Carpet Tiles, Padding, and Supplies

Here at academycarpet.com we are passionate about carpet. That may sound odd, but it is true. We are here to answer any questions you may have about carpeting, carpet tiles, or carpet materials. Whether you are here looking for information about carpet padding or oriental rugs, we have gathered great information about all things carpet here for your convenience. If you have questions about anything you see here, or would like more information about a specific topic or product, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Carpeting was an invention born of necessity, as most inventions are. The nomadic peoples of the Persian Empire were the first to use carpets. They lived in a temperate climate, where the change in temperature between day and night could be quite drastic. To help pad their tents and insulate them from the cold seeping into them from the ground, the ancient Persians wove together fibers; the first known attempts at rug making were actually from camel’s hair.

While camel’s hair may be durable, it is hardly a comfortable surface to lie on, and it did not last long as a weaving material. Instead wool was tried, and caught on quickly. The ancient carpets were what we call rugs in the modern era; they were not affixed to the floor and could be rolled up and transported. They often served as not just floor mats, but bedding for the nomadic people.

With the birth of Islam and the traditions associated with it, the patterns of carpet weaving became complex and abstract. People became more sedentary, and carpeting began filling a niche as decoration as well as its previous role as insulator. The birth of trade with both China and the west gave Persian rug makers new markets for an art they had already had centuries of practice in, and they took full advantage.

Today’s carpet industry still has a large sector devoted to oriental carpets, both the Persian and Chinese varieties. Iran, one of the leading producers of Persian rugs sold over $420 million worth of the rugs in 2008 alone. Today the rugs are valued because of their intricate patterning and hand woven quality. A single large rug can take years to finish, and they are priced accordingly.

But there are also other applications of carpeting that have come along. For instance the carpet runner is a long, narrow strip of carpeting that covers a hard floor. They were used first in medieval times to soften the interior of a castle and insulate feet from the cold stone floors; today they find a practical use as a slip deterrent. Carpet tiles or squares are the opposite end of the spectrum from oriental rugs. They are an extremely inexpensive solution to your carpeting needs.

If you are looking for a carpeting supplier it is often helpful to get installation quotes. A discount vendor may seem like they are offering an excellent deal, but when you find out it doesn’t include delivery- much less installation, those prices may not seem so great. An important part of carpet installation is choosing the right carpet padding for you; this padding is where most of the softness you feel in a carpet comes from. So if you see a sale on carpeting, make sure the supplier hasn’t increased the price on their padding to compensate.

 

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