There are 2 carpet styles when it comes to pile construction – cut and loop pile.

Cut pile

· Cut pile carpet is created when the fibre loops are cut. When the yarn loops are cut, the result is an upright pile (see diagram below) and the ends of the carpet fibre are exposed.

· Cut pile carpet is available in various lengths and thicknesses and is typically much softer than loop pile carpets. Cut pile is the most popular style of carpet and the two most common types of cut pile are Saxony and Frieze.

· Cut pile twist carpet is constructed with a high twisted yarn, with the pile lying in different directions, creating a textured appearance.

· Cut pile plush carpet is where the tufts are blended together to create a smooth, almost velvet type surface. Each tuft is cut at the same height to create a luxurious finish.

Loop pile

· Loop pile refers to a carpet in which the loop fibres are not cut (see diagram below). This type of carpet is left in its woven form and consists of several loops of carpet fibre.

· A patterned loop carpet is formed when the loop fibres are at various heights. Loop piles rarely show footprints and vacuum lines.

· Loop pile carpet can be rough on feet but is still a widely used carpet style because of its simple beauty. Two of the most popular types of loop pile carpet are Berber and Sisal.

Loop and Cut pile

· This is a combination of loop and cut pile tufts and gives a textured appearance, with a wide range of patterns able to be achieved with this style of carpet