When weighing factors like high carpet maintenance versus lower overall cost, there’s no doubt that choosing a carpet can be a very difficult decision to make. Whether you’re moving into a new home or preparing for a big renovation, here are a couple of different carpet types and benefits of each.
For this list, we judged two of the four basic carpet types based on the five following qualities:
- Maintenance
- Durability
- Insulation
- Coloring
- Environmental Friendliness
Benefits of Wool Carpet:
Considered one of the most natural carpet types on our list, wool carpets are great for those who are looking for a more traditional carpet.
Wool feels good on the feet and is great for keeping your home warm with its natural insulating properties.
Not only that, they’re also easy to maintain due to the fiber structure, which releases up to 25% more readily than synthetic fiber carpet. Therefore, it takes substantially longer for a spill or stain to seep into the carpet, making short-term cleaning easier.
Wool carpet is relatively durable, being able to withstand constant abuse from running kids and pets. For those wanting a long-lasting carpet, wool carpet is one of the better choices out there.
Drawbacks of Wool Carpet:
Because of its deep fibers, wool carpet tends to hold onto common allergens such as dust or pollen much longer. If not deep cleaned regularly, it can negatively contribute to indoor air quality. Similarly, wool carpet can be a nice home for dust mites, fleas, moths, and even lice. With wool being relatively deeper than other carpet types, this makes removal of these pests very difficult if not taken care of early.
Also, wool carpets often don’t come in as many colors, and require a consistent cleaning schedule. In addition to regular vacuuming, wool carpets need to be deep cleaned. As such, they are to be cleaned via commercial solvents one to two times a year, depending on your foot traffic.
Since owning a wool carpet is a big investment, thorough cleaning is one of the more important things you can do to preserve your investment.
Wool Carpets- Average cost $5 to $26 per square foot.
Benefits of Nylon Carpet:
Nylon carpet is cheaper and requires less maintenance than wool carpet. As such, nylon carpets are great for those who live in a house filled with messy children and/or pets.
Nylon carpet is shallow compared to wool and doesn’t absorb liquids/stains as easily. This carpet can be thoroughly cleaned via steam cleaning and doesn’t typically require any commercial solvents. If you don’t have a steam cleaner lying around, you can easily find one at your favorite hardware store, or big-box store.
They also come in many colors. So if you’re a person who is picky with matching colors, then this carpet is for you!
Drawbacks of Nylon Carpet:
When compared to wool carpet, this carpet type isn’t as eco-friendly, and doesn’t insulate your home quite as well.
Even though nylon carpet is easier to clean via steam, it requires specialized equipment you may not want to invest in. Furthermore, steam cleaners are tricky to use, so most homeowners find getting a professional to help is better.
Nylon Carpets- Average cost $2 to $15 per square foot.