The Best Carpet Materials for Your Home and Family
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Posted On :
Aug-04-2011
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Article Word Count :
773
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If you’ve made the decision to upgrade your home with new carpet, you’ve probably considered many of the obvious factors such as the color and type of flooring. But you may not have thought of one important feature
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If you’ve made the decision to upgrade your home with new carpet, you’ve probably considered many of the obvious factors such as the color and type of flooring. But you may not have thought of one important feature: What the carpeting is made from. Many families make their choices based on the samples that are presented to them, but don’t really consider what the flooring is constructed from. As new research shows the importance of indoor air quality in the home, more families are paying close attention to the products they bring indoors.
The materials that go into making carpeting are chosen for their strength, durability and appearance. Ninety percent of the carpet market is dominated by nylon and polypropylene materials, as they are hard-wearing and cost-effective. There are other choices on the market however, that offer equal strength and are made from natural materials. Knowing what the selections are made from will help you in determining the best carpeting material for your family.
Let’s first take a look at the synthetic choices on the market that include polypropylene and acrylic. Polypropylene, or olefin, is a common material because it is durable, resistant to foot traffic and inexpensive. Although traditional polypropylene carpets had a tough, hard feel to them, carpeting manufacturers have been producing newer styles that rival the soft, plush feel of luxurious carpeting selections. This type of material is most commonly used with berber carpets and cut piles. Since it is a synthetic fiber, some have speculated that polypropylene is not the ideal choice for indoor air quality. However, if you’re looking for a strong flooring at an affordable cost, this may be the best material for you.
Another synthetic fiber is acrylic, although this is less widely used because it has been known to pill or fuzz easily. Acrylic has undergone many changes to make it more durable, but some of these issues still exist. The advantages to acrylic are that it is colorfast, washable and also resembles the look of wool. It dries quickly and is resistant to molds, which means it’s one of the only carpets that can be placed in bathrooms or kitchens. That said, the declining popularity of acrylic makes it difficult to find them on the market. You can however, find these selections with acrylic area rugs.
Nylon and polyester are flooring types that fall in between the spectrum of being natural and manmade. In their traditional form, nylon and polyester are not naturally made, but more companies are offering green versions of these materials. Nylon is the most common carpeting material and offers excellent wear and stain resistance. With exceptional performance and resiliency, it’s no surprise that nylon carpeting is a top choice for consumers. To be Eco-friendly, nylon carpet can be made from post-industrial fiber and polymer products that are kept out of landfills. And since these green nylon carpets are made from post-consumer waste, they can be recycled into new carpeting at a later date.
Polyester is another option that can be made in a greener form. Polyester is a good choice, as it offers excellent stain resistant properties, beautiful colorations and is rather durable. The downside is that it mats and wears down quickly, so polyester is generally seen with low to mid-priced carpet selections. Since polyester is created from PET, it’s possible to have this type of carpeting made to be environmentally sound. Just ask for selections that are constructed of plastic soda bottles and other reclaimed post consumer products.
If you’re looking for the greenest option in carpeting, wool is the optimal choice. Wool is a natural material and has been used in carpets and rugs for centuries. It remains the premier choice in carpet material, as it features a deep, rich look and feel that simply cannot be replicated by any other carpeting type. With this in mind, wool carpeting is also extremely expensive and out of the price range for most consumers. To make wool carpeting attainable for the general population, you can often find it blended with other synthetic fibers such as nylon. This adds durability and strength, while bringing down cost.
With all the varieties in carpeting selection, considering the material may seem to be one more aspect to worry about. There is always debate over which is better – natural or manmade – as natural materials tend to offer better strength and longevity, while manmade sources are sustainable and better for the home and the environment. By identifying what is most important, you can make the best selection for your home and family.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Best Carpet Materials for Your Home and Family_71111.aspx
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Author Resource :
Janine Green writes about different home improvement ideas and carpet trends out of Toronto. Always looking for the highest quality carpet materials at the best prices, she tends to end up shopping at http://www.carpetone.ca more often than not.
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Keywords :
carpet,
Category :
Home and Family
:
Interior Design
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