Carpet Floors [Advantages & Benefits]

Is carpet flooring gone for good? With the increasing popularity of hard surface floors such as hardwood, laminate, vinyl and tile, there have been fewer requests for carpet floors than was traditionally used throughout our homes. What we have seen, though, is a continued steady preference for carpet in bedrooms, stairs and upper hallways. That being said, how do you know which one to choose? Well, let’s talk about your lifestyle, and let’s talk about carpet on stairs, first.

Carpet flooring for stairs

Carpet flooring on stairs is still popular because it is less slippery than a hardwood, tile, vinyl or laminate stair. The installation cost of carpet flooring on stairs is also significantly less than a hard surface installation. When choosing carpet flooring for stairs, keep in mind that the part of the tread that sees the most use is the centre 4-6 inches. We don’t walk up or down the sides of the tread, but rather stay in the centre. When walking up or down a flight of stairs, our feet tend to hit it with more force than just walking across a room.When choosing carpet floors that have a long pile (such as shag carpet), you run the risk of flattening down the centre part of the tread, while the two sides retain most of the original texture. There are many other types of carpets that have a lower pile such as loop, a shorter cut pile or a combination of both. By choosing a carpet that has a lower pile, this will help to disguise the future wear over the centre part of the tread. For aesthetic purposes, it is always best to coordinate the colour of the carpet on the stairs with carpet in the hall or other areas. A pattern can be used to accentuate the difference, rather than attempting to disguise it.

Choosing the right carpet fibre

There are three common fibres that are used in carpets which we will focus on. These fibres are nylon, polyester and polypropylene. Each type of carpet fibre brings its own strengths and weaknesses, as follows:

Nylon carpet fiber

Nylon is a man-made fibre that is very durable. It cleans well, and has an excellent resistance to abrasion. Nylon is an excellent choice for heavy traffic areas or active households. It is prone to static but most are treated with an anti-static conditioner.

Polyester carpet fiber

Polyester is known for its ability to accept vibrant dyes well.  It is fade resistant and resistant to stains. It is not as resilient as nylon and is more likely to crush or mat than a nylon fibre.

Polypropylene carpet fiber

Polypropylene is highly resistant to abrasion and is very resilient.  Unless it is chemically treated, it will deteriorate from sunlight. It has a high resistance to bleach, which can often be used in a diluted state to remove stains. Oil based stains should be removed immediately.

Choosing the right colour of carpet flooring

With advances in technology, the sky is the limit as far as carpet colour choices. Nylon has a greater propensity for fading than polyester or polypropylene. Having determined whether that will be an issue for you, it is now time to have some fun. If you keep in mind traffic flow, use of the room (perhaps pets or small children who are more likely to spill), then it just boils down to your own individual taste, and what works best in your environment. Carpet flooring with multiple colours or colour flecks will disguise spills and stains more easily than a solid colour. Remember that a strong colour or pattern will likely get old in an often used, large expanse of space. It’s best to keep those for smaller, less used rooms. Beautiful flooring is an investment, so if you keep it simple and grow your design around it, you’ll get many years of enjoyment.

The flooring experts at Atmosphere Flooring are here to help you make those decisions. Please stop by and see us anytime. We also offer written estimates at no charge.