When it comes to remodelling, especially in areas such as the dining room, it’s best to choose hard-wearing products and materials that last, and carpet is no exception. No one wants to replace thinning, stained carpet in just a few years, but high-end options are extremely costly. Is it worth it to pay extra for luxury carpet in your dining room, or can cheap stain free carpet last well in a dining room? Take a look at the main choices of carpet fabric on the market today to see what they have to offer:
Nylon
One of the oldest synthetic fibers and featuring in carpets for decades, Nylon is a popular cheaper alternative to wool and is resistant to frequent abrasions, such as chair legs being dragged across the room. It can also be crushed by heavy furniture such as a sideboard and still retain its shape, even after months of constant weight.
When treated with the right solution, nylon can also be extremely resistant to stains, including food and drink, and fading from sunlight. However, non-treated nylon carpets do have issues with fading and may react badly to particular chemicals.
Polyester
Polyester is one of the cheapest synthetic fibers on the market and is particularly popular with clothing. However, it has mixed results as a carpet, so its use must be considered carefully. It is resistant to water-based stains and is quick-drying thanks to its low absorbency, and due to the dyeing process, polyester is resistant to bleaching and fading.
However, polyester is susceptible to oil stains, such as those found in cooking, and some can even chemically bond with the fibres, which means some food spills may never be removed.
Polypropylene
A newcomer to the synthetic fiber market, polypropylene is a recent technological breakthrough. Like polyester and solution-dyed nylon, it’s resistant to fading. Because of its extremely low absorbency levels, polypropylene is virtually impossible to stain and will hold up to essentially all household chemicals and bleaches. Long-term exposure to oil-based stains, such as greasy food left for hours without being cleaned up, may, however, become permanent.
Although strong, polypropylene is a less resilient fiber than cotton or nylon. Many manufacturers circumvent this by creating carpets with a high weight, measured in g/100m2. Carpets with a weight over 2000g/m2 will be less susceptible to crushing by constant foot traffic or heavy furnitures like table legs or sideboards.
When it comes to choosing the right carpet for your dining room, it can be hard to prioritize durability, ease of care and price. Nylon carpets and polyester carpets have issues with chemical products and bleaching; however, the right polypropylene carpet with a high total weight will be both stain-resistant and durable in high-use rooms. One online retailer that stocks high-quality polypropylene carpets is Big Warehouse Sale, with most varieties featuring 10-year warranties for both stains and daily wear and tear, meaning long-lasting quality doesn’t have to come at a heavy cost.