Introduction
Deciding on the right flooring solution can be a big decision! If you have decided to put carpet in your house, there are several important decisions, including fibre material, carpet style, price point and colour. One popular style of carpet is a frieze (pronounced “free-zay”).
A frieze carpet is made from long and twisted piles which fall in different directions. The twisted piles give frieze carpets a lush feel and a textured uneven look. This type of carpet is great at hiding defects but will be difficult to clean.
In this article, we will discuss all the factors to consider when choosing a frieze carpet.
What is a Frieze Carpet?
Technically, a frieze is a cut-pile carpet. The word’ pile’ refers to the way the fibres have been woven. ‘Cut-pile’ means that as the carpet is made the yarn is pulled in a loop and then the loop is cut. There are many varieties of cut-pile carpets. What distinguishes a frieze is the long and twisted piles.
Other kinds of carpets can also have slightly twisted piles, but a frieze has heavily twisted piles. Because of this twisting, each pile is bent and falls in a random direction. The result is a disorganized pattern that gives a textured impression.
Rather than walking on the top of the pile, you walk on the sides which are lying flat because the piles are also long. This feature gives the carpet a soft and luxurious feel, even compared to other carpets.
In general, a frieze is considered informal, so it would be appropriate for a living room, bedroom or basement.
Below you can compare two carpet styles. On the right side is a textured carpet, which is a more common carpet style these days. The piles are standing upright, similar to the frieze, but with the textured carpet they are smaller and thinner. They are also shorter and are packed in a way so that the piles stand upright.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of choosing a frieze carpet. It is important to stress that carpet style is one factor in choosing a carpet.
Frieze Carpets are Durable
A durable carpet will not show wear and tear over time. As they are used some carpets tend to be crushed. This crushing will show and will be seen. Durability is a desirable feature in carpets.
A frieze is one of the more durable carpet types, which is one of its significant advantages. This is for three reasons. First, with other types of carpet, you walk on the ends of the piles, which can lead to splitting over time. As the frieze piles are long and lie flat, the ends are less likely to be damaged.
Second, the piles are tightly twisted which means they will hold together well. When you walk over them the piles will move around, but they are unlikely to separate.
Third, a frieze carpet can hide problems. More on this is below. Other carpet types, like plush carpets, will show wear and tear. These carpet types ‘show it all.’ Even if there is some damage on a frieze, the damage will be difficult to see.
You can think of a frieze carpet as being like eggshell paint, whereas a plush is like glossy paint.
When considering durability, carpet style is not the only important factor. The other key factor in durability is fibre material. Is the carpet made from Nylon or Polyester or Wool or something else?
The material the carpet is made out of will determine the durability of the carpet even more than the tufting style. Nonetheless, the style does play a great role in durability.
Frieze Carpets Hide Problems
One advantage of frieze carpets is that, like eggshell paint, they can hide many kinds of problems and defects. Other styles of carpet will scream out, ‘I have a problem here.’
As the frieze has twisted piles bent in different directions, there is a lot of space between the piles that are difficult to see. The variation acts to disguise any different spot.
There are three key things that frieze carpets hide. First, they hide dirt. Whereas dirt will sit on the top of some carpets it will fall between the piles and be difficult to see.
Now, we are advocating that you let your carpets get dirty. Carpets should be vacuumed at least once a week, including a frieze. Just because you can’t see the dirt doesn’t mean it’s not there. All carpets collect dirt, especially in high-traffic areas.
The difference with a frieze is that you won’t notice the dirt, which is a good thing.
Another factor in hiding dirt is colour. A light carpet of any style will show dirt more than a dark one.
Second, frieze carpets also hide tracks. When people or animals walk over carpets their feet make impressions on the carpet. Some types of carpets will show tracks. You will be able to see where someone has been!
A frieze is not one of these carpets. Because of the piles sit in different directions, walking will move the piles around, but this motion is part of the look.
Third, frieze carpets hide seams. While carpet comes in different widths, the standard width is 12′. If you install carpet over a small area, you will be able to use a single piece. If, however, you install carpet over a large area you will need to connect two pieces of carpet with a seam.
Seaming carpets can be tricky. A professional carpet installer will be able to do it with no problems.
In some installations, it is just possible to see where the seam is. As with the other items, a frieze will go a long way in hiding the seams.
Are Frieze Carpets Cheap?
If you are comparing frieze carpets to other carpets, they tend to be on the pricey side. We have seen frieze carpets be as expensive as $9 per square foot, but the average frieze is more like $4 per square foot.
As friezes have longer fibres they use a little more material. Also, the tufting process (how the piles are made) is a little more complicated than other carpet styles. These two factors account for the cost.
Carpet style isn’t the main factor in the cost of a carpet. Pile density is an indication of quality. More piles are a better carpet, but also more expensive. Also, the material of carpet fibres plays a big role in the cost.
So you can find cheap and expensive friezes.
Compared to other floorings in general, a carpet is a cheap option. Carpet is a similar price to laminate flooring, but much less expensive than hardwood flooring.
Is Frieze Easy to Clean?
A frieze carpet will hide dirt well and it won’t look as dirty as quickly. However, eventually, it will look dirty. A frieze carpet is difficult to clean, which is one of the negatives.
Here we are specifically talking about carpet cleaning and stains. Because of the way the fibres are sitting, they have more area exposed. When a contaminant comes into contact with the carpet and creates a stain the stain can get further down into the carpet and access more of the piles.
Other kinds of carpet with straighter piles tend to only be stained on the top.
This factor does not mean that it is impossible to get stains out of frieze carpet, but it means stains will be harder to get out.
If you want to steam-clean carpets yourself check out our steam-cleaning carpet how-to guide. Steam cleaning is the most effective method of cleaning carpets available. If you use the right pretreatment and a couple of passes you will be able to get out a lot of stains, even in a frieze.
If you are unable to remove the stains in your carpet yourself, no matter the style, then you need to hire a professional. Professionals have more powerful machines and understand the chemistry of stains.
Vacuuming a Frieze Carpet
You should regularly vacuum your frieze carpet, even if you can’t see the dirt. In terms of vacuuming a frieze, you do not want a vacuum with a beater bar set to the lowest setting.
Many vacuums have beater bars to loosen dirt as they suck. Unfortunately, this can damage some carpets and friezes are particularly susceptible to this damage because of the pile length and twisting.
If the bar hits the piles too much they can begin to fray. To avoid this, simply raise the beater bar while vacuuming.
What’s the Difference Between Frieze and Shag?
Shag carpet was popular in the ’70s and ’80s and is considered retro. Frieze and Shag are similar but not the same. A shag carpet has long and twisted piles, like a frieze, but with shag, the piles are bulkier and even longer than a frieze resulting in a more chaotic look.
With a frieze, the disordered piles are shorter and give a textured look. Where a shag looks like an overgrown hedge a frieze looks like freshly cut grass. The difference is quite pronounced when you see them side by side.
Are Frieze Carpets Out of Style?
Whereas shag is considered out of style, frieze is very much ‘in.’ Frieze carpets are a common choice for many homeowners who want a luxurious feel in their homes. Don’t worry if you have heard that friezes are out of style: they are not.
What’s the Difference Between Frieze and Plush?
A plush carpet is another cut-pile carpet. With a plush carpet, the piles are shorter and uniform, meaning they stand upright and in the same direction.
A plush is quite different from a frieze. Plush carpets will look flatter and even and be the opposite of frieze carpets. For example, they show dirt more easily, but they are easier to clean.
Are Frieze Carpets Appropriate for Pets?
If you have pets in your home and you are worried about stains, I would hesitate to recommend a frieze carpet. While not they are not impossible to clean, stains are more difficult to get out.
If you expect to have regular stains on your carpet, you will want to spot-remove them yourself. This process will be easier with other kinds of carpets.
Conclusion
Here is everything you know about Frieze carpets. Thanks for reading!