What is synthetic carpet?

Carpet can be manufactured with synthetic or natural materials, like wool, or it can be a mix of both.  So what exactly is synthetic carpet made of?

What is synthetic carpet?

Whereas natural materials are found in nature, such as wool, sisal and seagrass, synthetic materials are entirely man-made.  The vast majority of carpets are made with synthetic materials and the rest are predominantly made using wool.

Synthetic fibres are manufactured using a variety of chemical compounds like nylon, polypropylene and polyester.  It is a similar process for each, involving oil and natural gas.

Nylon is by far the most popular as it is the most robust. It is resistant to staining and fading, has great appearance retention and holds its colour and styling.

Polypropylene is the second most popular as it is both fade and stain resistant.  It is not as resilient as nylon but is still a robust fibre.  There are less colour options with polypropylene as it must be dyed before being extruded (the is the process where pellets of the material are melted together) because it is water resistant.  However, this means it is moisture and mildew resistant.

Polyester is also stain and fade resistant and has good colour clarity, but is not as durable as nylon.  There is another man-made fibre available, Triexta, which is much newer and is made of a combination of polyester and sustainable materials such as corn sugars.  It is more durable than polyester on its own and possibly as resilient as nylon, but it has not been around long enough to know for certain.

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What are the advantages of synthetic carpet?

There are many advantages to having a carpet manufactured with man-made fibres.  For a start, they can be very cost effective and are cheaper than wool carpets. 

They are very family friendly as they are stain resistant and easy to keep clean.  They can withstand rigorous scrubbing on a stain and do not need specialist cleaning products.

Nylon is the frontrunner as it is so durable, it is perfect for the busiest family rooms. It is crush, wear and abrasion resistant and available in a wide variety of colours as it holds them so well.  It is also resistant to mildew, mould and rot.

Polypropylene is the most budget friendly choice, which will not stain or fade easily.  It does not absorb water and as its colour does not fade, it is ideal for bold and vibrant patterns.

For a more luxurious feel underfoot, polyester is a good option.  It is non-allergenic and highly stain resistant.  As it is not as durable as nylon, it is more suited to bedrooms and areas with lower foot-traffic.  Triexta is another very soft fibre which is very durable, so is ideal for busy living areas.

If you are looking to be more environmentally friendly, a more sustainable option is PET Polyester carpet.  This is commonly made with recycled materials such as plastic bottles, and is a soft, non-allergenic and stain resistant carpet.

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Is a mix of natural and synthetic a good idea?

The other option is to have a mix of both natural and synthetic fibres, to combine the advantages from both.  This is often called a wool blend, which is usually made of 80% wool and 20% synthetic materials.

Wool has many benefits, it is a very luxurious fibre which has an unrivalled softness underfoot.  It is a sustainable material so is better for the environment and is also durable and resilient.  Wool has a natural elasticity which means it springs back into shape, even after heavy furniture has been resting on it.  One of its great advantages is its natural flame resistance.  Another is its energy efficiency, it traps the heat so will actually reduce your heating bill.  It is also naturally non-allergenic and actually improves indoor air quality as it traps air-borne dust particles.

A blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon gives you added durability with all the luxury of wool, at a slightly reduced cost.

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Whatever look you want to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs.  Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!

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