 | Patrick Goebel has been involved in the home improvement industry for over 10 years and is currently director of retail flooring of the Flooring & Decorating Division of Star Lumber & Supply Co., Inc. You may contact Patrick by email at pgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221. |
Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering
2006-07-01 09:38:00
Carpet construction benefits?
Question: I have just begun receiving The Q & A Times and have enjoyed your columns. I am sure you have probably answered this question before, but could you cover the different types of fabrics of carpeting, their plusses and minuses, and their costs?
ANSWER: Sure, I would be happy to. Most all carpet fabrics fit under one of five categories. They are:Nylon. Two-thirds of the today's carpet fibers are nylon, a material that offers excellent durability and is wear-, soil- and mildew-resistant. Nylon fibers are resilient, survive the crushing weight of furniture and hold up well in heavily trafficked areas. Nylon is available in brilliant colors and solution-dyed varieties are colorfast. Nylon carpets tend to cost from about $8 to $25 per square yard. At rock-bottom, they run as low as $5; at the high end you can pay $70 per square yard or more.Olefin. Also known as polypropylene, olefin fibers represent about 30 percent of the carpet market. Although olefin began as an outdoor carpet fiber, thanks to its resistance to moisture and mildew, new advances in its look and feel have made olefin popular for the entire house. It is easy to clean, strong and resistant to stains, wear and static electricity. These fibers are used primarily in multi-level loops, such as Berbers, and in low-profile commercial cut piles. Color is added before the material is turned into fiber, making olefin colorfast. Some carpet tiles made of olefin are felt-like in texture; for these, polypropylene fibers are needle-punched into a mesh core. Olefin carpet is comparable in price to nylon; although the fiber is less expensive than nylon, more manufacturing processes are involved in making olefin Berbers and loops.Polyester. If you like a luxurious, soft, thick cut pile, polyester may be your best bet. Polyester fibers, known for their soft "hand," have plenty of body, resist wear and offer strong color and luster retention. Unfortunately, they are not as durable as nylon and olefin. Currently, many polyester carpets are made from recycled PET (polyester) from plastic soda bottles and containers. Polyester carpets run about $1 less per square yard than comparable nylon products.Wool. The most luxurious fiber is natural wool. It is soft, durable, offers generous bulk and comes in many colors. From an ecological viewpoint, it is particularly responsible choice because it comes from a sustainable resource. Unfortunately, wool is also considerably more expensive than synthetics. For wool, you're likely to pay from $30 to $100 per square yard--or more.Acrylic. Although you won't likely find a 100% acrylic carpet, these fibers are blended with other fibers such as wool because they approximate the look and feel of natural wool but are less expensive. Acrylic fibers are resistant to moisture, mildew and fading in direct sunlight.
