Wall to wall carpeting

Following World War II, the ideal home featured matching suites of furniture, state of the art appliances (for the little Mrs. who ran the household) and wall-to-wall carpeting in every room. On the heels of the 70's shag revolution our "ideal" shifted to include hardwood floors and natural flooring materials such as sisal, which had been popular in Europe for generations. Today, the winds of fashion are stirring again and soft carpeting is alluring; inviting homeowners to kick off their shoes and get cozy.

What to look for before purchasing

With more variety than ever before and manufacturing techniques that have improved with each decade, the advantages of carpeting are many; warmth underfoot, sound insulation, draft proofing, plus the ability to hide damaged or unsightly floors, and to create a single unifying background throughout a home, making small spaces appear larger.

Elte (formerly Elte Carpets and Home) has been at the forefront of the flooring and furnishings industry for 85 years. Established in France, in 1919 by Leon Tenenbaum (Elte derived from his initials, LT) this importer of home furnishings grew his company with a move to Canada in 1944.

"Wall-to-wall carpeting represents the soft side of flooring, but it's no lightweight when it comes to delivering strong performance," says Tenebaum's grandson, Ken Metrick. Metrick along with his father Fred Metrick head up the esteemed home décor store today.

Consideration of four fundamentals - material, construction, location, and colour - helps consumers make smart choices when it comes to investing in carpeting.

Materials - The Naturals: Wool, Cotton, Silk

The quality of any carpet depends on its raw ingredients. Wool has been the foundation for nearly every sort of carpet over many centuries. A unique combination of strength, suppleness, warmth, resiliency, and stain resistance, add up to unmatched performance. Since tends to look good for longer, Metrick considers it the gold standard where carpeting is concerned.

Cotton is sometimes used in conjunction with other fibres to create warm, lightweight carpets. Silk takes dye well, allowing for brilliant colours as well as soft textured carpets.

The Synthetics: Nylon, Polyester, Acrylic, Polypropylene

Since 1950's newly developed synthetic yarns have contributed to making mass-produced carpet affordable. Nylon is very tough and resistant to abrasion however, it will "ugly out" before it wears out. Polyester is another strong fibre, which resists wear, doesn't stretch and is frequently blended with wool to provide increased strength. Acrylic is soft and supple, but has a tendency to pill. Polypropylene is hardwearing and easy to clean, however it may feel rough and look shiny when not part of a blend.

Construction

Most carpets can be classified as tufted or woven. Woven carpets are highly durable, since the pile is woven along with the backing. There are several types of woven carpets: Axminster carpet features a cut pile and is often highly patterned. Wilton carpet can be cut or loop and is considered quite prestigious. Tufted carpets are the product of high-speed modern manufacturing techniques and may also hold up well. The pile is inserted into a pre-woven base and can be looped, cut or a combination of the two.

In addition, the density (and hence its durability) of a carpet is another important consideration. Measured by the number of stitches per square inch, a tight weave generally assures years of wear, although the type of pile and pile height (the height of the tufts or loops above the carpet backing) also impacts this factor. A higher pile doesn't necessarily translate to a more luxurious carpet; long shag is an example where long pile was easily trampled creating maintenance issues.

Desired Location

It's essential that consumers discuss the location and projected use of carpet with a qualified salesperson before purchasing. The choice of flooring can affect the temperature of the room; wool for instance retains heat from the body making it an excellent choice for basements, provided there's no dampness. Questions like - Do you take your shoes off? Are children or pets in residence? How frequently will you vacuum? How do you want the finished room to look and feel? - will all impact choices. Finally, proper installation and quality under pad are key if flooring is to last.

Maintenance

While most homeowners want 7-10 years out of a carpet, its longevity will be determined in part by how well the carpet is maintained. Wear is the result of abrasion from feet, furniture and ingrained particles of grit. The most effective way to maintain your carpets is by fitting doormats at all entrances and by encouraging people to leave their dirty shoes at the door. Vacuuming is first line of defense.

Colour and Pattern

Today's consumer can expect more interesting colours, patterns and textures than ever before. "For example, wool sisals," says Metrick, "are featuring geometric patterns, which create dimension within a space." In addition, stripes are getting a lot of attention - they look fresh and dynamic on stairs and in casual living spaces, and have the advantage of being able to hide dirt and wear fairly effectively.

Ending - Staying current

In general, neutral coloured carpeting has the advantage of aging well and looking timeless year after year. However, there is room for innovation, particularly with homeowners who have more than one residence or ample budgets. Let's just say, with more than 100,000 yards of inventory in stock and thousands of additional yards easily accessible, Elte is serious about the business of flooring Canadian's.