Padding – not actually a component of most carpets, it is essential nonetheless. A variety of paddings are available for your carpet. Padding not only provides comfort, but is also an important aspect in structural stability and cleanability. Many carpets require specifics types of padding to validate the warranty.

Fiber – three types of fiber dominate the carpet industry.

• Nylon – used in over 70% of carpets, nylon is known for its excellent durability. It is very resistant to heat and fading, and retains its appearance over years of wear.
• Polyester – provides quality stain resistance, color clarity and color retention. Also, comes in a form known as PET which is produced from recycled materials.
• Olefin (Polypropylene) – most commonly found in looped carpets, it is naturally stain and fade resistant. In a looped construction it provides great durability.

All of the above fibers are synthetic. A very small percentage of carpet is constructed of wool. Wool ages gracefully but is expensive.

In addition to the above synthetics, a variety of new synthetics have recently found their way to the market. These synthetics are highly stain resistant and retain their appearance against wear exceptionally well. Ask your Flooring Specialist for additional details.

Stain Resistance
Many carpets have the added protection of a stain resistant additive. These components can be added during the construction of the fiber, during the dyeing process, or topically after the carpet. Ask your Flooring Specialist for details about which stain resistance is right for you.

Backing – though unseen a carpet’s backing can be an important ingredient in additional value. Here we’ll highlight three types of carpet backing:

• Action – this is the standard backing in the industry. It provides a durable and firm foundation for the individual tufts that make up your carpet.
• Soft – similar to the action backing but it includes a softer web-like covering that reduces the possibility of scratches to your baseboards during installation.
• Luxury – oftentimes can be identified by a solid white backing. It not only reduces scratching but provides increased stability, limiting the possibility of wrinkles.