A commercial carpet can be a big investment. The cost of covering large areas of floor with carpeting can be quite substantial, so you want to make sure that it can withstand consistent and heavy daily use. There are several factors that can influence the longevity of a commercial carpet. To help you pinpoint the main points to be aware of, we’ve provided a list of what commercial carpet feature to look for.
Durability
Your commercial carpet will get a lot more traffic than what you get in your living room, so durability should be high on your list of desirable features if you want your investment to pay off. You’ll want a carpet with a high fibre density, a high fibre twist number and a type of fibre that’s rated for heavy traffic. The face weight of the carpet is most often emphasized by sellers, but it should be considered in conjunction with the other fibre criteria as well.
Stain Resistance
Ensuring your carpet can resist stains is also important. After all, what kind of impression does a permanently stained carpet have on visitors? Olefin, or propylene, fibre is highly stain resistant and can even withstand bleach spills. However, these fibres naturally attract oil which can lead to stains and further accumulation of dirt. Nylon fibres are very popular in commercial carpets, but need stain protections added during its manufacture. Look for solution dyed nylon for the best stain resistance.
Anti-Static Properties
If your business uses a lot of specialized electronics or high end computers you need to be aware of a carpet’s anti-static properties. Static can cause failure of certain types of equipment and needs to be minimized in places like laboratories or computer rooms. Check the specifications of your potential buy to find out what kind of anti-static protection it provides.
Anti-Zippering
Zippering of a carpet is similar to a run in a pair of nylon stockings. It usually occurs when a vacuum cleaner’s beater bar snags a loop in the carpet which eventually leads to an unravelling down the line. Some carpets are constructed in a way to prevent this kind of zippering by stitching the loops in a zig-zag sequence rather than in a straight line. Look for this zig-zag sequence in the carpet loops if you want to avoid zippering.
