Explore the different types of carpet
There’s a lot that goes into the manufacturing of carpet and we want you to understand what makes some better than others! Pretty much everyone shops for carpet by style, but understanding what type of fiber and dye method is just as important if not more!
What's The Difference Between Carpet Fibers?
When your shopping for carpet, rarely are you thinking of what fiber to choose from. Most consumers shop based on how it looks and how it feels, but theirs more to it than meets the eye, and the type of carpet fiber you pick from plays a huge role in how it feels, wears and looks!
Carpet fibers come in several different types, so here are the most common ones you’ll encounter while shopping:
Nylon: One of the most popular types of fiber because it’s strong, resilient, and holds up well in high-traffic areas. Nylon is durable but not soft and can also accept staining better than its counterpart Polyester.
Polyester: Offers rich colors and is naturally much more stain resistant than Nylon, but it can crush more easily under heavy use. Where Polyester shines is that it’s usually a solution dyed fiber which makes it hard to accept staining.
Wool: A natural fiber that comes from sheep, feels soft and luxurious while being naturally flame, soil, stain and mold resistant, but it’s also the most expensive type of fiber and also does requires more care than Nylon and Polyester.
The choice of carpet fiber really depends on your lifestyle and plans for the future. For families with kids or pets, polyester often makes the most sense because it balances both comfortability with great stain resistance. If you want to carpet your stairs, hallway and other high traffic areas, then Nylon is a great option as it will hold up to crushing that happens when you walk on it. Last, if you want something ecofriendly with virtually no VOC’s and that’s upscale, wool is thee option for you.
Each fiber has its trade offs, so it’s about matching the right one to your lifestyle and budget.
The Different Type of Carpet Styles
Different carpet styles and designs depend on how the fibers are cut, twisted, and arranged, which changes the look, the feeling, and the durability of the carpet itself. Some styles mix cut and loop fibers to create patterns for extra visual interest. Here are some of the most common carpet styles that you will see in almost every flooring store. Each of these styles can come on a Tonal (Multiple Colors), Multi-Tonal (Speckled Colors) or a Solid (One Color) format. Tonal designs help hide stains more, but can be a little more expensive than solid colors. Speckled Tones are great for hiding messes, but can look a little busy in small spaces. How each of these design types are cut, bound and styled is what creates either a Plush, Textured, Frieze or Looped carpet.
Plush (Saxony): Has a smooth, velvety surface with all fibers standing upright, giving a formal look but showing footprints and vacuum marks easily.
Textured: These carpets have fibers twisted in different directions, creating a casual style that hides marks better and works well in busy households.
Frieze (or twist): These feature long, tightly twisted fibers with a slightly shaggy appearance that’s durable and hides wear well.
Loop (Berber): One of the most common carpets used featuring uncut loops for a dense, low-profile look. Great for high traffic area, though snagging can be an issue, they make some that are sheered at backing so it wont run like the older styles would.
How Carpet Is Dyed & Which Method is Best
How your carpet fiber is dyed is a important factor that can be overlooked. Most carpet materials are a synthetic polymer so we can either change the color of it from the beginning or color it as we go along. There’s a catch! Each carpet fiber has its own unique properties and characteristics, remember when we said that Polyester is better on staining than Nylon is? If you looked at a strand on Nylon under a microscope it would look similar to a sponge, so that fiber can accept dye’s much better than a Polyester can, since it looks similar to a bar of soap under a microscope.
Because of how each fiber is constructed that plays into how is dyed. Polyesters are generally going to be solution dyed, where the color is melted into the plastic polymer itself. Nylon fibers are generally made first, then dyed by color or piece to achieve a rich beautiful coloring. Some nylons are solution dyed as well, which makes them both durable and great against staining.
Solution dyeing: Where color is added to the fiber while it’s being made. This means the pigment runs all the way through, like a carrot, so it resists fading, bleaching, and stains making it great for sunny rooms or commercial use.
Piece dyeing: Colors the yarn after the fiber is made, which allows for rich, varied tones but isn’t as fade-resistant.
Beck dyeing: (also called Batch Dyeing) Happens after the carpet is tufted but before it’s backed. The carpet is rolled into a dye vat, circulated into a dye colored bath where it rotates getting even coloring all over each fiber giving it a super rich coloring that is by far hard to beat. This process is slower but produces deep, uniform shades, making it ideal for solid colors and custom orders.
Here’s and easy answer, you got kids or pets? Solution dyed is the way to go! No kids no pets, and you want aesthetics, go for a beck dyed!
Your standard Types of Backing
Action Back: A woven polypropylene backing. It’s the industry standard: strong, stable, and affordable. It requires a separate cushion pad and can be a little rough during install, but it holds up very well in high-traffic areas. Made of silicone and sand, when your backing wears down over time, the particles fall onto your padding starting to wear it down overtime. That’s why it looks like sand under your old carpets, its the backing and padding breaking down over time.
Soft Back: A felt or textile layer is added to the backing, making it smoother and cushioned. It protects walls and baseboards during install, is easier on installers, and reduces wear between the carpet and pad. It’s often chosen for higher end homes or where comfort and long term protection matter. The felt on the backing helps the carpet not wrinkle and stretch over time.
Understanding Carpet Padding
Rebond Padding: The most common type of padding, made from recycled foam pieces compressed together. It’s affordable, durable, and comes in different densities, making it a solid all-around option.
Vapor Barrier Padding: Has a moisture-resistant film on top that protects the pad and subfloor from spills or pet accidents seeping through. Great for families, basements, or households with pets.
Memory Foam Padding: Provides a luxurious, cushiony feel underfoot, conforming to pressure much like a mattress. It’s very comfortable, but typically more expensive and can sometimes feel too soft under heavy furniture.
Thickness & Looped Carpets: Standard padding is around 1/2″ thick, but padding also comes in different densities which plays a part in how dense it feels.
For Looped or Berber carpets, you want a thinner, denser pad (usually 3/8″) to prevent crushing the loops and to keep the carpet stable. Too thick or soft a pad under Berber can cause buckling, wrinkling, or premature wear.
How to Pick carpet after all this information
Start by knowing what you want from your new carpet. Are you looking for something soft and luxurious underfoot, or do you need something tough and stain-resistant? Understanding the qualities that matter most will help you decide where to invest. Remember, carpet isn’t just the fibers, you’ll also need to consider padding, removal of old flooring, installation, and any baseboard work. Knowing these costs upfront and what results you want will make the whole process smoother and ensure you get exactly what you’re looking for.