When you go to the market to get a carpet, you will come across different types of carpet materials, fibers & styles which will obviously spoil you for choice. 

And not each and every carpet that you look at is suitable for your home or office space. While some carpet styles are made for everyday wear and tear in high traffic areas others are made for luxurious & low traffic areas.

The best part about a carpet is that it is an affordable flooring option that can not only add warmth & comfort to your home but also act as a sound barrier between rooms. 

So, before you start thinking about getting a nice carpet for your home or commercial space, go through our guide to know about different types of carpet fibers, construction styles and other crucial information to make a well-informed decision.

Common Types of Carpet fibers You Should Know About

Traditionally, early carpet types were made from wool. However, as time passed, synthetic materials like nylon & polyester came to the fore. These carpet materials are more affordable & durable when compared to traditional wool. Here are a few common types of carpet materials from which carpets are made: 

One of the biggest advantages of nylon carpet fiber is its excellent durability. In addition to that, if nylon gets compressed by heavy objects like furniture or cupboards, it easily regains its form better when compared to traditional carpet materials. 

Remember: Nylon is more expensive due to its expensive manufacturing process.

When compared to Nylon, Polyester is slightly less durable and is known to fade under direct sunlight. However, Polyester covers this downside with its excellent stain resistance and hydrophobic properties. 

Polyester carpets come in a variety of vibrant colors so if you are someone who loves such colors then you can go for these carpets.

The polypropylene carpet fabric was originally created for outdoor areas. Therefore, it possesses excellent resistance to water damage, staining & mildew. Polypropylene carpet fabric has a wool-like appearance and is more affordable when compared to nylon. 

One thing to note before you buy a polypropylene fabric is that the carpet is ideal for low traffic areas (not suitable for office spaces or homes that have family members roaming around). That is because polypropylene cannot regain its shape quickly once it is compressed (due to heavy items or people constantly roaming around).

Tip: Keep the polypropylene carpet away from direct sunlight. Otherwise, its color will fade. 

Wool is a soft, luxurious and natural fiber that is high on maintenance when compared to other types of carpet fabrics. If you maintain the wool carpet well, it can last for many years. Wool is quite expensive and due to its highly absorbent nature, its stain resistance is lower. 

Olefin Polypropylene is a type of polypropylene fabric that is highly durable, available in colorfast fiber options and is ideal for high traffic areas.

Triexta is a soft carpet fabric that is quite similar to nylon in appearance. It repels moisture damage and stains due to its naturally hydrophobic properties.

Types of Carpet Construction Styles You Should Know About

Almost every carpet is made by weaving the fabric/material through the backing of the carpet. 

If you want to get a good carpet then determine the durability and quality of the carpet by finding out its:

• Pile Height – This refers to the height of the carpet fiber excluding the backing of the carpet.
• Face Weight – This refers to the amount of yarn that is used to make a carpet pile. 

Higher Face Weight = More amount of yarn which results in a dense and long-lasting carpet. These carpets are typically more expensive when compared to low face weight carpets.

Carpets are usually categorized according to the type of pile:

• As discussed earlier, low pile carpets usually feature short fibers that feel flat & dense.
• This type of carpet is durable & easy to clean.
• Low pile carpets can withstand higher foot traffic while retaining their appearance
• They don’t catch much debris or dirt. That is why they are an ideal choice for high traffic areas and places where pet hair, debris and other types of messes are a point of concern.

• As the name implies, medium pile carpets are a blend of balance and comfort.
• Since the fibers of the medium-pile carpet are taller than low pile carpets, they are comparatively much softer and can handle moderate dirt and foot traffic.
• This carpet is ideal for bedrooms and living rooms.

• High pile carpets are the softest carpets out of the three. It creates a fluffy & plush look and feel.
• These carpets feature extra cushioning for your foot but they easily collect debris and dirt which means higher maintenance costs.
• Add these carpets to your home to add a touch of luxury and dampen the noise.

Should you also check Carpet Padding?

To put it simply, carpet padding refers to the extra cushioning layer that is added underneath the carpet for the following reasons:

• To dampen the noise
• Make walking more comfortable
• Insulate the room
• Extend the life of the carpet

For commercial settings, choose thinner padded carpets as they offer steady footing. On the other hand, thicker padding offers more durability and comfort, so you can use these in bedrooms or areas where you want to make the flooring more luxurious.

Pro-Tip: There are carpet pads that come with spill-safe moisture barriers. These can lower maintenance costs while providing immense comfort.

Got all the information you need about Carpets? Well, there is one more thing that you should know about. 

While constructing a new home, commercial or office space, you need to get some carpet samples before you finalize the carpet. This is where Storyboxx can help you out. Storyboxx is an online portal where you can get free samples of different types of construction and interior materials like Ceilings, Stone, Tiles, LVT, Glass, Veneers and Carpets too!

All you need to do is choose a few free carpet samples, add them to the cart, pay a nominal shipping fee and get them delivered to your doorstep in 48 hours. Like what you see? Then connect with leading carpet vendors and get all the carpets you need for your home, construction or renovation project!