Y is for Yarn

Yarn is the material used to produce the surface layer, or pile, of the carpet.  In this week's guide we look into yarn in more detail.

What is Yarn?
Yarn can be described in many ways but at its most basic it is a single strand composed of fibres.

What is Yarn made of?
Yarn can be made of almost any material that can be produced as a fibre.  In carpets the most common fibres are:

• Wool
  
• Polyamide
  
• Polypropylene
  
• Polyester
  
• Acrylic
  

How is the Yarn constructed?
By twisting the fibres together to produce a single strand, one-ply yarn is created.  If a manufacturer wishes to increase the strength of the yarn they can then twist further yarns together.  This process can create, two, three or higher ply yarns.  This is highly desirable as a higher ply yarn is more resistant to flattening and wear than single ply yarn.

We tend to ignore the yarn of a carpet when we are looking at purchasing new flooring (except in terms of its colour and feel), but this can be a mistake.  Looking at the yarn and its construction can help us know the quality of the carpet we are buying.
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At Grimley Flooring we can offer advice and guidance to ensure you always get the right product for you.