Frieze Carpet Review: Pros and Cons

Frieze carpet is a popular style of carpet that is essentially the modern version of the old shag carpet from the 1960s and 1970s. Fortunately, shag has since evolved and today's frieze carpets are durable and stylish enough for many settings and they don't compress and flatten as old shag carpets did. Frieze carpets are great at hiding dirt and footprints, but they can be somewhat difficult to get clean. Learn more about frieze carpets and if it's the right choice for your home.

What Is Frieze Carpet?

Frieze carpeting, sometimes called twist-pile, is a type of carpet characterized by long fibers with a high twist. The long pile fibers are twisted three to five times under steam conditions. The twisting is so tight that the fibers actually begin to curl back upon themselves to create a very dense texture that performs well under heavy traffic.

Frieze is generally constructed of skinnier fiber strands than traditional shag carpet. Shags often had a bulkier look, while friezes have a thinner, leaner look. Frieze fibers are usually longer than a saxony or trackless style, and not as high in density as most saxonies.

Frieze Carpet Pros and Cons

Frieze Carpet Cost

Frieze carpets tend to be slightly more expensive than other pile types, but still far less expensive than premium flooring materials, such as hardwood. Prices range from about $1 per square foot for a polyester frieze carpet to as much as $8 per square foot for top-quality nylon carpet. Among other factors that affect the cost of the carpet are the face weight and fiber twist. Face weight is a measurement of how much fabric went into the carpet construction, while fiber twist refers to the number of times the carpet fibers were twisted. Higher face weight and fiber twist indicate a better, more expensive carpet.

Maintenance and Repair

The biggest advantage of frieze carpeting is its high durability. When a long frieze fiber flops over, foot traffic strikes the side of the fiber which is the strongest part of the fiber. A frieze fiber does not "bloom" or mushroom out under foot traffic like other carpet fibers tend to do.

Tighter, shorter piles hold spills on top of the fibers so stains are easier to remove. Be sure to buy a frieze carpet with excellent stain resistance and comprehensive stain and soil warranties on the carpet. Seek out solution-dyed fibers that retain dye better since the color is added during the manufacturing process, not after.

Design

Frieze carpet lends itself well to the casual, cozy look of family rooms and bedrooms. If you have large rooms that are wider than the width of a carpet roll (standard widths are 12 and 15 feet) the tightly twisted fibers of a frieze carpet hide the seams created during installation. Frieze also hides the seaming created when installing carpet to fit stairs and hallways.

Frieze Carpet Installation

Frieze carpets are not installed any differently than other types of carpeting. Installation is best left to the professionals who are quick to prep the floor and have the right equipment, like stretching tools. While it is possible to install the carpet yourself with rental tools, it is not done very often, since the cost savings are minimal and the carpet installation process can be difficult.

Frieze Carpet vs. Plush Carpet

Both carpets are cut piles. Plush carpeting has fibers that are evenly sheared to create a shorter pile than frieze's longer, twisted, and less uniform fibers.

Top Brands of Frieze Carpet

Almost every major manufacturer of carpeting offers frieze carpet styles. A few of the top carpet manufacturers include:

• Shaw Floors
• Mohawk Flooring
• StainMaster (sold exclusively at Lowe's)
• Phenix Flooring
  

Is Frieze Carpet Right for You?

This can be the right carpet style for you if you want a somewhat informal-looking carpet that holds up well under fairly heavy use. This can be a great carpet for family rooms, hallways, and other heavy-use areas, but it may not be the best choice for formal settings.