Carpet & Custom Area Rugs/Runners

Carpet has come a long way in the last several decades. It was typically used in high-traffic areas such as living rooms and bedrooms but now is typically found as runners on stairs or area rugs on top of a hard surface. In general, people are trending away from carpet because it has a tendency to trap daily pollutants: dander, hairsprays, dead skin, etc. The industry has introduced combatants to keep pollutants and soil stains on the surface, but ultimately carpets can still hold odors, stains, and show wear. In addition, carpeting is not the best flooring solution for asthmatics. There are carpets coated in products that can help with airborne particles, but those are also the carpets that are very expensive because they are treated from fiber to finish. In this case, you may opt for a hard surface floor instead.

​

There are many types of fibers used in carpet, but the most common are nylon, polyester, acrylic, polypropylene, hybrids, and wool.

 

Nylon: The majority of carpets are made of nylon, as it is durable, soft, and resistant to stains and moisture. Nylon holds up well over the years. It wears evenly and holds color very well.

​

Polyester: Polyester's claim to fame is its ability to hold color and resistance to fading. It can be more hypoallergenic than other fibers because of its manmade nature. However, polyester does not wear as well as nylon - it does not wear as evenly and does not do well under heavy furniture or in high-traffic areas. It is also not as stain resistant as other carpets.

​

Acrylic: Acrylic carpet is essentially synthetic wool as it holds a lot of the same properties but is much cheaper. It is better at resisting stains than polyester but is just as bad as polyester in high-traffic areas.

​

Polypropylene: This is another wool substitute and has a similar feel to nylon, but differs in its ability to resist stains. It has a reputation for trapping dirt as a result of not wicking contaminants. It is cheaper than nylon but more expensive than polyester and acrylic.

​

Hybrids: Hybrids combine the characteristics of different carpets to achieve a desired outcome, whether that is feel or stain resistance. For example, a hybrid of nylon and polyester gives a carpet that is soft, durable, and resists fading.

​

Wool: Wool is a natural material and is therefore very soft - but also expensive. It can stain easily and be susceptible to mildew because in order to be classified as a pure wool carpet, it cannot be treated in any way. This also makes wool carpets hypoallergenic, as no allergens or chemicals are introduced prior to installation.

​

Here at Wilmac Flooring, we offer custom area rugs and runners in addition to traditional carpet. A custom rug or runner is a great way to add a bit of design and flair to an area. Custom rugs need to be measured, cut, and bound before installation, meaning they can sometimes take a bit of time depending on the complexity of the project.​ We have a wide variety of colors and patterns to choose from in our showroom.