What is loop pile carpet?

If your home is busier than rush hour at Piccadilly Circus, there’s only one type of carpet that can step up to the challenge – say hello to the firm, durable and versatile loop pile carpet.

Are Berber carpets and loop pile carpets the same?

Berber style, or Berber loop, carpets are another name for a loop pile carpet, incredibly popular for its textured look, resilience, and firm ‘barefoot’ feeling. Berber used to be the term for a neutral flecked carpet, but when we talk about a Berber style carpet nowadays, it’s associated with the traditional Moroccan Berber rugs, known for their distinctive hand-knotted finish. This relaxed style can easily be replicated when making a modern Berber loop carpet by leaving the tightly woven yarn in loops (rather than cutting the loops as you would do when making a saxony or twist carpet). This technique allows you to create a wide variety of textures and patterns, depending on the height and density of the loop. The loops can be level or on multiple levels to create amazing textural designs on your floor.

What is a loop pile carpet made from?

Loop carpets are available in natural fibres (like wool) or synthetic ones (like polypropylene carpet), and some styles are woven from a mixture of the two (like a wool and polyester blend). Synthetic fibres are harder wearing than natural fibres, so a wool blend carpet offers the best of both worlds. A pure wool loop carpet will be softer, but as it’s made from a natural material, you’ll find that there’s a greater variation in colour and texture. They’re available in a spectrum of neutral colours, from light grey to dark grey (and the fifty shades of grey in between). Loop pile carpets provide excellent performance in all areas of your home, especially if you go for a low, densely woven loop. The lower the loop, the more durable the carpet will be, so a Berber loop carpet is a popular choice for stairs, hallways, or other rooms with a high volume of foot traffic.

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What’s the best thing about a loop carpet?

Overall, loop pile carpets are the perfect blend of value, durability, and performance. The tightly woven, densely packed fibres mean a loop carpet is more hard-wearing than a cut pile carpet and requires less maintenance. The firm pile bounces back easily so won’t leave tracking marks when you vacuum. They’re also great for hiding stains – the looped pile structure means that spillages will sit on top, leaving you enough time to clean up the mess before it soaks into the fibre. Hurrah! We love the relaxed, rustic style of a loop carpet – they’re the ideal carpet for a modern family home.

PROS AND CONS OF LOOP PILE CARPET

So, there are many amazing benefits of loop carpet, but are there any disadvantages? It can be really helpful to know all the pros and cons of different carpet types so you know you’re definitely getting the cream of the carpets for your space. Here are some pros and cons to help you balance up whether Berber is the one for you:

PROS

Has stain resistant properties.
Pile bounces back easily so doesn’t easily show marks from feet/vacuuming.
Lower cost than other luxurious carpets.
Very durable in high traffic conditions.

CONS

Doesn’t have the same softness and toe-sinking feeling underfoot as cut pile carpets like saxony.
If you have a cat that likes to sharpen its claws, it may find the texture of a Berber carpet appealing and could cause some damage by repeatedly kneading the carpet.
Many wonder if a Berber carpet will unravel if something snags on a loop. This scenario is extremely unlikely as it takes a lot of force to tear out one loop, never mind an entire row.

If you’re still a little unsure of whether a Berber carpet could be right for you, or if you just want to know more, we have stores all across the UK where you can drop by and ask one of our fabulous Flooroloogists for help.

HOW MUCH DOES LOOP PILE CARPET COST?

Loop carpet prices vary depending on how much or little you would like to spend. Our cheapest loop carpets start from £4.99 per m2 and with fitting £5.30 per m2, and it costs less than £130 to carpet a small 3x4 metre room (not including underlay, door bars, and grippers). There are also lots of high-end Berbers made from wool and other natural products such as sisal, available in the popular herringbone design – great for stair runners and rugs (and if you like the sound of sisal, why not have a read of our guide on sisal vs jute vs seagrass?). Take a look at our collection of loop pile carpets online, then head to your nearest Tapi store to get a quote for your new carpet. Alternatively, you can find out more about our other types of carpet, including saxony and twist pile carpets, to find the perfect style for you.

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Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

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Published: 08-02-2022

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