Ask Ken: Are Carpets Like Hamburgers? Should I Care About Ounce Weights?
Ken's Quick Answer:
"Ounce weight doesn't have anything to do with standing up to wear and tear. Don't listen to the story that they tell you at the big box store. It's only important if you want something fluffy under your feet."
Ken's In-Depth Answer:
Today, we went to the supermarket and I bought a pound of hamburger. It ran us about $4.00 per pound, likely because it was grass-fed. After we went to the supermarket we went to Home Depot. We found a carpet called 'Hypersonic' which cost roughly $10.00 per pound.
Here's the problem: Hamburger and carpet should not be compared.
That's because we don't keep track of ounce weights with carpet. It's meaningless—at least in terms of carpet quality. If you have a higher ounce weight on a carpet, all that's telling you is that the fibers are a little taller and fluffier. (For instance, maybe you'd choose a higher ounce weight for bedroom carpet. That way, you have something nice to walk on when you roll out of bed.)
"So what does make a difference in terms of carpet quality? First, you should ask: How tightly is the carpet woven or tufted? How close together are the fibers? A tighter carpet weave leads to increased durability."
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Ounce weight has nothing to do with quality. It also has nothing to do with durability, stain resistance, or any other aspect of performance. In fact, a higher-pile carpet may perform worse. The fibers may flop over and lie down!
So what does make a difference in terms of carpet quality? First, you should ask: How tightly is the carpet woven or tufted? How close together are the fibers? A tighter carpet weave leads to increased durability.
Second, what is the carpet made of? Does the material have good texture retention? Is it a loop carpet or a cut-pile carpet? You should also inquire about the twist of a carpet. The twist helps you have a fiber that's going to spring back.
In other words, ounce weight doesn't have anything to do with standing up to wear and tear. It's only important if you want something fluffy under your feet. Don't listen to the story that they tell you at the big box store. Talk to a flooring expert and they'll tell you what performance you should expect from a given carpet and why.
If you have any questions about ounce weight or carpet quality, please give us a call at 401-214-0285 or visit our showroom."
About Ken: Ken Fain is the co-owner of Island Carpet in Middletown, RI and a floorcovering veteran of more than 40 years. His popular 'Ask Ken' video series answers common flooring questions on a variety of topics. It has reached thousands of viewers on both YouTube and Facebook.