Carpet is the combination of the materials used to make it. The material used to make carpet determines its price, durability, feel, appearance, and quality. The pile fiber is 80 percent of the material make up of carpet.
Carpet fiber significantly affects the overall price and quality of carpet. Most carpet fibers are made of the following materials:
- Wool
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Polypropylene
Wool and nylon are the most popular.
Wool is considered the best carpet fiber. It is luxuriously soft to the touch. Wool carpet is a comfort indulgence. Even though it is soft, wool carpet is tough. It naturally resists crushing due to the natural kink of the fiber.
Wool carpet stays strong, soft, and beautiful for a long time. It stands up to foot traffic. There is no worry about heavy wear. Wool is naturally fire-resistant, making wool carpet a safe flooring for the home. If it becomes hot enough, it will smolder but will not carry flames to the rest of the home.
Wool is a natural, sustainable carpet fiber. The environmentally friendly fiber comes from sheared sheep that provide an annual supply of thick wool fur. Because shearing takes place only once per year, a limited amount of wood is produced. The limit makes wool an expensive fiber to acquire. The price of wool carpet causes some people to purchase carpets made of other fibers despite their benefits.