There are many carpet materials on the market and you need to choose the one that best suits your needs and requirements. Any rug you buy acquires all its features and characteristics thanks to the fiber that it is made of.
Each fiber comes with unique attributes that is exactly what your rug will reflect. Below is the list of the main materials used in the industry with their advantages and disadvantages. Make your decisions wisely based on the informed approach…
Overview:
We are going to discuss 5 main fibers which are wool, acrylic, polyester, polypropylene and natural fibers. We will discuss all of these fibers in detail and learn about their positives and negatives so that your carpet buying decision is perfectly informed.
wool fiber
Wool is the most important and oldest fiber used in the carpet industry and is also considered the reference material. They are naturally found in soft fibers known for their characteristic warmth and attractive appearance. Many people prefer wool fiber over any other fiber just because it offers a warmth factor to their cold and icy floor in winter. They are perfect insulators for floors. They are soft, strong and durable. Fiber is excellent at absorbing moisture, which means a natural air filter for your space. Rugs made from wool exhibit excellent elasticity and are naturally resistant to dirt, wear and tear. The best thing about wool is that it does not catch fire during burning. On the contrary, they burn without flame, which means that the fire does not spread during accidents.
If we have to list the characteristics of wool, here is the bulleted list…
1. First of all; they are soft and warm.
2. Resist crushing and flame (they smolder instead of burning)
3. They resist wear.
4. Strong, durable, lightweight.
5. They absorb moisture and retain their shape.
6. They have good stain resistance.
When it comes to wool used in rugs and carpets, there are hundreds of different qualities available on the market. New Zealand wool is considered the best in the business, which is naturally whiter wool. The color treatment on them is more vibrant when dyed, due to the superior quality of the yarn. They have a longer staple length, which translates to less shedding and better smoothness and softness.
Apart from all the mentioned advantages and characteristics of wool in the carpet industry, they have their own disadvantages. Wool rugs are considered to be one of the most expensive of all other materials available. Also, it is not yet practical to achieve the pattern and vibrancy of color that we can have in synthetic yarns like acrylic. They are susceptible to moisture. Direct exposure to UV rays can damage wool rugs. And last but not least, wool is the natural habitat of moths, so special care is required, especially if left in dark spaces.
In our next article, we would be discussing our second fiber. So read on and wait for our next upload.