A wool rich carpet gives unbeatable luxury, combining softness with durability. For discerning consumers and well known contract installations, a blend of at least 80% wool is the preferred choice. Wool rich carpets grace some of the most prestigious locations and homes in the world. Wool carpets have been around for over a hundred years and there are many reasons why it is still regarded as one of the best floor coverings materials. Key benefits of wool rich carpets include resilience, excellent appearance retention, insulation, impact sound reduction, naturally fire retardant, and its ease of maintenance through wool being naturally ‘soil hiding’; so it appears cleaner. Wool rich carpets are often blended with 20% man-made fibres to offer additional pile support and properties to ensure your luxury carpet lasts longer in your home.
Polypropylene is a by product of petroleum refining. It is chemically inert which makes it very resistant to fading, and are surprisingly very similar to wool in feel. Many consumers find it very difficult to tell wool and polypro carpets apart, however upon closer examination you will find wool carpets tend to have more random flecks as part of the natural characteristic. Of all the man made carpet fibres available, Polypropylene is one of the most popular. This is due to a number of reasons, the first being it’s chemical fastness which makes it the most stain resistant fibre on the market - it will even tolerate bleach and battery acid!
Regarded as the hardest wearing synthetic fibre, durable and resilient, polyamide carpets are also one of the nicest feeling man-made carpets produced, especially comfortable for bedrooms. You don’t tend to find any particularly ‘earthy’ colours among Polyamide carpets, however vibrant colours and bold designs do tend to be commonplace. Another benefit of Polyamide carpets is that you will find luxury pile height creating a Saxony or shag pile carpet; such a characteristic is not cost effective with wool rich carpets. Over the years Nylon carpets have changed dramatically and one inherent characteristic is the ‘bouncebackability’ of the fibres, created through the twisting of the fibres so the pile acts as a type of spring that stretches out again once pressure has been alleviated. As the fibres are man-made, Polyamide is also very stain resistant without having to be treated by any anti-stain products. A common misconception is the Polyamide/Nylon carpets create anti-static shocks, however this is not true.
Polyester carpets can look similar to wool carpets when first fitted and in terms of durability, polyester carpets are second best to Nylon carpets, still very durable however the appearance of being matted can happen with time. Easy to maintain and very highly stain resistant. Prices tend to be slightly cheaper than Polyamide, however can fluctuate with the price of oil.
