Before we can actually talk about the style of a carpet, we have to delve into fiber types, because that is the building block of any carpet.

 

NYLON: Almost 75% of today’s carpet is made from nylon. Nylon’s greatest strength is its resilience or ability to bounce back, making it a great choice for high traffic areas. Because of its excellent durability and styling versatility, nylon is still the number one fiber choice. Although it is resistant to water-soluble stains, it will be stained by oil or grease. Today’s advanced fiber technologies have increased colorfastness of nylon, but some fade will occur in prolonged exposure to sunlight.

 

OLEFIN (Polypropylene): Olefin is a fiber that is extruded with the color built right into the extruded fiber (rather than post-dyeing after the carpet is tufted). This gives Olefin carpets excellent colorfastness and resistance to any kind of permanent staining. However, Olefin carpets do not have the soft, natural feel that can be had with nylon carpets. Also, it is likely to crush, especially if constructed in large, loop pile styles. If budget is a consideration, Olefin is less expensive than nylon, but remember that it is the least resilient of all the carpet fibers on the market.

 

POLYESTER: Polyester fiber can be manufactured from recycled plastic soda bottles. It is less expensive than nylon carpets and it has good stain resistance. It comes in an array of vibrant colors and resists fading. However, it is not as resilient as nylon and is prone to crushing in higher traffic areas. Most polyester carpets come in soft, luxurious, high-fiber weight styles, and seem to offer a better value than nylon carpets, but be sure to take into consideration where the carpet will be installed, especially since it is less resilient than nylon.

 

WOOL: Wool carpets have a long and prestigious reputation in the world of carpet. 100% wool carpets are the most expensive carpet choices on the market, but the durability, natural stain resistance and luxurious look and feel justify the expense. Today’s styles are sophisticated and innovative. Wool does require more frequent professional cleaning to keep it looking new.

 

BLENDS: Fiber blends offer not only the best attributes of combined fibers, but also more affordability. In the case of wool/nylon blends, you get the excellent aesthetics and comfort of wool, with the durability of nylon. You might also see nylon/olefin or nylon/acrylic blends. Again, adding nylon to any blend adds durability for better performance.