Durability of Carpet Types

Natural Fibers

• Some natural fibers can endure considerable wear and tear. The most durable natural fiber is sisal, which comes from agave plant leaves. Sisal is so durable, in fact, that builders use it in commercial installations with heavy traffic. Another durable natural fiber is coir, made from the husk of a coconut. Because of its rough surface, coir falls short of sisal's popularity.

  Natural fibers with lower durability include seagrass and jute. National Green Specification (2007) reports that, with light use, jute carpet lasts up to 15 years in a home. Seagrass is more durable, lasting up to 15 years with moderate use.

Man-made Fibers

• The three most common man-made fibers in carpet are nylon, polyester and olefin (also called polypropylene). Of these, nylon is the most durable because of its high resistance to abrasion and crushing. Abrasion refers to the carpet's ability to withstand rubbing and scraping. Crushing refers to its ability to recover from flattening, which happens when you walk across the carpet.

  Some carpets contain a blend of man-made fibers. The durability of these carpets depends on which fibers are used. For instance, a blend of polyester and nylon is less durable than nylon by itself, but it's more durable than a pure polyester carpet.

Mixed Fibers

• Some carpets have mixed fibers, meaning they contain both natural and man-made fibers. The most common mixed fiber is 80 percent wool and 20 percent nylon. The wool gives the carpet a tone of luxury, and the nylon gives the carpet high durability. According to National Green Specification (2007) an 80-20 mixed fiber will last between 10 and 20 years in high-traffic, commercial areas.