Carpeting can be a major purchase for your home. You want it to have a long life, look good, & be comfortable to walk on. Before you select your carpet, it’s important to understand the different types of carpet fibers that are available & their advantages & disadvantages.
The type of fiber used to make a carpet determines its visual appearance, overall durability, feel, resistance to stains – & the cost.
Synthetic materials are the most popular of the fibers used in today’s carpets accounting for about 97% of all fiber used. Synthetic materials are adaptable into a variety of styles & applications. They are generally easier to maintain than natural fibers.
Common materials used for carpet fibers are:
Nylon
Extremely durable, stain & mildew resistant & static free, Nylon is an excellent choice for all levels of traffic & applications. It maintains its fiber height allowing it to withstand the weight of heavy furniture & people. Nylon is dyed during the production of the fiber thereby avoiding any color run after it’s produced
Nylon accounts for approximately 90% of all residential carpeting. Expect square yard prices from $10 for Cut Piles increasing to $30 for Multi-Level Loops.
Olefin (polypropylene)
Controlling the commercial market with an 80% share, Olefin is the least expensive of the man made fibers. A very strong fiber, Olefin is resistant to moisture & mildew & is easy to clean & maintain. It’s an indoor & outdoor fiber & is the common fiber used for artificial turf.
Polyester
Less expensive than nylon or wool, Polyester fiber creates a very attractive carpet.
Commonly used in soft loop or Berber loop carpets, Polyester is a fiber that is used to make a luxury product. Crush resistant, available in a vast array of dynamic colors & its resistance to fading gives Polyester fibers with a lot of advantages. Polyester fibers are easy to clean & are resistant to water based stains.
Acrylic
Acrylic is the closest synthetic fiber to wool. Because of its wool like attributes, it’s used extensively in Velvet & Plush Level Loop carpets. Acrylic fibers offer the appearance & feel of wool at a much lower cost & has the advantage over wool of being moisture & mildew resistant. The Acrylic fiber resists crushing, stains & will not fade from sunlight.
Acrylic fibers are not suitable for high traffic areas, such as hallways, family rooms, & stairs as they’re a high wear product. Hence, they provide a perfect carpet in master & guest bedrooms.
Wool
When it comes to luxury & performance, no other fiber compares to Wool. Wool carpets maintain their height; they’re ultra soft with a feel that is incomparable.
Wool fibers are easily died or you can select natural colors of off white to black, & they repel water. They are very easy to clean & have an exceptionally long life. Wool fibers are usually used in cut pile & textured carpets.
Wool is one of the most expensive of the natural fibers & much more than synthetic fiber carpets. Wool carpets are also less resistant to moisture than synthetic fiber carpets.
Blends
The aforementioned four fiber types are often combined in a many variations to produce carpets that take the best qualities of each fiber type to produce a group of exceptional finished products.
For the luxurious look & comfort of wool with the durability of nylon, consider a Wool/Nylon blend.
Other common blends include Acrylic/Olefin & Nylon/Olefin. Even though less expensive these blends are usually subject to staining.
PET
If a “green” environment is part of your criteria then you may want to consider the purchase of a carpet made of PET fibers.
Recycled plastics, primarily soda containers, are the basis for polyethylene terephthalate or as it’s more commonly known in the industry PET. Fibers made from PET are not as plush or soft to the feel as other synthetic fibers but they’re very durable, water & static resistant & offers very good value.
For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects including landscaping & gardening, visit Renovation Headquarters.
