Level loop

This is the simplest style of tufted carpet to produce. The pile comes from the backing to its full height, forms a loop and returns to the backing. The pile loops are all of equal height and uncut, making a smooth and level surface.

Carpets of this style are used in dense constructions for contract applications. Heavier count yarns with lower twist are used to produce “berber” loop-pile carpets.

The almost universal use of secondary backing on tufted carpets has remedied early problems of “snagging” of loop-pile carpets due to poor tuft retention characteristics.

Cut & Loop

Also known as carved or sculptured plush pile. It is basically a cut-pile carpet, with areas of loop-pile sculptured areas designed into it.

This carpet is used mainly in residential applications. Fine areas of loop-pile design are avoided, as the adjacent cut-pile will spread out during use and conceal the lower loops in the sculpture area, and destroying the subtle pattern.

Multi-Level Loop

(Also referred to as High-Low Loop or Sculptured Loop.) As the name implies, this carpet is made up of different height loops, two or three heights being most common. The difference in height creates a surface that can be described as sculptured, with the pattern appearing as carved from the carpet.

Level Tip Shear

This effect is created by tufting a two-pile height loop-pile carpet and shearing the higher loops back to the same level as the lower loop. This adds another dimension to the multi- level loop pattern effect.

The general effect is to create a darker coloured area, due to the fact that the cut “end” of pile yarn fibres in loop-pile carpets reflects less light than the side of the pile fibres, which are visible in the loop (uncut) pile.