The Best Carpet Options for High Traffic Areas

Once you put flooring in, there’s a good chance you won’t give it a second thought, unless things start to go wrong. If you notice grime, matting, bald spots, staining, or other issues, you might start to rethink the carpeting you chose for your home, especially if wear occurs quickly in high traffic areas.

You might think putting the same carpeting throughout the entire home is the best way to go, and it’s definitely easier than trying to find different carpet for different areas. However, entryways, hallways, staircases, and other high traffic areas like family rooms are sure to suffer more use than, say, bedrooms, offices, and so on.

When you choose carpet for your home, it’s wise to consider traffic volume in certain areas. Which types of carpeting are going to work best for the most trafficked areas of your home?

Here are a few things to consider.

Cut versus Looped Pile

The first thing to consider is the type of pile you want, and there are two main options: cut or looped. Textured, cut carpet is popular because the uneven surface and two-tone color palette tend to hide wear and tear. This type of carpet is also soft and comfortable. Unfortunately, it’s not very dense or durable, so while it’s nice to sit on, it’s not great for high-traffic areas.

A denser cut like plush carpeting is a better option, except for the fact that cut fibers, in general, are more likely to get mashed down and matted over time. The best bet, really, is looped carpeting like Berber that is dense, stain resistant, and durable, holding up well in high traffic areas of the home. It is a bit more expensive than many cut carpets, but considering how well it holds up and how long it lasts, you’re going to get your money’s worth.

Materials

Regardless of the carpet construction, you also need to consider the materials used to make it, which is to say, the type of carpet fibers. You could save some dough by choosing synthetic materials like polyester and olefin fibers, but you really get what you pay for. By shelling out a little more for nylon fibers, you’ll get increased strength and durability that holds up better under wear and tear.

Natural fibers like wool are an option as well, but wool carpets tend to be pretty pricey. The truth is that synthetic nylon holds up just as well or better, and it’s also non-allergenic and resistant to mildew.

Other Considerations

In high traffic areas, it’s best to select carpeting in a color that is likely to hide dirt, dust, and dander that can get ground in, as well as grime that builds up over time (especially if people wear shoes in the house). You might also want to seek extras like stain resistance.

Don’t forget to think about ongoing maintenance like vacuuming and arranging for professional carpet cleaning from Absolute Carpet Care. Although a nylon Berber carpet is generally going to provide the best longevity in high traffic areas, you’ll have to be careful about your vacuum setting so you don’t snag fiber and you’ll definitely want to use professional carpet cleaning services as the dense, tight fibers can hold moisture from steam cleaning.