate pattern that are made by hundreds of needles. At the end of the manufacturing process, extra tufts can be added in order to provide the carpet with a softer appearance.
The main fibers that are utilized in the manufacturing of carpets are nylon, polyester, and polypropylene. In the carpets that are manufactured nowadays, it is unusual to find one that is made from natural fibers. Persian carpets are still made from natural fibers, but that is part of what makes them extremely expensive. There are carpets that have the look of Persian rugs, but they are made from synthetic fibers. These alternatives are still beautiful, but are much cheaper than those made from natural fibers. Carpets are extremely popular in the western world, but they are imported in from Africa and Asia, which make the carpets rather inexpensive.
In order to lengthen the life of your carpet, it is important to know the fibers that were used to manufacture it and how it was made. Then you can be sure to use the correct cleaning techniques, and your carpet will last for a long time.
