Is it possible to choose commercial carpet that’s too thin? How thick is it normally, and how does that factor into its curability? There are several factors to consider when choosing durable carpet for your business. Commercial carpet pile thickness, wear rating, and density rating are just a few to consider. Typical carpet thickness matters in some areas more than others. How are you supposed to make sense of all this? Let’s break it down.
Face Weight
You’ll often hear this discussed as a durability factor. This is the weight in ounces for every square yard of a carpet. In other words, this factors in the amount of fiber or yarn in the carpet. If you have two squares of carpet that are exactly the same size, and one weighs more, it has more material and thus greater face weight.
The problem with this measurement is that it’s not always measuring the right thing. Different types of material can weigh less and be more durable. A carpet that weighs more isn’t necessarily constructed as well.
That said, face weight can help us in one area. If a carpet’s too light – under 30 oz face weight – it probably won’t last very long. You’ll see wear in less than seven years.
Ignore factors like total weight. This includes the weight of backing and heavy backing isn’t necessarily always better. Always make sure a salesperson is talking about face weight when discussing weight.
Twist Level
This measures the number of twists in a strand of carpet 1 inch long. More twists means greater durability because the strand becomes much harder to unravel over time. A carpet with a high twist level is made of strands that will not unravel easily. This ensures the carpet will hold its look much better over time.
This is something of a hidden measure. It’s often overlooked, but it can inform you whether the carpet will still look new in several years. Commercial carpets with a twist level of 5 or more are ideal.
Density Rating
Now we’re getting into more serious factors. Density rating takes the face weight, multiplies it by 36, and then divides it by the pile height (in inches). This corrects a potential flaw in the face weight measurement.
You can get extra face weight by having a tall carpet pile, but this doesn’t necessarily add durability. In fact, these carpets can show wear more quickly. The density rating corrects for pile height.
In other words, a carpet with high face weight and short pile is much more durable than a carpet with high face weight and a tall pile. This ensures commercial carpet pile thickness, instead of thinner, taller pile that will wear.
A density rating of 2,100 or greater is suitable for a home, but for commercial carpet that sees a good amount of traffic, you’ll want to seek out carpet that has a rating of 5,000 or greater. For areas that see an extremely high amount of traffic, look for 7,000 or higher.
These specifications should be made readily available to you by stores, salespeople, and commercial carpet installers.
Commercial Carpet Pile Thickness
Remember that a taller pile is not better than a thicker pile. Thicker, shorter pile will last much longer. Keep carpet pile height to 3/4” or less. Stairs are well trafficked and feet will always fall in the same areas, so keep pile height here to 1/2”.
Shorter pile height avoids crushing and fraying. Remember that typical carpet thickness depends on how it rates in relation to height. This is why you should prioritize density rating as a way of getting an accurate measure of commercial carpet pile thickness, and twist level as a way of ensuring the carpet will hold its look. Face weight can be helpful when you know the height of the pile, its density rating, and twist level. Just don’t just accept face weight without knowing these more important and contextualized factors.
Shorter pile is more than just durable. It’s also much easier for your maintenance or custodial staff to clean. They’ll be able to clean it more quickly, and without wearing it as much. Dirt, sand, and grit that can get trapped in longer pile and ground underfoot will wear a carpet very quickly. Short pile height helps ensure that these will more easily be lifted out.
Need help choosing the right carpet for your business? Ask the experts at East Coast Flooring & Interiors!