If you take a good look at your existing carpet and notice discoloration, wrinkles, and laying over/exhausted looking fibers it may be time to consider replacing your carpet. Getting new flooring is an exciting process but we know that it’s not a decision you make every day and the options can be overwhelming. We’re here to simplify the process by giving you a few things to consider when shopping for carpet.
Know your scenario
How is the room going to be used?
Is there light or heavy foot traffic?
Is the room prone to spills &/or staining?
No matter the answer to the questions above, we have a carpet that will fit your life style, but by determining how the space will be used and what your expectations are for your carpet it will make choosing your carpet fiber type match much easier.
Fiber Type
Carpet fiber defined as the type of material from which the strands of carpet are made. The Fiber type is the most important factor in a carpet’s durability.
There are four main fiber types (Wool, Nylon, Triexta/SmartStrand, Polyester) each desirable in different situations. Below are some of the main benefits and weaknesses of each.
Wool is the most durable fiber type, and it is the only natural fiber. The wool fiber is constructed with a crimp, to keep the fibers standing up. If after excessive wear the wool carpeting look exhausted, they’ll stand up again with a carpet cleaning using hot water extraction. While wool is inherently stain resistant, if a spill absorbs into the carpet it is very difficult to remove.
Nylon is the most durable synthetic fiber type. It is made to closely imitate a wool carpet with a similar crimp to revive the fiber with hot water extraction. Nylon carpets are a more porous fiber type, making them inherently more prone to staining, though (most) all modern day nylon carpets have a stain-guard applied to combat the staining.
Triexta, or better known as SmartStrand is a synthetic fiber without any pores. No pores = no stains. It has a similar imitated crimp to both wool and nylon that will revive with hot water extraction. SmartStrand is expected to be as durable as a nylon, but has not been on the market as long as nylon to say for sure, SmartStrand was introduced to the market in 2005.
Polyester is the weakest of the four fiber types, and is typically the most affordable. Polyester carpets do not have the imitated crimp that wool, nylon, and SmartStrand have, but have far less pores than nylon making it a great inherently stain resistant carpet.
The Look
Once you have determined how you’re your room will be used, and what fiber type would work best with your life style we can get down the the fun part- how the carpet looks and feels!
Are you wanting a shorter pile, a cut and loop textured carpet with a slight pattern, a long and shaggy frieze?! We have carpets of ALL styles, textures, pile heights, densities, and colors.. so bring in your Pinterest inspiration pics, paint chips, wallpaper samples, and anything else and well help you find the carpet you love and look amazing for years to come!
If you have any further questions about carpet fiber types feel free to give us a call at (417) 883-4720, email us at flooring417@gmail.com or visit our family friendly showroom located at 2516 W Battlefield Rd in Springfield, MO.
We offer free in home estimates and design consultations, you can get set up for an appointment here. We also post weekly rug sales, new arrivals, design inspiration, completed job site photos and more on our social media platforms, so be sure to follow us where you can!