Most carpet materials are synthetic and all have their individual perks.
Carpet fiber comparison.
This is one of the most critical factors when choosing and comparing new carpet.
Is durability your top priority.
The best carpet for wheelchair users has a short pile or loops and a pad with a density of 8 pounds.
You must compare apples to apples.
Triexta is undoubtedly one of the most talked about updates to the carpeting world and it s easy to see why.
The best carpet for dogs and cats is a short pile made of nylon.
Nylon is the most commonly used carpet fiber and can be found in a wide range of both cut pile and loop pile styles.
It s been hailed as the successor to nylon in particular and synthetic carpet fibers in general particularly with its reputation for durability and longevity.
This combination prevents crushing and improves your ability to push the chair on the floor.
But here is a brief rundown of the types of carpet fibers.
Similarly in synthetics nylon and olefin are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of durability nylon is one of the most durable carpet fibers available while olefin is often better suited for low traffic areas.
Nylon is a resilient fiber resistant to crush and wear therefore a great fit for high traffic areas such as stairs and hallways.
Nylon is a high performance carpet available at a more affordable price point than wool.
Carpet fibers can be either bulked continuous filament bcf or staple staple fibers shed more than bcf fibers.
There are 5 common carpet fiber materials.
The type of carpet fiber you select will determine how long your new carpet lasts how soft it feels what colors are available how easily it cleans and how much it costs.
On the other hand cotton another natural fiber is not very durable by comparison.
How to select the right carpet fiber for your home.
Overall nylon is the most expensive synthetic fiber to produce and so a nylon carpet usually costs quite a bit more than a comparable polyester carpet.
This doesn t affect the long term quality of the carpet but it does mean you ll have to vacuum more often until the initial shedding stops which can take up to a year and it can also be an issue for allergy sufferers.
Lower priced nylons and higher priced polyesters exist.
Nylon may be your best bet.
If you are looking for a cheap alternative to wool acrylic is the answer.
Again this is comparing two carpets of equivalent quality.
You ll have options but smartstrand usually leads the pack.
Nylon carpet fibers in overall performance characteristics nylon is the most versatile of all fibers providing excellent durability and flexibility in creating a variety of carpet styles.
Nylon carpets are nonabsorbent and resistant to mildew.
This synthetic material is resistant to infestation fire stains fading static electricity and mildew.
The comparison table at the end will help illustrate some of the differences.
It s worth reading the comparison of all carpet fibers on my best carpet material page.