Carpet Flooring Comfort
Where to Start
Before purchasing carpet, answer the following questions:
Your answers will help narrow your carpet options and allow you to select the color, carpet construction, and cushion that best meet your needs. If you still have questions, ask your carpet dealer for guidance.
Carpet Flooring Comfort
New carpet is one of the lowest volatile organic compound (VOC)-emitting flooring choices available. Different from hard floors, carpet acts as a passive air filter, trapping dust, pollen, and particles and, therefore, removing them from the breathing zone. Studies have shown that people with asthma and allergy problems have seen symptoms improve with carpet.
How Carpet Impacts Asthma and Allergies
Studies have shown that properly cleaned carpet is the best flooring choice for those dealing with asthma and allergies. The studies explain that effectively cleaned carpets can trap allergens and other particles, resulting in fewer particles escaping into the air.
Misperceptions of Mold and VOCs
When carpet is kept clean and dry, mold simply cannot grow on its synthetic fibers. Additionally, carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs among various flooring choices and interior finishes. The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus program identifies carpet, adhesive, and cushion products that meet or exceed government indoor air quality regulations and represent the lowest emitting products on the market.
Carpet Provides Warmth and Comfort
Carpet provides thermal insulation and resistance, or R-value. In colder climates or seasons, carpet retains warm air longer than other flooring types. In addition to keeping your home cozy in the winter, this attribute conserves energy. Carpet also provides a comfortable place to sit, play, or work and gives a room an overall warmer feeling.
Carpet Softens Slips and Falls
Carpet provides safety protection for the whole family, including toddlers, older individuals, and pets. Carpet cushions our footsteps, reduces the likelihood of slips and falls, and minimizes injuries when falls do occur.
Carpet Reduces Noise
Big screen TVs, speakerphones, computers, and sound systems make our homes noisy places. Carpets help to absorb these sounds, making it easier to work, learn, and sleep. Adding a cushion pad beneath your carpet reduces noise even further. Carpet also works as a sound barrier between floors by helping to block sound transmission to rooms below. The carpet on the stairs dampens the sound of foot traffic too.
Types of Carpet
The carpet is not one-size-fits-all! In addition to several construction techniques you can choose from, carpets are made using a variety of fibers. Understanding the strengths and differences of each will help you make the right choice for your lifestyle, home, and budget.
“To get the best performance and most enjoyment out of your carpet, it’s essential to select a carpet fiber that fits your needs.”
Carpet Construction Options
