What is a carpet remnant?
This is a question we are asked all the time. It’s also a phrase that is often confused.
First, “carpet remnants” is the title we have given to any piece or roll of carpet that is sold at a discount. To break things down even more accurately, we sell both carpet remnants and roll ends. Remnants are typically small pieces of carpet that are left over after an installation or fabrication is finished.
Carpets are manufactured most often in 12′ or 13’2″ widths. However, many jobs are either smaller than that dimension or are bigger, thus necessitating overage for a seam. Both situations would result in a remnant. A lot of retailers will order a lot more excess than is needed leaving installers with an abundance of this type of material. Most remnants stay with the customer, but often times there is so much that the installer is left with the material.
Roll ends are quite different. Roll ends are the excess materials left at the manufacturer. Those same 12’ and 13’2 widths are typically manufactured in rolls up to 200’ long. As retailers order the material, the manufacturers make cuts until the roll is empty. Often times the rolls are depleted to a point where there is nothing sellable left. Anything under 25’ long is then considered a roll end. The roll ends that are warehoused the longest end up being sold to retailers at a discount.
We use “carpet remnants” to keep it simple, but the industry isn’t always as such. In our case especially, we seek out remnants and roll ends from high-end, wool manufacturers. Because of this, we never know what patterns, colors, or sizes will be available. We do try to remain consistent in the timing of our orders. We purchase at least one large remnant package a month which includes dozens of remnants.
Carpet remnants make excellent area rugs and runners. All can be customized for shape, size, and fabrication. We purchase them from mills all over the world and from local installers that don’t have the opportunity to sell the remnants on their own. All of this allows us to maintain a unique selection for many project types.
