Unraveling the Fiber Mystery: Knowing How to Pick the Right Fiber for Your Home
Picking the Right Carpet
Carpet truly is all about fiber. From cut to style to fabric type, the fiber makes each carpet what it is. But if you’re like most people, you only purchase carpet once a decade or less. So when a salesperson starts throwing around terms like Polyester vs. Nylon vs Natural Fibers, you’re likely to feel the information overload pretty fast. Since fiber selection impacts durability, appearance, foot feel and stain resistance, it pays to know what you’re buying.
To put it in its simplest terms, there is a fairly direct correlation between cost and quality when it comes to carpet. What you put into your purchase is what you get out of it. That being said, the most expensive carpet may not be the best choice for you and your family.
UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY
So, let’s break it down a little bit more. The five main carpet fibers you are likely to run into in your search for the perfect carpet (from most to least expensive) are:
- Wool
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Olefin
PROS AND CONS
Wool – Wool is one of the highest quality fabrics on the carpet market. It is static-resistant, stain-resistant and pleasing to the touch. In fact, wool is the fabric type that most synthetic carpet fabrics aim to imitate in terms of feel. Wool is also extremely eco and family-friendly and has high durability. You’ll find that the price correlates with the quality, making it one of the most expensive carpets you can buy, but the payoff for many homeowners is apparent in its longevity and comfort.
Nylon – More expensive than other synthetic fibers but less expensive than wool, nylon carpets are the most popular in the United States. They are durable, stain-resistant, and pleasing to the touch. It is less eco-friendly than wool, but comes in a wide variety of colors and hues. When choosing a nylon carpet, look for carpets that are solution-dyed as they will remain colorfast.
Polyester – Polyester is not as resilient as other fiber types, but it mimics a wool feel very well and is also available in a variety of colors. Polyester carpet runs the risk of matting but it is more affordable than the carpet fiber types mentioned above.
Olefin – The least expensive on the list, Olefin fiber carpets are also the least resilient. A glossy synthetic fiber, Olefin is usually sold in muted colors and is most often used for outdoor spaces due to its water and stain-resistant properties. However, it crushes easily as a fabric and therefore doesn’t have the longevity or comfortable feel of other carpet fiber types.
Armed with this basic overview of the different carpet fibers you are likely to encounter on your carpet purchasing journey, you can rest assured that you’re on the same page as your carpet specialist and can work together to find the best fit for your home’s individual needs.
HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION
For an even more in-depth look at all the things that go into making the perfect carpet purchase for you, check out our Carpet Buyer’s Guide. Here at Sloane’s Carpet Secret, we take carpet very seriously and want to help you make the right carpet choice. If you’re ready to carpet or re-carpet your home, come see us! We offer an amazing selection of discount carpet and the best installation services in the business. Call Sloane’s today at (303) 300-9555 or contact us online!