Carpet Base
In modern design, more and more instead of the traditional carpet, carpet is used. Unlike its “ancestor,” it does not have a finished drawing or plot and clear boundaries, but it has other advantages. High-quality carpet is the basis of a cozy and functional interior. Cold floors are a problem for many apartments. Some people solve it with the help of a heating system, but for those who find this option too expensive and troublesome, the best solution is a carpet..
They can quickly and simply cover the entire floor area, regardless of surface, insulate it and get an additional decorative effect. This coating is characterized by wear resistance, strength, durability and has a multilayer structure: pile, primary base, secondary base and reinforcing layer. In this article, we will talk about what kind of basis is carpeted and which is better to choose, but first we’ll figure out what this material is.
Content
- Carpet: market assortment
- What is the basis of carpet
- Attractive jute sides
- Rubber (rubberized) base
- Natural or synthetic felt?
- If based on textiles
- Characteristics of the foam base
Carpet: market assortment
Carpets differ in the production method, they can be tufted, flocked, needle-punched and woven. The latter method has a long tradition, with it a pile is formed by weaving threads and tying knots, the ends of which are cut. Tufting technology is that after sticking the thread into the base, it is still fixed with glue. With its help, pile, loop and other carpets are produced. In the needle-punched method, with the help of special needles with serrations, when multiple piercing, the fibers are captured and fancifully tangled, the product looks like felt and has no lint, it is characterized by high wear resistance.
Flocking: using an electrostatic field, the villi are “lined up” on a polyvinyl chloride basis and fixed with an adhesive. The carpet may have a single or double layer base. A single layer most often consists of a dense synthetic fabric with fibers woven and latex fixed. In double-layer carpets, the inside is closed with latex. Despite the fact that the service life of the carpet, its aesthetic appearance and operating comfort is 90% determined by the quality of the pile, the basis is also of no small importance.
There are many types of carpet, which differ in manufacturing technology, texture, appearance
What is the basis of carpet
Carpet production begins with the manufacture of the primary base and fixing the pile on it. At this stage, the threads are not yet firmly attached and can be easily removed. They are fixed with a fixing composition and the application of a secondary base. During operation, the impact on the floor can be very intense, which means that the requirements for strength and durability increase. Particular attention is paid to the reliable fixation of the threads, which is carried out using an adhesive composition based on polymers with the addition of latex.
After the pile is securely fastened, a secondary substrate is applied. In most cases, this is foam latex or a layer of textile that will directly contact the floor. Thanks to this layer, the carpet acquires elasticity, resistance to slipping and shrinkage, additional sound and thermal insulation.
The base fixes the pile and ensures the stability of its shape. It can be woven and non-woven. The fabric variety is made mostly of polypropylene. Non-woven – made of polyamide or the same polypropylene. The last of these is characterized by low ductility, which does not allow the use of a coating based on it in cases where additional molding is necessary (for example, when upholstering surfaces). In the market of building and finishing materials, you can see a carpet with a different basis: jute, rubber, foam, textile and felt. Felt and jute bases can be made from both natural and artificial materials..
The market has a carpet with a different basis
Attractive jute sides
Natural jute is a natural material. It is environmentally friendly, but has a number of disadvantages: the fibers quickly wear out, are prone to decay, and mold may even appear with excessive moisture. Artificial jute is obtained from synthetic fibers. It is moisture resistant, does not shrink, is wear-resistant, however, does not tolerate frequent cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner. The material is stiff, which can cause damage to the top layer of the floor covering: parquet, laminate, linoleum.
Rubber (rubberized) base
A rubber-based carpet is most often used in rooms where the floor load is higher than average: offices, public buildings, etc. For them, he is perfect. The base is a special rubberized material. A similar base is obtained by impregnating the secondary layer with water-resistant rubber glue or a mixture based on kapron, followed by vulcanization. The top layer is most often a needle-punched pile, which has excellent dirt-repellent properties and retains an attractive appearance for a long time. This structure provides high performance.
Natural or synthetic felt?
Natural felt is material from the past. Now its artificial counterpart is popular. The base of artificial felt has good sound absorbing, dust repellent and heat-insulating properties. Felt-based carpet is easy to cut, fit and does not “crumble”. It is easier to care for than the same coating on natural felt; it can be wetted when cleaning. And, although it costs much more than natural, modern carpets are often produced on its basis. Material on a natural felt basis is warm and soft, but difficult to care for, capricious and has the same disadvantages as natural jute.
If based on textiles
The textile base is used in commercial or contractual coatings. The woven carpet has the basis of a mesh, which is subsequently stitched with brushed threads. They are the most expensive, but have a number of advantages, the main of which are simplicity and accuracy of installation.
Characteristics of the foam base
Foam (latex) based coatings have excellent sound-absorbing properties and are characterized by good thermal insulation characteristics, providing a high level of comfort in the room. Latexing reflects well on the strength of the coating, and special additives can give the coating fire resistance and antistatic properties..
The main disadvantages of this coating are the fact that approximately 6 years after its installation, latex loses its elasticity, the base becomes brittle, crumbles and dents appear on the coating.
The choice of carpet depends on the purpose of the room in which it will be laid, and on the basis
Reference Point – Base Properties
The choice of carpet depends on the purpose of the room in which it is planned to be used and on the base on which it is planned to be laid. Laying does not require major surface preparation, it can be laid on top of parquet and linoleum, and you can remove the old coating and lay it directly on the concrete base, without really bothering with its leveling. Do not use a carpet only in the bathroom, kitchen and places with constant high humidity, for them there are more practical coatings.
If for some reason it is planned to lay the carpet on a more expensive coating, such as parquet, then it makes sense to use a carpet on a felt basis, since a hard coating can scratch the varnish and require expensive repairs. True, you can use special substrates, but this is an additional cost.
For rooms through which many people go daily, it is convenient to choose a carpet on a rubber or rubber base. It is well washed, not afraid of moisture, wear-resistant, retains its original appearance for a long time. This carpet is used in hallways, public buildings and even on outdoor summer areas. It will fit as a car mat.
The carpet is able to give the interior coziness, but at the same time practical and functional
A carpet on a natural jute or felt basis requires careful care and only dry cleaning, so it is not practical to lay it in places with high traffic, but if you are looking for a beautiful, warm and comfortable floor covering in your bedroom or office, it will be quite appropriate. For children’s rooms, it is better to choose a coating on a synthetic basis, no matter how paradoxical this sounds. There are several reasons: they do not cause allergies, are easy to clean, attractive and soft. It is only important to pay attention to the quality of the material. The best consider carpet production in the United States and Western Europe.
Floor – an important element of the living space of the house. The mood of the residents and the “mood” of the interior depend on what type of finish will be chosen for him. A successful floor covering should not only be pleasing to the eye and be pleasant to use, it should correspond to the functional purpose of the room. A carpet is a covering that can give cosiness to the interior, fill the space with warmth and at the same time remain practical and functional..
