Carpet Face Weight And Total Weight

A carpet s total weight is the face weight weight of the backing.

Carpet face weight and total weight.

The term refers to the weight of the carpet s fibers only not the backing material. Face weight makes a difference but only when comparing similar products. A higher face weight does not automatically mean the carpet is a better grade. Carpet face weight is defined as the weight of the carpet pile per square yard of carpet measured in ounces.

Most carpets have a face weight between 20 ounces and 100 ounces but the average face weight for a residential carpet is about 45 ounces. An olefin sample may weigh more than a nylon but it has entirely different performance qualities. Fiber face weight is not the same as total carpet weight which includes the weight of the carpet backing and the fiber face weight. Face weight is the actual weight of the fiber used to manufacture the carpet pile but does not include the weight of the carpet backing.

There are tolerances for face weight which have to be met that allow variance of between 5 and 7 depending on the product and what guidelines it has to comply with whether gsa or industry standard. Most carpets have a face weight somewhere between 20 ounces and 100 ounces but the average face weight for a residential carpet is about 35 to 60 ounces. Fiber face weight is not the same as total carpet weight which includes the weight of the carpet backing and the fiber face weight. Does face weight matter.

As an example within one product line the good level carpet has a face weight of 40 oz. This is different from the total weight of the carpet which is the sum of the carpet pile and the carpet backing. Pile height the thickness of the carpet from the backing to the surface is one of the factors that determines the face weight of your carpet. As a general rule the shorter the carpet pile and the lower the face weight the more durable it is as it s less likely the yarn will crush and show signs of wear due to foot traffic.

You ll hear a lot from carpet retailers about how important carpet face weight is and how it s the main thing to keep in mind when figuring out how much quality you re getting from a carpet. Face weight is the actual weight of the fiber used to manufacture the carpet pile but does not include the weight of the carpet backing. The best level weighs in at 63 oz. Backing is heavy compared to the carpet fiber so total weights are much higher than face weights.

The weight of the back also doesn t mean much as far as durability. It should not be confused with the carpet s total weight which is the combined weight of the pile plus the backing.