Nylon is one of the most popular carpeting materials used around. Nylon easily is one of the most recommended if you’re exploring carpet options for your home. Are nylon carpets a good choice for your home?
In this post, I’ll talk about the types of nylon carpets and the pros and cons of nylon carpets to help you know more about them. This should help you make a more informed decision when choosing between nylon and other carpet materials.
Types of Nylon Carpets
There are two types of nylon fibers used to make nylon carpets: nylon 6 and nylon 6,6. The molecular structure of these two types of nylon is different, and the numbers refer to the carbon structures of each type of nylon.
Over the years, nylon carpets made with nylon 6,6 were superior to nylon 6 carpets. Nylon 6,6 carpets were more resistant to staining, fading, and static electricity. However, with improvements in nylon 6 fibers over the years, the difference between these two types of carpets is minimal.
Pros of Nylon Carpets
Very Durable
The durability of a carpet material is important when looking for a new carpet. Before buying, you want to be sure the carpet can withstand the daily wear and tear and still manage to look good for a long time to come. Nylon carpet fiber is praised for its durability.
Nylon carpets have long been considered one of the most durable synthetic carpet fibers. This is because of the strong nylon fibers. Nylon fibers have higher texture retention. This means nylon fibers can return to their normal shape even after being subjected to heavy foot traffic or placing heavy objects.
This resiliency is what makes nylon carpeting a popular choice for most homeowners. If you notice your nylon carpet is beginning to flatten or mating due to heavy foot traffic, steam cleaning will revive it.
Stain resistant
Nylon can absorb water, which can stain it. However, that was before stain treatment ever existed. With the advancement in stain treatment, nylon carpets have become more stain-resistant.
In treating nylon for stain resistance, the color is added at the production stage to lock in with the nylon fibers. This process is called solution dyeing and gives out solution-dyed nylon or SDN.
Compared to adding the color pigment after nylon production, solution dyeing leaves a permanent and fade-resistant color that can handle stains and spills. Solution-dyed nylon carpet is great for areas with a lot of light because they are fade-resistant. For pet owners, solution-dyed nylon carpet means your carpet will remain in good quality even after a pet accident.
Cons of Nylon Carpets
Expensive
Compared to natural and premium carpet fiber like wool, nylon carpet seems fairly cheap. However, when you compare it to other synthetic carpet fibers, you see nylon is more expensive.
On average, polyester carpets cost $1 to $3 per square foot. Polypropylene, another synthetic fiber, costs $1 to $5 on average. However, you can expect to dish out $3 to $9 per square foot for nylon fiber carpets on average. If the initial price of installing nylon carpeting is a concern, you can opt for cheaper synthetic options.
However, although polyester and polypropylene are cheaper, they are less durable than nylon and will need to be replaced sooner if subjected to heavy use. Nylon, although expensive, will last you longer. Check out our in-depth comparison of nylon vs. polyester carpet fibers.
Is Nylon Carpet for You?
Overall, nylon makes for a great carpeting material. Nylon carpets are durable and resilient, and when treated, it is very stain resistant. After weighing the pros and cons of nylon carpet fiber, you should better know if it’s the right choice for you.
