When most people think about entertaining at home, their minds turn to cozy winter gatherings or summer barbecues. But in Las Vegas, entertaining isn’t tied to just one season. Thanks to the desert climate and a culture that embraces both indoor and outdoor living, many homeowners in Southern Nevada enjoy hosting family, friends, and neighbors […]
Nylon clearly holds the top spot as the most popular fiber for high-performing carpet, but did you know that olefin (also called polypropylene) actually accounts for nearly 80% of business carpet sold? In a tough economy, and at around a 20% lower cost than a similarly constructed nylon, olefin carpets are now being considered much more often for the home. Typical residential styles for olefins will be berber loops, which means multi-color, multi-level loop pile construction, often in earth tones. The identification “berber” actually descends from the name of an ancient North African people famous for their woven fabrics of more than 2 colors and textures.
There are some significant benefits to olefin besides its incredibly low price. One main advantage is the colorfast, fade-resistant quality of the fiber. Because color is introduced while the material is still in a liquid state, prior to extrusion into fiber, it can easily withstand direct sunlight or exposure to strong agents like chlorine bleach. Other qualities of olefin are that it is both static and mold resistant, making it a good candidate for recreation rooms, screened-in patios or even basements.
Nonetheless, olefin does also bring some challenges. It is highly susceptible to staining from oil-based materials, which is why you should never attempt to utilize a solvent-based stain protection product. Also, olefin has a low melting point, allowing for the fiber to actually melt and leave permanent damage from friction caused by something heavy being dragged over the face of the carpet. Finally, olefin fibers will crush and mat in areas of high traffic.