In addition to considering a carpet’s look, feel and price, it is important to consider how well a particular carpet will perform over time. Here are some attributes to consider when assessing the durability of a carpet:

Carpet Fibre: Various types of carpet fibres will perform differently over time. Nylon is a strong fibre that is also stain resistant. Olefin is also strong but is limited in terms of its design due to its susceptibility to matting. Although polyester is not as strong as nylon or olefin, it is very stain resistant. A well-made wool carpet can be very durable, while retaining its luxurious look and feel.

Carpet Density: Carpet density refers to the number of yarn tufts per square inch. Generally speaking, the more dense the carpet, the more wear-resistant it will be. It is not overly helpful to compare density across different materials since each performs differently. Density is sometimes confused with face weight and pile height, however these criteria differ significantly. In most cases, density is a more effective measure of a carpet’s durability.

Stain Resistance: Most carpets are chemically treated to improve their stain resistance. Stainmaster and R2X technologies are two well-known treatments that are performed on the majority of the carpets that we sell at Monarch Floor and Window Coverings. These treatments are applied during the manufacturing process in order to protect the full length of each pile, as opposed to simply the surface of the carpet.

Carpet Backing: A good quality carpet backing improves the feel of the carpet underfoot, makes for a stronger construction, and improves sound absorption and insulation. Many of our carpets come with Shaw’s Softbac Platinum backing, which performs exceptionally well in each of these respects.