Wool Carpet - A “Premium” Product

Wool carpet is a natural fiber made from sheep hair. Its durability, hypoallergenic, and aesthetic qualities make it a popular choice for homes and offices. Despite its soft texture, wool is an exceptionally hard-wearing carpet fiber. With a lifespan of 20-50 years under proper care, it can outlast most synthetic options. Another wool carpet benefit is color retention. Wool carpet maintains its original color over years of wear and cleaning. Wool carpet fiber’s molecular structure readily accepts dye very well and retains it, allowing wool carpeting to be manufactured in a wide range of colors and patterns. Wool also accommodates a wide shade variation to offer dramatic aesthetic appeal in most any application.

Wool carpet is environmentally friendly and promotes healthy indoor air quality for several reasons: 

• Wool is a natural insulator and can keep your floors noticeably warmer in cold seasons.
• Wool carpet fiber is natural stain resistant due to the cellular structure.
• Wool is naturally fire & flame resistant. It has a very high combustion point, making it more resistant to burning than synthetic options, making it a safer option for homes & businesses. 
• Wool is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, making it an inhospitable surface for dust mites and other allergens, including acting as a “filter” against some airborne chemicals.
• Wool carpet is often treated with a mild insecticide called Permethrin to resist moths and carpet beetles. Thankfully, Permethrin has been studied extensively and found to pose no threat to humans. 
• Wool naturally regulates humidity by absorbing and releasing moisture in its environment as the humidity levels naturally fluctuate.

Nylon Carpet - A "Great" Product

Nylon was first patented in 1935 by the DuPont company and came to the textiles market in 1939. Nylon carpet fibers are constructed of petroleum-based polymer and several manufacturers use identical fibers in making their products. While it is highly durable, resilient, and stain resistant, not everyone is comfortable with synthetic materials, and some people can have physical reactions from the chemicals, including respiratory and skin sensitivity. It is best to do your own research to decide if this fiber is right for your project.

Characteristics of nylon carpet:

• Highly resistant to abrasion
• Resilient, so the fiber will ‘bounce back’ from compaction due to foot traffic better than some other fibers like polyester or acrylic.
• Nylon fibers inhibit growth of mold and mildew spores.
• Very cost-effective for a durable material.
• Some nylon carpet fibers can be reclaimed at the end of their life cycle and remade into new carpet, however reclamation is difficult and there are very few facilities to offer this service.

Polyester Carpet - A "Good" Product

Polyester carpets have come a long way in recent years, becoming very competitive with nylon in terms of durability. Polyester carpets tend to be less costly, however there is a difference in the quality. Polyester has higher stain resistance, however it is not as resistant to abrasion, nor does it have the same resiliency as nylon.

• A high-grade polyester may outperform a low-grade nylon
• Brighter colors and more color options
• Higher stain resistance and repels moisture
• PET polyester is made from recycled plastic bottles, reducing waste 
• Polyester carpets tend to have a softer hand-feel than nylon and some wool