Carpet Performance

Fiber Type

• Wool is considered one of the highest quality carpet fibers. It resists crushing, is durable, thick, flame resistant and soft to the touch. On the other hand, it fades in sunlight, is susceptible to damage by moths, and is expensive. Nylon is a widely used synthetic carpet fiber because it is highly durable, resists stains and crushing and is easy to clean. Like wool, it is susceptible to damage from sunlight. Less common carpet fibers include polyester and olefin. Polyester is less expensive than most other fibers, but reveals wear and traffic patterns in a shorter time. It is resistant to sunlight, however, and resists stains. Olefin is mainly used in indoor/outdoor carpeting. It crushes easily, but resists stains and is easy to clean.

Construction

• The twist of the fibers and their density are the two main factors in the resiliency of a carpet. The tighter the fiber is twisted, the more durable it becomes. It still remains within a set range for the type of fiber, for example, polyester will continue to be crushed easier than nylon even if it is twisted tightly, but additional twists in the polyester fiber make it more durable. Density is how tightly the fibers are packed together in the weave of the carpet. Increased density equals increased resilience. Heat setting the fibers during manufacturing can also make the carpet more durable. Typically only synthetic fibers are set with heat.

Pile

• The pile or pattern of the carpet determines how it reveals wear and traffic patterns. A smooth pile cut, referred to as plush or velvet, shows footprints furniture impressions, soiling and vacuum marks more readily than other types of piles. Loops that are even in height, like Berber-style carpet, show very little pattern, but show soiling easier than varying height loops. Textured carpet, such as a combination of cut pile and loops hides dirt, footprints and marks well.

Color

• Color does not affect the wear performance of the carpet, but deep or bright colors can fade over time, especially in rooms with lots of sunlight. The fading might not be obvious until the furniture is rearranged in the room and carpet protected from sunlight has a much brighter color than exposed areas. In addition, certain colors, especially extremely dark and light ones, show dirt and footprints much more than medium shades.