Wool vs polypropylene carpet

patchwork_cat

Am trying to buy a new carpet for my bedroom. Over the years have had polypropylene mainly for this and mostly been disappointed, but my daughter has a Kossett still looking good after 6 years. We have 80/20 on stairs and laminate elsewhere.

Just been into the shop and the salesman was really trying to sell another synthetic Kossett. The toss up was between a Kossett and an 80/20 wool mix that would be another £40. The salesman was adamant that we have the Kossett that wasn't on sale and when asked if he had synthetic replied usually - I thought he was lying!

What would you do - is a better quality synthetic carpet better than a similar priced wool mix one. Or is the salesman going to get less commission on us buying an item on sale ie the wool mix?

jennifernil

We always go for the wool mix. The synthetic drives me mad as fluff and fibres stick to it like mad! They also flatten quicker.
Our carpets are now 20 years old and still look good.

Nile

jennifernil wrote: »

We always go for the wool mix. The synthetic drives me mad as fluff and fibres stick to it like mad! They also flatten quicker.
Our carpets are now 20 years old and still look good.

Hello patchwork cat

I have to agree with jennifernil. We have wool mix carpets in the lounge, hall and stairs (carpets are now 13 years old) and all are wearing very well...............what I mean is there is no wear.;)

Regards

Nile

oystercatcher

I always go for wool carpets with hessian backing they should last forever and stay much cleaner and be really hardwearing.
Synthetics attract dirt.
Never touch anything with a foam back as the foam disintegrates very quickly.

I always use our local independent carpet shops the prices compare very well with the big multi nationals and I feel the service is much more genuine.

Oystercatcher

tomstickland

I recently bought 100% Wool from a local discount trader and hope that it will last well. Wool is a wonderful material IMO, though I have heard that 20% poly in there can be the best compromise.

Lally

I was going to ask about this too as I am moving into a new house and intend to carpet the stairs and up. i know nothin at all about carpets and was completely baffled today after going into a couple of shops. My first thought was to post on here!

patchwork_cat

Well it seems that the consensus agrees with me re wool mix - what I can't understand is why the salesman is trying to sell the synthetic, more commission?

troo

Manufacturers sometimes offer shops bonuses ie. buy X amounts of rolls of Y flooring during the next 6 months and receive £? amount of shopping vouchers. So then the salesmen will push that product to customers :rolleyes:

bargainhunter1980

polypropylene is the cheapest form of carpet. you can usually pick it up for £2.99 per sq metre/yard. i would stay away from it as it wears out quickly and is not that soft. if you want to rent out a cheap flat or are on a tight budget then this is obviously going to be your first choice.

:eek:

carpet_cleaner_harpenden

wool great for getting out oil based stains poly great for getting out water based stains but bad the otherway round cannot beat wool warm should not flattern you can get a 50/50 mix
neil

Mayflower10cat

We always specifed an 80/20 twistpile type, hessian backed when working on Showhouses. Think of the traffic the carpet has to endure (maybe not these days??!) In our last house we inherited what looked a nice pale coloured carpet but turned out to be 100% polypropylene. We also had an open fire. Within a very few winter months that carpet was ruined by stray sparks that got through the fire guard.