A Comparison of Olefin, Nylon, Polyester and Wool Carpeting
Some people think that there are only different brands of carpet and that there are not actually different types of materials. This is far from the truth, and there are four major types of fabrics that can be utilized when you are deciding to floor your home.
The most common material used in carpet production is nylon. Nylon is a durable synthetic material that is very resistant to spills and is easily maintainable. For any sort of high use environment, this is usually the type of carpet preferred.
Laboratories are increasing the efficiency of nylon fiber, so that it becomes more durable and tougher, providing greater resistance to stains. These newer carpets are usually labeled as stain resistant, and they come with better warranties and a higher price tag.
Olefin is another type of carpet material, which is also known as polypropylene. It is stain resistant and resists any damage from moisture. As well, you can use heavy chemicals without ruining your carpet.
Unfortunately, Olefin doesn’t last as long as nylon carpeting, and you will usually see this type of carpeting in pool houses, basements, or other spaces that are not heavily used and that do 0not receive heavy foot traffic.
Polyester carpet ranks in strength between nylon and olefin carpet and has a very low price tag. This type of carpeting will not result in any set of allergy, it is resistant to insects and moisture, and it is very easy to clean. This type of carpet will frustrate some own homeowners because it piles, and it also is prone to shedding fibers.
Usually the kind of bargain prices you see in home improvement stores on carpeting for around a dollar a square foot are composed of polyester carpet.
You may be surprised to know that the last type of carpeting material is wool. Due to its extremely high price, wool carpeting is rarely used in most modern forms of carpeting and usually has to be special ordered. It has many positive attributes, including being soft, fire resistant, dust resistant, and very rich in texture.
Wool carpeting will never crush over time as other carpets will, but you will certainly pay a high price tag. In fact, it is quite difficult to find vendors of wool carpeting at all.
Whatever you are deciding to carpet, remember that you have a great deal of choices so you may want to think about what material of carpet you are going to buy so that you don’t make the wrong decision.