The tremendous variety of carpet and rug options can be staggering: pile choices, fiber types and color & patterns offer endless combinations. Whatever your desire, the qualified, experienced professionals at Lincoln Floor & Design of Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard are here to help you choose the best carpet for your particular project.

BREATHE EASIER WITH CARPET

Did you know that carpet can actually reduce airborne allergens? It's true! Various biopollutants found in the average home, such as animal dander, dust mites and mold, have been linked to allergies and asthma. Carpet is capable of holding significant quantities of soil, dust, etc., without appearing very dirty. It has been shown that carpet is very efficient at keeping allergen and other small particles out of the room air. Regular vacuuming with a vacuum using a high-efficiency filter and periodic steam cleaning remove the majority of allergen from carpet as well as significantly reducing mite populations.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FIBER TYPE

Nylon
Nylon is more expensive than other synthetic carpet fibers and has been the most commonly used carpet fiber since the early 1960's.  In overall performance characteristics, nylon is the most versatile of all fibers, providing excellent flexibility in creating a variety of carpet styles.  Nylon can be found in a wide range of both cut pile and loop pile styles.  It is durable, resilient, and receptive to dyeing for color versatility and uniformity; many new nylon yarn systems are also exceptionally soft.  Though not inherently stain resistant, most nylon carpets are treated with stain-resist carpet treatment for protection against household spills and stains.

Polypropylene (Olefin)
Since 1980, the use of polypropylene carpet fibers has grown dramatically.  Unlike the other fiber types, polypropylene will not absorb water and must therefore be solution dyed (pigmented) to impart color.  Solution dyeing is a pigmentation process in which color is actually built into the fiber when it is formed, or extruded, thereby becoming an inherent part that cannot be removed from the fiber.  The color will not fade, even when exposed to intense sunlight, bleaches, atmospheric contaminants, or other harsh chemicals or elements. 

Polyester
Polyester offers exceptional softness and color clarity, and it is also naturally stain and fade resistant.  While polyester is not as inherently resilient as nylon, carpets made of polyester fiber will perform well if appropriately constructed.  Carpets of polyester are generally available only in cut pile styles and are usually less expensive than nylon in comparable weights.

Wool
The preeminent natural fiber and used in the manufacture of carpets and rugs longer than any other fiber.  In fact, the weaving of wool carpets has been traced back to 3,000 B.C., and wool rugs and carpets have been prized as objects of beauty and prestige ever since.  Wool does not have the stain and abrasion resistance of some of the man-made fibers, but it has an enduring quality, and many wool carpets and rugs are said to "age gracefully."  Soft underfoot, wool also offers the somewhat intangible consideration of prestige.  However, wool carpets are considerably more expensive than most synthetic carpets.

AN EXCELLENT INSULATOR

The warm comfort that carpet provides is not just your imagination. Unlike other types of flooring, carpet is a natural insulator, providing additional warmth in cold seasons.

The use of carpet in a wall-to-wall application actually increases the insulation level (R-value) of the carpetED area, potentially saving on utility costs while reducing energy use. The R-value measures how much a material resists the movement of heat through a ceiling, wall, or floor in a building. The higher the number, the more effective the insulation.

Recently, tests carried out at the Johns Manville Technical Center Thermal Labs confirm carpet and pad significantly increase R-value compared to other flooring materials. Results varied according to the carpet's construction, with heavier products generally providing higher R-value. Carpets were tested with and without cushion, and the combination maximized the R-value. Carpet really is warmer.