Replacing dingy, worn carpet can brilliantly update your home’s décor and improve its ambiance. Before you can enjoy these and other benefits, however, you must decide on the perfect type and texture of carpet for your home. Synthetic carpet offers numerous advantages over natural carpet fibers, such as durability and easy care. Some people are not aware that there are multiple types of synthetic carpet fibers on the market today, and others have received misinformation about the pros and cons of different synthetic materials. The primary types of synthetic carpet are nylon and polyester. Comparing nylon vs polyester carpet carefully is an essential step in order to choose the best type of carpet for your home.
Why You Need to Know Differences Between Nylon vs Polyester Carpet
Nylon and polyester carpet products are available in numerous colors and styles, which means that you have a huge selection to choose from regardless of the material that you prefer. Nylon is usually more expensive than polyester, but the price range overlaps based on quality and other factors. Because of this, some polyester carpets are actually more expensive than some nylon options. The unique material that each type of carpet is made out of impacts its durability, stain resistance, softness and other factors. Depending on the area of the home that is being re-carpeted, some of these factors may influence your selection more than others.
Durability and Resilience
If you intend to install new carpet in an area that receives regular foot traffic, durability is an important factor to pay attention to. Nylon is comparatively more resilient and durable than polyester. In fact, nylon is among the most durable synthetic carpet materials that you could install in your home. This is because the material has an impressive tendency to return to its original shape after you walk across it. Polyester carpet is more durable than many other carpet types, but it is less resilient than nylon. Because of this, wear from foot traffic will be noticeable more quickly with polyester carpet.
However, be aware that this is not a universal truth. As is the case with all types of carpet fibers, there are higher and lower grades of polyester and nylon carpet. Investing in a quality polyester carpet may be wiser than investing in a lower-quality nylon carpet. It is also important to note that variations in density and fiber twist also affect durability.
Resistant to Staining
While nylon is generally a more durable type of carpet, polyester offers a greater level of stain resistance. Polyester fibers naturally repel liquids, which means that the fibers will not easily or quickly absorb spilled substances that could otherwise lead to staining. On the other hand, nylon’s fibers are absorbent. This means that stains can set quickly. However, both of these carpet types can be treated with various types of stain protection products. As a result, they both could be equally resistant to stains when properly treated.
Safe for the Environment
When you buy a synthetic product like nylon or polyester carpet, you may not think that either option would be eco-friendly. However, a special type of polyester known as PET polyester is mostly or entirely comprised of recycled plastic products. Nylon carpet also has benefits in this area. While PET polyester carpet is made out of recycled materials, some nylon carpets can be recycled after their life in your home has expired. One use of recycled nylon is to turn it into new nylon carpet. Because only select nylon and polyester carpets have these eco-friendly benefits, you should carefully research the products individually to understand their environmental impact before finalizing your flooring purchase and installation plans.
Comfort
One of the primary reasons why many homeowners prefer carpet over hard floor materials is because of its soft texture and plushness. This material generally feels comfortable under your feet, and the thick fibers can buffer sounds, provide insulation benefits and more. The specific degree of softness in both nylon and polyester carpet is dependent on the thickness of the strands. Finer strands for both materials usually feel softer. You can find polyester and nylon carpets with varying degrees of softness, which makes it easy to select a comfortable material that lives up to your expectations regardless of the fiber type that you prefer.
Deciding Between Nylon vs Polyester Carpet
When you compare nylon vs polyester carpet products that are equal in quality, you will notice nylon is the more affordable option. However, cost alone should not be your guiding factor. After all, there are higher and lower qualities of both materials available at different price points. Instead of focusing heavily on cost, look at other factors that will impact your experience with the carpet. For example, if you need the carpet to last for many years in a high-traffic home, nylon is generally a better option. Before narrowing the scope of your flooring search to a particular type of carpet, identify the most important qualities that you are looking for.
You understandably want to find a beautiful carpet material that lives up to your expectations with regards to aesthetics and that is also affordable for the budget that you have established. However, there are numerous types of synthetic carpet fibers to choose from. Understanding the pros and cons of the specific materials can help you to choose a type of carpet that meets your specific needs.
