Choose Carpet With Care
From Fibre...
A substantial part of the carpet laid in Christchurch homes (and for that matter, in offices and other businesses) is made in Christchurch, much of it at the F and T carpet factory in Riccarton. With a total staff of about 675, the plant produces carpet and spun carpet yarn for export as well as for the home market, and some sections of the factory are in constant operation for up to 144 hours of the week. Almost all the Riccarton output is a blend of 80 per cent wool and 20 per cent Bri-nylon. which the factory manager (Mr J. H. Bowie) says is definitely better wearing in the medium grades. His advice to buyers is to make sure they purchase the right quality carpet for the wear it will face, have it properly laid, use an underlay, and give it some protection from strong sunlight. Just as toothpaste starts off in the medium size, carpets start with medium grades and go through heavy’ and super to commercial grade. A “medium” grade Axminster can be as light as 24 net ounces of yarn to every square yard of finished carpet, whereas commercial grade Wilton has more than 65 ounces to the yard. While it would be an extravagance to buy commercial grade carpet for a private house, it must be emphasised that the lightest grade is not heavy enough for many parts of the average family home. In the long run—and not very long at that—it may prove a false and unhappy economy’ unless it is restricted to the spare room and perhaps bedrooms. For general home use the minimum weight should be 30oz for Axminster. 350 z for Wilton and 360 z for tufted carpets. Apart from providing a degree of luxury, heavier weights still—the “super” grades —are warranted for home areas with particularly severe wear. One feature in carpet wear which is not widely appreciated is that it can be worsened by incorrect laying. And a good reason for using an underlay—no matter how smooth the floor and how deep the pile —is that the underlay provides a cushion of ail - which can be drawn through the carpet when vacuum cleaning. Modern carpet dy’es are infinitely’ better than their predecessors, but pastel colours such as pale blue will not hold indefinitely against sunlight pouring through a northern picture window. Even if they do fade, however, they will fade evenly.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700211.2.57.1
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 8
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408Choose Carpet With Care From Fibre... Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 8
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