3 Types of Carpet Material Compared

The quality of the carpet material in your carpet makes a huge difference in how it will perform. There are many different types of carpet fibers available in the market today. Here are a few different types of carpet material and how they stack up against the competition.

Polyester

Polyester is a carpet fiber that has been around for many years. Polyester got a bad reputation when it first came out because it could not stand up to traffic. It had virtually no memory and would pack down almost immediately. However, in recent years polyester has advanced and has become durable. It is still not one of the better fibers as far as high-traffic areas are concerned.

However, it can stand up to everyday use in certain applications. Polyester is naturally very good at repelling stains. Therefore, if stains are a concern polyester would be a good option on the low-end of the market.

Polyester is going to be one of your least expensive fibers in most cases. Polyester is very receptive to carpet dyes and therefore you can get it in a large variety of colors. With most polyester styles, you will have many colors to choose from.

Nylon

Nylon is one of the most common carpet fibers in the market today. It has also been around for many years and was the industry standard until polyester came along.

Nylon is great because of its superior memory. When you walk on it, it will spring back up again. If it mats down, you can have it steam cleaned and there is a very good chance that it will stand back up again. Nylon is going to be more expensive than polyester in most cases.

Nylon is not naturally stain-resistant and is therefore treated with a variety of stain protections on most carpets. Therefore, by combining a good stain treatment with nylon fiber, you can get a very stain-resistant and durable carpet.

Triexta

Triexta is the newest fiber to come onto the market. It is the first new carpet fiber to get its own fiber class in many years. Triexta is superior to both nylon and polyester in every category. This type of fiber is naturally stain-resistant. In fact, the manufacturer will often have a lifetime stain warranty on this product without treating it with any chemicals.

In addition to that, it is the most durable carpet on the market today. It is not uncommon to see a 25-year wear warranty on this type of fiber. To prove how durable it is, the manufacturer installed some in a rhino cage and let the rhino live on it. They then cleaned it and it looked like new again.

In addition to the performance aspect of this carpet, it is also very desirable from a comfort standpoint. This is one of the softest fibers on the market today and feels great underfoot. Much of it is made out of corn and is therefore more environmentally friendly than other types of carpet.