Carpeting construction entails looping yarn through backing material. The process is similar to attaching buttons on a shirt. The loops are either cut at various angles or left intact. The loop treatment is called the pile of the carpet. The most common types of carpet pile are described below:

Cut pile carpet

The most common carpet is cut pile carpet that has a Saxony finish. Cut pile carpet often begins as a loop pile before a manufacturing process that shears the tips takes place. A plush and elegant appearance is created when the pile has a constant height level. A Saxony finish is a style that is less formal. The yarn is twisted to yield a casual feel. Cut pile carpet shows vacuum cleaner tracks and foot traffic. The track marks are more prominent in a plush style. Cut pile carpet appears to change shades when viewing from different angles.

Level loop pile carpet

Level loop pile is recognized by its low profile structure. All loops of this carpet style are the same height. Level loop pile is quite durable and hides vacuum marks and foot traffic well. Until Berber style carpet became popular during the 1980s, level loop carpet was used in commercial settings. Berber loop pile carpet often is made
from olefin, nylon, or wool. Olefin is susceptible to stains around oil based products. Fiber crushing is also a proclivity.

Multiple level loop pile carpet

Multiple level loop is similar to level loop in the way it is constructed. Two of three varying heights in the loops create a casual look. The characteristic it shares with level loop pile is the ability to hide foot traffic and its durability.

Loop and cut pile carpet

A combination of loop and cut yarn is used to manufacture a style that creates varying textures and different design patterns.

Frieze carpet

Frieze carpet style is identified by the kinked and tightly twisted carpet fibers. The carpet style is non-directional and also hides traffic footprints. Typically, two yarn piles are twisted together. There are seven to nine turns per inch. A random pattern is created by the light twisting. The fiber tufts kink and curl, which is why vacuum cleaner and footprint traffic tracks are hidden so well.