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The latter width is the largest available, except in the case of Chenille carpet, which can be made up to 30 ft wide. It must be noted, however, that carpet manufacturers do not make every carpet style in all of the standard widths. Before estimating an installation, it is essential to check the manufacturers' stock sheets to determine what widths are available in the particular style selected by the customer.
THE FOUR BASIC CARPET WEAVES
Years ago when the number of carpet patterns and styles produced were limited, it was a common practice in the trade to grade carpets by weave type. This was possible because each of the weaves fell into fairly well-established price ranges. Today this practice has been made obsolete by the many technical developments that have occurred in the carpet industry.
Changes in loom design, and the creation of completely new construction techniques and new carpet fibers have made it possible for carpet manufacturers to introduce hundreds of different stylings. Within each weave type and construction, many variations of pattern, texture and color are now possible. As a result, carpet price ranges cut across the various weave classifications.
However, each weaving and construction method still retains unique capabilities. There are some performance and styling features in each of the weaves that cannot be duplicated in any of the other weaving or construction methods.
Quality Factors Common to All Weaves. Experienced carpet men have long held that there are four "basic factors" that must be taken into account in judging any carpet. These are: pitch, number of rows or wires; pile height; and weight of the yarns. However, just as construction features of carpets are neither selling points nor guides to quality, the so-called basic factors are not in themselves infallible signposts of value. Each of these factors is discussed in turn below.
Pitch is the number of construction units, or groups of lengthwise yarns, in a 27-in. width of carpet. A construction unit usually consists of a binding yarn running lengthwise and all the lengthwise stuffing yarns between the binding yarns. When we say a type of carpet has "189 pitch" or "216 pitch" we mean that the carpet has 189 or 216 construction units running lengthwise in each 27-in. width. Obviously the higher the pitch number, the more complex the construction, and the more contribution this factor makes to the quality of the carpet.
The number of rows (for Axminsters) or wires (for Wiltons or Velvets) means the number of weft or crosswise units, measured per inch along the length of the carpet. This figure (e.g., 52/3 weft units per in. for Axminster grades) is an indication of the number of rows of yarn on the face.
