The Flooring Foundation offers different fibre types to meet the diverse needs of New Zealanders. Selecting the right fibre type is an important aspect when purchasing carpet for your home, as the type of fibre has a significant influence on the overall quality and longevity of the product.
Tip: If longevity is important to you wool, triexta or nylon are good fibre choices. Your retail assistant will help you to make the right decision based on your personal requirements.
Wool
Wool and wool-rich pile carpets have a luxurious feel.
- Wool carpets can feel cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
- Wool has innate stain resistance properties, allowing most spills to be cleaned easily.
- Wool fibres are 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable.
- Wool is naturally flame retardant and acts as an insulator, helping to reduce ambient noise.
Wool Blend
As the name suggests, wool blend carpets are a mix of wool and synthetic fibre.
- Wool blend carpets are most often a mix of 80% wool and 20% synthetic fibre but are available in varying proportions.
- Wool blends give the benefit of synthetic and wool carpet - the durability of synthetic fibres and the natural, luxurious feel of wool.
- Mixing synthetic fibre with wool helps to hold the twist definition in some carpet styles, improving the wearing ability and reducing shedding from short fibres.
- An affordable alternative for family homes and for medium to high traffic areas.
Triexta
- Triexta is a premium synthetic fibre containing *DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer. Made with Sorona® polymer, 37% renewably sourced from corn sugar,.
- Triexta fibre provides optimal levels in stain, soil, wear and colourfast performance plus it is extremely soft.
- *DuPont Sorona contains 37% renewably sourced ingredients by weight.
Polyester
- Polyester is manufactured using synthetic fibres which offer colourfastness and a rich soft feel.
- Polyester provides great value for money but may have a shorter lifespan when compared to wool, triexta and nylon.
Nylon
- Nylon is a high quality synthetic fibre that can be used to construct virtually any style of carpet.
- Solution-dyed nylon fibres have excellent colourfast properties and are resistant to most stains (provided they have been appropriately treated).
- Carpets made with nylon fibres provide long-term resilience and durability.
Polypropylene
- Polypropylene fibres are strong, colourfast and resist most stains.
- This fibre is usually manufactured into entry level loop style carpet.