| Article Index |
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| Carpet Buying Guide |
| Determine Quality |
| Performance Ratings |
| All Pages |
PERFORMANCE RATINGS:
Some carpet manufacturers and/or retailers provide a performance rating (PR) on a carpet’s sample label. Based on a 1 to 5 scale, this rating specifies what the possible change in appearance will be to a carpet’s surface in a typical high traffic area during the first year of service in a four-person household. Ratings range from a 1 --which would signal very severe change -- to a 5 -- signaling no change. Therefore, high traffic areas should require a high performance rated carpet, while lesser-used areas could use carpet with a rating of 2 or 3.
Below are some general guidelines to look for when purchasing carpet with enhanced performance:
• YARN TWIST: The tighter the twist, the longer the carpet will perform before crushing and matting.
• SHORTER NAP: The shorter the nap, the longer the carpet will “look like new.” The higher the yarn stands above the backing of the carpet the more difficult it is for the manufacturer to make the carpet crush- and matte-resistant.
• STITCHES PER INCH: The more stitches, or yarn, per inch, the more crush- and matte- resistant it will be.
