Difference between a wool carpet and a polypropylene carpet

Date:12/04/2022

Wool

Wool, unlike its petroleum-based alternative, is a fully-renewable resource, energy-efficient and biodegradable. Nylon will take around eight times the energy needed to produce the same amount of wool. Wool looks good for longer meaning you will need to replace it less and if disposed of in the correct way it will biodegrade and decompose without producing harmful residues giving back to the earth.

Wool is a better insulator and will prevent heat from rising through the floor keeping rooms cooler in the summer and preventing heat loss reducing energy requirements. Wool is even a natural source of air filtration, binding with pollutant gases and keeping them locked in and can continue this process for around thirty years.

 

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a substance that is chemically inert meaning it cannot be dyed, though this doesn’t stop it from coming in a wide range of colour possibilities. The colour is added to the liquid form of the material and then locked into the yarn during the extrusion process, this produces a virtual stain-free material that is fine to be bleach cleaned.

This makes for a great minimal maintenance carpet but they do have a downside, and this is their lack of ability to retain their appearance long-term without intervention. The material tends to flatten very easily and will need regular vacuuming to keep up its good looks. Longer Saxony piles will need to be groomed daily and short twist piles will even flatten if they are not looked after.

These carpets also tend to be quite a lot cheaper especially if going for a more luxurious pile choice, but again will not retain that appearance for as long as wool.

 

In Conclusion

In the end, these two materials both pose advantages and disadvantages but what it comes down to will be your budget, the amount of time you plan on staying on your property once installed, the expected performance of said carpet and other factors like how many live there and what their lifestyles are like.

 

If you would like to get more advice regarding the above matters, we are always happy to give you our opinion. So, for all your wool and polypropylene carpet look no further than the team at Blackberry Hill Carpets and Flooring. Call us on 01858 288 031 or email gareth@blackberryhill.co.uk