Information about residential and commercial carpet is the key to selecting the proper discount carpet for your home or office.  S&S Mills also specialize in discount flooring, both hardwood and laminate. In order to help you become a more informed shopper we have provided this glossary of carpet and flooring industry terms. The more you know the better we look.

Key carpet terms
Abrash Acrylic Adhesive Antimicrobial carpet Antistatic Attached cushion Average Pile Yarn Weight Beck dyeing Berber Carpet Bleeding Blend Body Bonnet cleaning Broadloom Carpet Bulked continuous filament (BCF) Burling Carpet Backing Carpet Density Carpet Padding Commercial Carpet Construction	Cushion Cut Pile Dimensional Stability Direct Carpet Direct Glue-Down Double Glue-Down Fiber - Nylon Fiber - Olefin (polypropylene) Filament Fluffing Frieze Carpet Fuzzing Gauge Hand Heatsetting Laminate Flooring Level Loop Loop Pile Luster Pile Pile Crush	Pilling Plush Carpet Ply Power Stretcher Resilience Residential Carpet Saxony Carpet Seams Seam Sealing Shading Sisal Carpet Soil Retardant Staple Stitches Stretch-In Tackless Strip Tufted Twist Wholesale Carpet Yarn Ply

Abrash -A change in the carpet color due to differences in the wool or dye batch. The color change runs across the carpet, and is most likely to occur at the top. Back to top

Acrylic - A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85 percent by weight of acrylonitrile units, only available as a staple.  A carpet spun with yarns from acrylic exhibit aesthetics similar to wool. Back to top

Adhesive - A substance that dries to a film capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.  An adhesive is used between the carpet padding and the carpet. Back to top

Antimicrobial carpet - Carpet chemically treated to reduce the growth of common bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold and mildew. Back to top

Antistatic - The ability of a carpet system to dissipate an electrostatic charge before it reaches the threshold of human sensitivity. Back to top

Attached cushion - A cushioning material, such as foam, rubber, and polyurethane, permanently bonded to the backing fabric side.  It is also referred to as carpet padding. Back to top

Average Pile Yarn Weight - Mass per unit area of the carpet pile yarn including buried portions of the pile yarn. In the U.S., it is usually expressed as ounces per square yard. Back to top

Beck dyeing - A batch or piece-dyeing method whereby griege carpet is dyed in a large vessel or tank containing a cylindrical reel to advance or rotate the carpet in the dye solution. Back to top

Berber Carpet - Loop-pile carpet tufted with thick yarn, such as wool, nylon or olefin. Berber carpet color often has random specks of color in contrast to a base hue. Berber discount flooring offered by S&S Mills has a full, comfortable feel, while maintaining an informal, casual look. Fitting as both residential and commercial carpet, Berber carpet is ideal for any high-traffic area.  Currently, the term Berber carpet has expanded to describe many level or multi-level loop carpet styles. Back to top

Bleeding - Method of creating carpet colors through transfer of fiber dyes from carpet or other fabrics by a liquid, usually water, with subsequent re-depositing on other fibers. Back to top

Blend -A carpet color pattern produced by a mixture of two or more fibers or yarns. Back to top

Body- The compact, solid, firm, or full feel of a fabric-bonded carpet. Back to top

Bonnet cleaning - Floor-cleaning method prior to carpet installation, using an absorbent pad and a rotary floor machine. Back to top

Broadloom Carpet - A term used to denote carpet produced in widths wider than 6 feet. Broadloom is usually 12 feet wide, but may also be 13'6" and 15 feet wide. Back to top

Bulked continuous filament (BCF) - Continuous strands of synthetic fiber formed into yarn bundles of a given number of filaments and textures to increase bulk and cover of carpet. Texturizing changes the straight filaments into kinked or curled configurations. Continuous filament fibers produce less "fuzz" than a staple yarn. Back to top

Burling - Ahand-tailoring operation to remove any knots and loose ends, insert missing tufts of surface yarns in the carpet. A repair operation on worn or damaged carpet is called "reburling." Back to top

Carpet Backing - Fabrics and yarns that make up the back of the carpet as opposed to the carpet pile or face. In tufted carpet: Back to top

• Primary backing - A woven or non-woven fabric in which the yarn is inserted by the tufting needles.
• Secondary backing - Fabric laminated to the back of the carpet to reinforce and increase dimensional stability.

Carpet Density -Refers to the amount of pile yarn in the carpet and the closeness of the tufts. Generally, in cut pile carpets, the denser the pile, the better the performance. Back to top

Carpet Padding - A cushioned material placed underneath carpet that is essential for carpet longevity, comfort, and noise absorption. The most common varieties of carpet padding on the market are felt, rubber, and urethane. Back to top

Commercial Carpet - commercial carpet is made for use in offices or stores and usually does not require padding. It is often supplied in carpet tiles, and usually lasts less than eight years.  Commercial carpet rarely contains more than 30 percent fiber. Back to top

Construction - The manufacturing method (i.e. tufted, woven) and the final arrangement of fiber and backing materials as stated in its specification. Back to top

Cushion - Any kind of material placed under carpet to provide softness and adequate support when it is walked upon. Carpet cushion provides a softer feel underfoot and provides added acoustical and insulation benefits and longer wear life for the carpet. In some cases, the carpet cushion is attached to the carpet when it is manufactured. Carpet cushion is also referred to as "carpet padding" or "carpet underlay." Back to top

Cut Pile - A carpet in which the face is composed of cut ends of pile yarn. Still one of today's most popular constructions, its durability is achieved with factors including the type of fiber, density of tufts, and the amount of twist in the yarn. Back to top

• Plush / Velvet -- Smooth, level surfaces; formal atmosphere, "velvet."
• Saxony -- Smooth, level finish, but pile yarns have more twist so that the yarn ends are visible and create a less formal look. Minimizes foot prints.

Dimensional Stability - The ability of the carpet to retain its original size and shape, e.g. a secondary backing adds dimensional stability to carpet. Back to top

Direct Carpet - Direct carpet is carpet that is purchased directly from the carpet manufacturer. Carpet companies like S&S Mills can provide discount carpet because their carpet comes directly from the carpet mills. Back to top

Direct Glue-Down - An installation method whereby the carpet is adhered to the hardwood floor. Back to top

Double Glue-Down - An installation method whereby the carpet padding is first adhered to the floor with an adhesive, and the carpet is then glued to the padding. Back to top

Fiber - Nylon: Wear-resistant, resilient, withstands the weight and movement of furniture, and provides brilliant carpet color. Has ability to conceal and resist soils and stains, and is generally good for all traffic areas. Back to top

Fiber - Olefin (polypropylene): Strong, resists wear and permanent stains, and is easily cleaned. Notably colorfast because carpet color is added in the fiber production and it resists static as well. Many Berber carpets are made of olefin. Back to top

Filament - A single continuous strand from a carpet made of natural or synthetic fiber. Back to top

Fluffing - Appearance on carpet surface of loose fiber fragments left during manufacture; not a defect, but a characteristic that disappears after carpet use and vacuuming. Sometimes called "fuzzing" or "shedding." Back to top

Frieze Carpet - Pronounced "free-zay," this tightly twisted yarn gives carpet a rough, nubby appearance. Frieze carpet is extremely durable, and provides a casual modern look. It is the best performing style of cut pile carpet available and hides traffic patterns, footprints and seams.  Discount Frieze carpet can be purchased in a variety of carpet colors. Back to top

Fuzzing - Hairy effect on carpet fabric surface caused by fibers slipping out of the yarn with wear or wet cleaning. Back to top

Gauge - The distance between two needle points expressed in fractions of an inch. Applies to both knitting and tufting. Back to top

Hand - The tactile aesthetic qualities of carpet and textiles, how it feels to the hand. Back to top

Heat setting - The process that sets the twist by heat or steam, enabling yarns to hold their twist over time. Important in cut pile carpet. Back to top

Laminate Flooring - A laminate floor is a composite floor with either a chipboard or HDF core that is bonded to a film of wood-effect veneer and covered with a laminated surface. Back to top

Level Loop - A carpet construction in which the yarn on the face of the carpet forms a loop with both ends anchored into the carpet back. The pile loops are of substantially the same height and uncut, making a smooth, level surface. Back to top

Loop Pile - Carpet style having a pile surface consisting of uncut loops. May be woven or tufted. Also called "round wire" in woven carpet terminology. Back to top

Luster - Brightness or sheen of fibers, yarns, carpet or fabrics. Carpet colors are often complemented by a specific luster. Back to top

Pile - The visible surface of carpet consisting of yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration. Sometimes called "face" or "nap". Back to top

Pile Crush - Loss of pile thickness by compression and blending of tufts caused by traffic and heavy furniture. The tufts collapse into the air space between them. This may be irreversible if the yarn has inadequate resilience and/or the pile has insufficient carpet density for the traffic load. Frequent vacuuming will lift the pile for longer carpet life. Back to top

Pilling - A condition of the carpet face (which may occur from heavy traffic) in which fibers from different tufts become entangled with one another, forming hard masses of fibers and tangled tufts. Pills may be cut off with scissors.  The quality of the carpet padding often directly effects how much pilling occurs. Back to top

Plush Carpet - Luxuriously smooth-textured carpet surface in which individual tufts are only minimally visible and the overall visual effect is that of a single level of yarn ends. This finish is normally achieved only on cut-pile carpet produced from non-heat-set single spun yarns by brushing and shearing. Sometimes called "velvet-plush," plush carpet can be expensive if it is not purchased direct from the carpet manufacturer.  Discount plush carpet is a sensible option when looking to buy wholesale commercial carpet. Back to top

Ply - 1. A single-end component in a plied yarn. 2. The number that tells how many single ends have been ply-twisted together to form a plied yarn, e.g. two-ply or three-ply carpet. Back to top

Power Stretcher - A carpet installation tool used to stretch carpet for installation with a tackless strip. According to industry standards, residential carpet, installed over cushion with a tackless strip, must be power-stretched to prevent wrinkles and ripples. Back to top

Resilience - Ability of carpet pile or carpet padding to recover original appearance and thickness after being subjected to compressive forces or crushing under traffic. Back to top

Residential Carpet - residential carpet, used in houses and apartments, is usually supplied in rolls that are larger than four meters wide.  Residential carpet is typically 30 to 60 percent fiber by weight and lasts up to ten years. Back to top

Saxony Carpet - A cut-pile carpet texture with twisted yarns in a relatively dense, erect configuration. The effect is well-defined tuft tips.  The less formal visible yarn ends minimize footprints in the carpet.  Saxony carpet is a very popular residential carpet. Back to top

Seams - In a carpet installation, the line formed by joining the edge of two pieces of carpet by the use of various seaming tapes, hand sewing or other techniques. Back to top

Seam Sealing - Procedure of coating the trimmed edges of two carpet breadths to be joined with a continuous bead of adhesive in order to prevent fraying and raveling at the seams of the carpet. Back to top

Shading - A change in the appearance of a carpet due to localized distortions in the orientation of the fibers, tufts or loops. Shading is not a change in color or hue, but a difference in the carpet's light reflection. Back to top

Sisal Carpet - Originally made of vegetable fibers, the carpet industry has recently captured the look of natural sisal and jute with the gentler, more comfortable synthetic alternatives. Synthetic alternatives are almost worry-free and offer a variety of interesting textures, patterns and prints. Back to top

Soil Retardant - A chemical finish applied to fibers or a carpet surface that inhibits attachment of soil. Back to top

Staple - Short lengths of fiber that may be converted into spun yarns by a carpet textile yarn spinning processes. These spun yarns are also called "staple" yarns. Back to top

Stitches - Stitches per inch. Number of yarn tufts per running inch of a single tuft row in tufted carpet. Back to top

Stretch-In - Procedure for installing carpet over separate carpet padding using a tackless strip; properly performed with a power-stretcher. Back to top

Tackless Strip - Wood or metal strips fastened to the floor near the walls of a room containing either two or three rows of pins angled toward the walls on which the carpet backing is stretched and secured in a stretch-in installation. Back to top

Tufted - Carpet manufactured by the insertion of tufts of yarn through a carpet-backing fabric, creating a pile surface of cut and/or loop ends. Back to top

Twist - The winding of the yarn around itself. Should be neat and well-defined. A tighter twist provides enhanced carpet durability. Back to top

Wholesale Carpet - wholesale carpet is purchased at a discounted price due to how it is sold and packaged in mass quantities directly from the carpet factory or carpet mill. Back to top

Yarn Ply - The number of single carpet yarns twisted together to form a plied yarn. Back to top