The most important aspect in
selecting the right carpet for your home is the fiber. There are several fibers to choose
from. The most popular
Carpet Fibers are: Nylon, Olefin, Polyester and Sorona. Each fiber has advantages and disadvantages. It's up to you to choose the
right carpet
fiber that will meet your needs and goals and fit your budget too.
NYLON
Nylon is the
best wearing, and most durable synthetic fiber available. It is more expensive
then Olefin and Polyester and you may choose another fiber for this reason, but nylon is well-known for being the best choice if you want your
carpet to last a long time and look like new longest.
Nylon is
the most resilient fiber and outperforms all
other synthetic fibers with regards to matting and crushing. It wears well, resists abrasion and is easy to clean.
It comes
in hundreds of beautiful styles and colors. What more can you ask for? Nylon
is the best wearing, most durable fiber available. Insist on nylon to reap
these benefits:
-
Exceptionally strong
-
Abrasion resistant
-
Easy to clean
-
Resistant to damage from oil
and many chemicals
-
Can be pre-colored or dyed
in wide range of colors
-
Most resilient of all fibers
-
Low in moisture absorbency
"Soft"
Nylon fibers
Some people love
the look and soft feel of wool carpets but can't afford to buy it. Now
consumers have a less expensive option with a new type of "softer"
nylon carpet. Sold under the registered names of Tactesse®, Lisse'®, Anso
Caress® and others, this nylon carpet fiber may be exactly what you are
looking for. While less expensive than wool, the prices for this softer nylon
carpet will be higher than most standard nylon carpets. And there are some
drawbacks to buying this new "softer" nylon carpet.
Ask to see these
softer nylon carpet styles at your carpet dealer, but more importantly, be
sure you know if this style of carpet will meet your needs and lifestyle.
These softer nylons are not meant for every residential situation.
Continuous
Filament Nylon Fiber vs Nylon Staple Fiber
Nylon is the most
durable fiber, but not all nylons are created equal. You need to understand the
difference between a carpet labeled 100% Nylon and Nylon BCF. Click here
to read my special report taken directly
from the pages of The
2009 Complete Carpet Buying Guide. You'll be glad you did.
OLEFIN
(Polypropylene)
Olefin is a strong
good-looking synthetic fiber that is inexpensive to manufacture. Most Berbers
are made of Olefin. Olefin wears well and has good stain resistance when
anti-stain treatment is applied. Olefin has good anti-static properties.
However, Olefin is hard to clean and tends to attract dirt like a magnet. It
has poor resiliency and tends to look dingy when soiled. It is also called
polypropylene or polyolefin. Outdoor grass styles are also made from Olefin.
Olefin is not the
best fiber selection for homes in most cases, however some have had great success
using a commercial level loop Olefin carpets. Glued directly to the floor,
commercial grade carpets will last significantly longer than if used with a pad.
Wheelchairs roll
easily over glued-down commercial-grade level loop carpets and are a
good choice for handicapped applications, schools, businesses, institutions and
retirement homes.
Continue...
More
Carpet
Information:
The
History of Carpet
In-Home
Carpet Scams
The
Bait and Switch Scam
Measuring
Scams
How
to Choose Carpet
Determine
Your Level of Foot Traffic
Carpet
Fibers 1
Nylon and Olefin (You
are here)
Carpet
Fibers 2
Polyester and Sorona®
Alan's
Preferred
Carpet Dealer Directory
The
2009 Complete Carpet Buying Guide
