Carpet is warm, soft,
quiet, and economical and remains a popular flooring choice
for homeowners. The wide range of carpet varieties means you
will be sure to find something that will suit your taste and
need. Our experts can guide you through the many options and
help you select the perfect carpet for your unique need.
There are many reasons why carpet is a good choice.
Carpet is flexible and can be installed over a subfloor that
is not quite level or is slightly uneven. It’s also an
economical choice -- the installation cost for carpet is
generally less than most of the hard surface flooring
products. It will absorb smells more readily than most other
flooring options, and it requires professional cleaning on
an annual basis (at least) for optimal maintenance. And
since dust and dirt can settle in to carpet, people with
strong allergies may want to choose a hard surface floor.
There are many materials that carpet is made from, both from
man-made and natural sources. Following is a brief look at
two traditional carpet varieties, wool and nylon. In the
video above, learn about SmartStrand carpet to see this new
carpet technology in action with the "SmartStrand
Challenge featuring Ricko the Rhino!" To see
more of this incredible event, check out
www.smartstrandchallenge.com. And if you would like to
know more about this or any other varity of carpet that we
carry, please feel free to ask one
of our knowledgeable experts.
Pros
- Soft and quiet
- Many color and texture options
- Economical
- Easy installation
Cons
- Absorbs odors
- Can affect allergies
- Needs professional cleaning
WHY WOOL?
Wool carpet is considered
the highest quality of carpeting. It is quite a bit more
expensive than most other carpet fibers, but its natural
properties are unbeatable. Wool carpeting can last for
decades -- much longer than synthetic fiber carpet. Wool
carpet will outperform just about any other carpet fiber in
high traffic areas. Wool naturally has many desirable
properties that buyers look for in carpet on top of its main
appeal of feeling luxurious -- it is very resilient,
flame-retardant, and soil resistant. Each strand of wool
fiber has a spiraling crimp, which makes it perform much
like a spring and so gives it natural bounce-back
resiliency. Wool fibers are also difficult to ignite, do not
support combustion, and will self-extinguish when the flame
source is removed. There are health benefits to wool carpet
as well -- wool is non-allergenic, non-toxic, and does not
support bacterial growth. There are a few downsides of wool
carpet however. Most often, it is cost prohibitive to many
people. In addition, at the beginning the carpet will shed
loose fibers, but regular vacuuming will mitigate this.
Also, wool stains easily from certain substances (such as
animal urine, Kool-Aid, and fruit juices).
Pros
- Long lasting
- Very resilient
- Great in high traffic
- Natural fire retardant
- Non-allergenic
Cons
- Expensive
- Sheds in beginning
- Stains easily
Hibernia Woolen Mills
WHY NYLON?
Nylon carpet is the most
popular synthetic fiber in carpeting. It is the most
resilient of the synthetic fibers, it is wear and mildew
resistant, it is static-free, it doesn’t absorb much liquid,
and it has some stain resistance. Acidic spills in
particular will stain nylon fiber. However, most nylon
carpets are treated with stain resisting solutions to
protect against stains (such as Scotchguard or Stainmaster).
Over time, stain-resisting solutions added to carpets will
actually decrease in effectiveness, but with proper care
they can be maintained for many years. Our experts can share
tips with you for keeping proper care of synthetic fiber
carpets. Finally, nylon carpet will fade from exposure to
sunlight.
Pros
- Most resilient of synthetic fibers
- Wear resistant
- Mildew resistant
- Static-free
- Doesn’t absorb much liquid
- Some stain resistance
Cons
- Stains from acidic spills
- Fade from sunlight
1666 Contra Costa Street, Sand City, CA 93955 Tel: 831-583-9124 Fax: 831-583-0132
Proudly Serving the Residents and
Businesses of Monterey, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel
Valley, Marina, Salinas, and Big Sur with the very best in carpet flooring sales
and installation.
