Choosing Synthetic Carpeting

Fiber Trumps Color When It Comes To Carpeting

It doesn't matter whether you're choosing floor coverings for just one room or for your entire home, your decision can make or break your decorating plans and schemes. Color is probably the least of your concerns when choosing carpeting. The most important factor to consider is the type of fiber used in the making of the carpeting. The three top choices for wall-to-wall carpet fibers are nylon, polyester and olefin. Wool happens to be the benchmark, but the high price often places woollen carpeting out of reach for many people.

It is important to consider which room or rooms the carpeting will be installed in and how much traffic that area will have to sustain. As a means of helping you decide, we will take some time to familiarize you with the various fibers and their pros and cons. Hopefully this will give you a basic understanding which may be helpful when you are ready to make your purchase.

The First Choice In Synthetic Fibers Is Nylon

Synthetic fibers include nylon, polyester and olefin. The most common fiber used in carpet construction is nylon and that is probably due to its durability and strength. Carpeting made of nylon is not likely to become threadbare. However, if it is not properly maintained (vacuumed and periodically chemically cleaned) or if insufficient or substandard padding is used, it can become unattractive looking in time. You will probably find that many higher quality nylon carpets are branded, meaning they are stocked under a brand name rather than being identified as 100 percent nylon. Nylon is the most preferred fiber for wall-to-wall carpeting because of its resilience, ease of maintenance and the fact that it works anywhere. It comes in a wide variety of colors and types such as plush, Berber and Saxony styles.

Polyester Is Used In More Things Than Pants and Shirts

Polyester comes in at second place because it is a weaker fiber, but it does have better stain resistance than nylon and more color choices. It is a little less expensive than nylon and can be the best choice for your carpeting needs. The common characteristic of polyester fiber is that it is made of plastic materials and can sometimes emit a different sound when walked upon. Not everyone hears this, but some people do, so it is a good idea to walk on the carpeting in the showroom before you decide to have it laid wall-to-wall in your home. Polyester fibers feel soft and there are great color options available. It is inexpensive and is a good choice for lower traffic areas.

Hide Dirt Best With Olefin

Olefin is the weakest of the synthetic fibers but has the most dirt-concealing properties of the three. This makes it really useful in high traffic areas and family rooms. It is best when made into a Berber style weave because it is then both knobby and dense. This type of fiber is also suitable for outdoor use.

All three synthetic fibers are petroleum based which means that you may need to look at natural fibers if eco-friendly fibers are important to you.