The Pros & Cons of Frieze Carpet

Long popular for its durability and comfort, frieze carpet continues to be a top-choice flooring option. Here’s what you need to know about frieze carpet so you can decide whether it’s the right option for your home.

What is Frieze Carpet?

Frieze carpet features tightly twisted fibers that appear curled or kinked. Steam is typically used to create that effect.

Frieze carpet is dense and durable, making it a popular choice for high-traffic areas like hallways, staircases and family rooms. It’s generally considered a casual-style carpet, so choose something else for more formal rooms.

Cost of Frieze Carpet

Frieze carpet tends to be slightly more expensive than other styles of carpet, yet it remains an economical choice compared to other flooring options.

Frieze carpet ranges from $1 to $8 per square foot — not bad when you consider hardwood flooring averages around $8 to $22 per square foot, installed. The price depends on three factors: fiber material, face weight and twist level.

The most common fiber materials are polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon and wool. Nylon and wool are typically more expensive than polyester and PET.

Face weight refers to how much material was used to make the carpet. Twist level refers to the number of times the fibers were twisted. Expect to pay more for higher face weights and twist levels.

Save some money by removing old carpet yourself. Here’s how.

Frieze Carpet Pros

• Durability. The tight twists make the fibers less likely to fray over time.

• Ability to hide seams. Separate pieces of carpet tend to blend together thanks to the long fibers.

• Ability to hide dirt. Choosing one of the popular speckled options will help hide dirt and stains even more than solid options.

• Comfort. Frieze carpet is thick and plush, making it a great choice for playrooms, bedrooms and more.

• Fibers that withstand pressure. Because frieze carpet fibers lay on their side rather than straight up, they resist spreading and looking crushed.

Frieze Carpet Cons

• Price. Frieze carpet can be more expensive than other carpet styles, so choose one made of polyester or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) if you’re on a budget.

• Lack of stain resistance. Long fibers mean stains can run deep, so make sure to vacuum regularly and to clean any carpet stains ASAP.

• Lack of pattern options. Frieze carpet does not lend itself to patterns and designs.

  Learn how to make carpet last longer by cleaning it correctly.