Carpet Fibers and Styles
Carpet Fibers:
Fibers are the basic material of the carpet’s makeup. 90% is synthetic fiber, and the rest is natural fiber, mostly wool. Synthetic fibers are made up of one of three materials: nylon, polypropylene or polyester.
Nylon
- 75% is made of nylon
- leader in performance, appearance retention, fade and heat resistance, soil and stain resistance, color and styling
- highest performance nylon is Type 6.6 for more resistance to stain penetration
- All Stainmaster Carpets are made of Type 6.6 Nylon!
Polypropylene
- not as resilient or resistant to abrasion as nylon
- naturally resistant to stains, fading, and moisture
- most often used in loop pile constructions
Polyester
- well accepted for bulkiness, color clarity, and good stain and fade resistance
- not as resilient as nylon
Wool (Natural Fiber)
- ranges in color from off-white to black, with many earthen tones between
- doesn’t stand up to abrasion and moisture as well as synthetics, but cleans well and is known to age gracefully
- wool is the most expensive carpet fiber and represents less than one percent of the U.S. carpet market
Carpet Styles:
There are six basic styles of carpet: textured, saxony or plush, frieze, cable, looped, and cut & loop. Each style has its own characteristics and performance capabilities.
Textured
- very popular cut pile carpet with a casual look
- hides footprints and vacuum marks
- great for all areas in the home, especially for active families
- available in a broad range of prices
Saxony
- formal, traditional and elegant looks
- smooth, soft, velvet plush with a luxurious feel
- uniform twist and finish
- good for master bedrooms, dining rooms or formal living rooms
- not a good choice for high traffic areas or active kids
- shows footprints and vacuum marks
Frieze
- cut pile style with a high twist level
- has a textured surface with a knobby appearance
- durable, wears well, and hides footprints
- performs well in high-traffic areas, anywhere in your home
- available in various pile heights for different looks
Cable
- constructed of thicker, typically longer yarn
- very comfortable underfoot
- better suited for rooms/areas without a lot of activity
- can matte and crush with heavy foot traffic
Looped
- referred to as berber
- big bulky yarns produced in a level loop or multi-level loop
- made out of olefin fiber; some made with nylon or a blend of various fibers
- highly durable and ideal for casual, active family rooms
- comes in solid colors, berber fleck, patterns with varying levels of loops
- hides traffic patterns well
- may make seams more apparent and backing is more visible on stairs
Cut & Loop
- combination of cut and looped yarns that crate pattern effects by the variation in surface textures
- also referred to as patterned carpet
- low profile performs well
- seams are sometimes more visible
- available in many patterns like fun geometrics and formal botanicals
- distinctive carved appearance and multiple colors
- hides stains and stands up to traffic