What You Should Know About Carpet Fiber
Basically, all carpet starts with a fiber. There are four basic types of fiber and each of them has their own strength or benefit. Decide what’s important to you and your decision will be easy!
These four basic types of carpet fibers are: nylon, polypropylene, polyester and wool. There are also fibers known as Advanced Generation Nylon.
Nylon – Nylon is the most popular carpet fiber and is preferred because of its strength. It has exceptional resilience and retains its texture well. Nylon carpet fiber is soft yet strong, shows color brilliantly, and cleans well. Advanced generation nylons offer the latest in fiber technology and a built in ability to conceal and resist soil and stains.
Polypropylene – (Olefin) The use of polypropylene in carpet has grown dramatically over the past ten years due to the popularity of Berber style loop carpets. Polypropylene is extremely resistant to stains, fading, and moisture. Polypropylene, a value-oriented fiber, is also notably colorfast because it is solution dyed, which means the color is added during the fiber production and not dyed later. Because it’s so resistant to moisture and mildew, it’s generally a good choice for both outdoor and indoor areas including playrooms, kitchens and dens.
Polyester – Appreciated for its versatility, polyesters popularity continues to grow. Polyester offers exceptional softness, making it ideal for thick, cut pile styles. Polyester is also naturally and permanently stain and fade resistant. It has excellent color clarity, color retention, strength, and abrasion resistance. Carpets made from polyester are easily cleaned and they resist water soluble stains.
Wool – Wool was the original fiber for carpet. It’s the only natural fiber and is the most durable. Wool is a tough fiber that can take a beating without losing its strength. Dust, dirt, and oil-based stains come out easily because wool naturally releases the soil rather than absorbing it. In a high traffic room, it stays resilient and bounces back. It’s also environmentally friendly because it comes from a renewable resource. Because it is the most expensive carpet fiber, wool is generally used only in luxury carpets and area rugs.
Advanced Generation Nylons – These are fibers that have been specially treated with stain and soil resistant resins that were applied during the dyeing process. These advanced generation nylons are also called “branded fibers” because they have a specific brand name. At Bretz Interiors you’ll find the following branded fibers:
- Premier Stainmaster ®
- Anso Caress Platinum
- Wear-Dated
- Softique™
- Infinity™
When you purchase a carpet made with any of these fibers, you’ll get a comprehensive warranty from the manufacturer. Ask your Abbey expert for more information about the performance and warranties on these branded fibers.
