Pick the Right Carpet Material

A little knowledge about carpet fibers can mean longer life for your floors. Our guide can help you make the best choice

Jennifer BishopMarch 27, 2012

One of the most important parts in selecting carpet is understanding what it's made of, because different carpet fibers have different characteristics. Before you head to the showroom, figure out which type is right for your room's style and traffic pattern with this handy guide.

PPDS

WOOL

Pros

Hides soil
Strong, elastic and resilient; great for heavy traffic
Responds very well to cleaning, as moisture makes the fiber swell and release dirt
Naturally flame retardant
Neutralizes indoor air contaminants and does not reemit them
Environmentally friendly

Cons

High cost
Prone to distortion by excess agitation
Stains easily, due to its absorbency and ease of dyeing
Very sensitive to chlorine bleach

Cost: About $5 to $24 per square foot, installed

Dunlap Design Group, LLC

NYLON

Pros

Most commonly used fiber; readily available in a wide range of colors and textures
Good elasticity — very important in heavy traffic areas where furniture may be dragged across the carpet
Abrasion resistant, surpassing even wool
Wear guaranties often available
Resilient; can be crushed for long periods and regain its original shape
Responds very well to most professional cleaning methods and treatments

Cons

Can have problems with bleaching, fading, urine reactions and so on
Synthetic, so it off-gases

Cost: $4 per square foot or more for high grade, best for heavy traffic; $3 to $4 medium grade; $2 to $3 base grade; $2 or less apartment grade

Robert kiejdan

OLEFIN

Pros

Moisture resistant
Difficult to stain
Great for outdoor applications (pool, stadium)
Chemical resistant; most chemicals and bleaches won’t damage it at all
Fade resistant
Low static

Cons

Not a resilient fiber; when crushed it does not regain its original shape easily
Like polyester, extended exposure to oil-based soils may become permanent
Difficult to dye due to its low absorbency rate; almost always solution dyed
Synthetic, so it off-gases.

Cost: About $2.25 to $6.50 per square foot, installed

POLYESTER

Pros

Very resistant to bleaching, fading and soil-dye reactions
Resistant to water-based stains

Cons

Difficult to dye; usually must be solution dyed, which limits the variety
Not resistant to oily stains
Can mat down quickly and will not come back the way nylon does
Synthetic, so it off-gases

Cost: About $2 to $7 per square foot installed

ON Design Architects

SISAL

Pros

Can stand up to high traffic; good for stairs
Gives your room a great natural look while adding texture
Biodegradable and nontoxic

Cons

Uncomfortable against bare skin
Can be pricey (but generally less so than wool)
Susceptible to moisture damage
Can be difficult to clean

Cost: About $4 to $8.50 per square foot installed

Robert kiejdan

Designer’s tip: I generally recommend nylon and wool to my clients; both of those choices are going to perform well in most homes.

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