When selecting carpeting for your home you have many things to consider and many options to weigh. Carpets come in a vast array of colors and styles, textures and fibers and there are many different qualities of carpets to choose from.One of
first things to consider when purchasing a carpet is how much traffic will it receive? If you have a high traffic area, then nylon would be a good choice due to it's durability. Nylon is also stain resistant and repels mildew. A carpet of Olefin would also be a good choice for heavy traffic areas as it is strong and easy to clean. Olefin is used in some artificial sports turf. Polyester is also excellent in high traffic areas as it is easy to clean and resists water based stains. Polyester has look and feel of wool, which would be finest quality fiber, but polyester is much less expensive than wool. There are also some blends of above fibers available which are long lasting and durable. Some carpet manufacturers supply performance rating guidelines, ask to see these.
Another consideration would be density of carpet. You want a high number of fibers per square inch. A closely packed pile is an indication of a well made carpet. Check carpet backing closely to make sure you don't see any bare areas.
The two most popular types of carpeting today are loop pile and cut pile. Loop pile has individual strands of yarn pulled through carpet backing twice, creating a small loop. Cut pile has loop cut at top, leaving tufts of yarn that stand straight up. A cut pile carpet is generally more durable than a looped pile carpet. Cut pile carpets come in a variety of styles such as shag, textured, saxony and velvet or plush. Loop pile carpets would be a berber, cable or sisal. Loop pile carpets are a good choice for high traffic areas.
