Wool
Wool is the standard by which all other carpet fibers are measured. Wool ages gracefully and a well made wool carpet that has been properly maintained will last a long time. Wool is a natural fiber, it has great texture, excellent resilience and good abrasion resistance. The natural texture of wool builds in a resiliency and soil hiding potential. Wool has the best resistance to crushing. These properties make wool a leading performer in quality carpeting. Wool is the miracle fiber that we have used as floorcovering for the last 6000 years.

Nylon
Nylon is the most commonly used carpet fiber in this country. Nylon was invented by Dupont in 1938 and has been commonly used in carpeting since the 1950's. Nylon can be dyed in a wide array of colors. Nylon will wear better than any other carpet fiber because it is created from the most abrasion resistant yarn used in carpeting. Nylon can be engineered in a variety of ways from silky-soft to hard durable finishes.

Olefin
Olefin is a synthetic fiber whose defining property is its inability to absorb moisture; therefore it will hardly stain or fade. Its major uses are in outdoor carpeting and commercial applications. Its limitations are that it lacks both the color line and resiliency of Nylon. Olefin is only made in very dense and low piles. Generally it is an excellent value and very affordable carpeting.

Cotton
Soft to the touch, it wears beautifully, dyes brilliantly, but unfortunately dirties easily. Rarely used today.

Polyester
Great colors and relatively inexpensive, however the long-term performance is poor.

Acrylic
The closest man has come to making wool.

Rayon
Hardly ever used alone except to add color in patterned carpet. It is often referred to as Viscose.