Rugs and Carpets Industry Terminology

Examples: “The vintage Oushak shows intentional abrash that adds character”; “We rejected the lot due to unplanned abrash across the field”; “Design wants controlled abrash to hide traffic lanes.”

Examples: “Specify antimicrobial treatment for the healthcare wing”; “The yarn has a built-in antimicrobial additive”; “Confirm the efficacy data against odor-causing bacteria.”

Examples: “Corridors must meet Class I per ASTM E648”; “Submit E648 test reports with the submittal”; “Tile with cushion backing still passed E648.”

Examples: “Axminster is ideal for custom patterned hotel corridors”; “Higher pattern clarity than Wilton for multicolor motifs”; “Lead time is longer due to loom setup.”

Examples: “Primary is woven PP; secondary is action back with SBR precoat”; “Switching to unitary backing improves tuft bind”; “Check dimensional stability specs for the backing system.”

Examples: “Residential ‘berber’ refers to flecked loop pile”; “Avoid calling a patterned loop ‘Berber’ in specs unless defined”; “Loop berber can show snagging with pets.”

Examples: “Use 50 cm tiles with quarter-turn layout”; “Planks allow herringbone installation”; “Tiles ease access to raised floors.”

Examples: “Continuous dyeing lowers per-yard cost for large runs”; “Shade control is tighter on the continuous range”; “We can’t do that custom color on the range—too small of a lot.”

Examples: “GLP certificate required for LEED Low-Emitting Materials”; “Tile backing and adhesive both need GLP compliance”; “Check the product’s CRI ID number.”

Examples: “Use 8-lb rebond cushion for residential”; “Double-stick requires dense rubber cushion”; “Cushion improves IIC and comfort.”

Examples: “Cut/loop adds sculpted pattern without printing”; “Cut/loop in offices hides soil well”; “Mind the seam visibility on directional cut/loop styles.”

Examples: “Saxony is a type of cut pile”; “Cut pile shows shading more readily”; “Choose tighter twist cut pile for better performance.”

Examples: “Higher density improves texture retention”; “Face weight is decent, but density is low”; “We’ll increase stitch rate to boost density.”

Examples: “Area rugs must pass the DOC pill test”; “Importers need FF 1-70 compliance labels”; “Small rugs failed due to surface flash.”

Examples: “Use double-stick in ballrooms for comfort and stability”; “Adhere cushion to slab, then carpet to cushion”; “Specify compatible adhesives for both bonds.”

Examples: “Submit third-party verified EPD for LEED MR credits”; “We have a product-specific EPD for our tile”; “EPD shows the global warming potential per m².”

Examples: “Use encapsulation for interim maintenance”; “Encap reduces downtime in open offices”; “Follow with periodic hot water extraction.”

Examples: “Spec calls for 28 oz/yd² face weight”; “Don’t compare face weight across different pile heights without density”; “Tiles list face weight in oz/yd² too.”

Examples: “A 1/10-gauge yields finer rows”; “We’re shifting to 1/8 gauge for higher density”; “Gauge and stitch rate drive pattern clarity.”

Examples: “Direct glue is standard in high-traffic corridors”; “Moisture-tolerant adhesive is required”; “PSA allows future tile replacement.”

Examples: “This 150 KPSI hand-knotted rug is heirloom quality”; “Lead times are long for custom hand-knots”; “Expect natural abrash and slight irregularities.”

Examples: “Hand-tufted wool with latex backing”; “Great for custom shapes at mid-tier budgets”; “Expect initial shedding with hand-tufted rugs.”

Examples: “Heatset frieze resists untwisting”; “Heatsetting reduces blooming and fuzzing”; “Needed for BCF nylon twist retention.”

Examples: “Schedule HWE annually per warranty”; “Pre-vacuum before extraction”; “Use low-moisture methods between HWE cycles.”

Examples: “Quote includes landed cost to our DC”; “Ocean freight doubled our landed cost”; “Factor duties and port fees in the margin.”

Examples: “Custom Axminster lead time is 10–14 weeks”; “Dye lot lead time slipped due to yarn backlog”; “Build extra time for shipping and installation.”

Examples: “Carpet qualifies for Low-Emitting Materials credit”; “EPD and HPD support LEED MR credits”; “Include adhesives under LEED VOC requirements.”

Examples: “Level loop hides footprints”; “Berber loop needs snag precautions”; “Loop tiles hold up in corporate corridors.”

Examples: “The mill’s MOQ is 300 SY per color”; “MOQ applies to custom dye lots”; “We can waive MOQ with a surcharge.”

Examples: “Choose 6,6 for better texture retention”; “6 vs 6,6 cost delta is 8%”; “Solution-dyed 6,6 passes stringent bleach testing.”

Examples: “Pattern repeat is 36" x 36"—plan extra waste”; “Ensure correct pattern match at seams”; “Tile quarter-turn avoids visual repeats.”

Examples: “Specify PFAS-free chemistry due to regulations”; “Marketing wants ‘fluorine-free’ claims”; “Test stain repellency without PFAS.”

Examples: “We’ll beck dye the greige for small custom runs”; “Beck dye lots vary—request shade bands”; “Lead time fits a beck process.”

Examples: “Target 8 mm pile height for clearance under doors”; “Higher pile can crush in traffic lanes”; “Don’t compare pile height without density.”

Examples: “PET offers good inherent stain resistance”; “High-denier PET can crush in heavy traffic”; “Contains post-consumer bottle content.”

Examples: “Olefin resists moisture and mildew”; “Low melt point—avoid rolling loads”; “Great for indoor/outdoor flatweaves.”

Examples: “Use felt/rubber pad to prevent slipping”; “Pad protects wood floors from abrasion”; “Specify the right pad for radiant heat.”

Examples: “Plush saxony shows shading and footprints”; “Preferred for formal residential spaces”; “Tighter twist improves performance.”

Examples: “Apply seam sealer to all cut edges”; “Prevent ravel and delamination at seams”; “Use manufacturer-approved sealer with PVC-backed tiles.”

Examples: “Color is in the polymer—excellent fade resistance”; “Ideal for bleach-cleanable specs”; “SDN reduces dye lot issues.”

Examples: “Raise stitch rate to boost density”; “1/10 gauge at 10 TPI improves cover”; “Pattern definition depends on TPI.”

Examples: “Residential bedrooms are stretch-in over cushion”; “Use tack strip around perimeters”; “Temperature and RH affect stretch.”

Examples: “TCO favors tiles due to selective replacement”; “Include maintenance and downtime in TCO”; “Lower initial cost isn’t always lower TCO.”

Examples: “Triexta offers soft hand with strong stain resistance”; “SD triexta performs well in family rooms”; “Pricing sits between PET and nylon.”

Examples: “Spec minimum tuft bind of 10 lbf”; “Low tuft bind risks zippering”; “Backing change improved tuft bind.”

Examples: “Most broadloom is tufted, not woven”; “Gauge and TPI are tufting parameters”; “Graphics tufting achieves pattern without printing.”

Examples: “Meet LEED Low-Emitting Materials limits”; “Provide CRI GLP certificates for carpet and adhesive”; “Allow off-gassing before occupancy.”

Examples: “Spot returned due to wicking”; “Use proper extraction and drying to prevent wicking”; “Encapsulation can reduce wick-back.”

Examples: “Wilton offers robust texture and pattern”; “Great for tailored stripes in hospitality”; “Costs more than standard tufted.”

Examples: “Natural, resilient, and inherently flame-resistant”; “Specify mothproofing for certain geographies”; “Wool-nylon blends balance cost and performance.”