Carpet fiber: The highest-quality (and priciest) Berber carpets are made from wool and nylon. Berber carpets can also be made from less-expensive olefin (polypropylene), polyester or a mix of fiber blends.
Berber carpeting fibers are often made of Olefin, a synthetic material comprised of polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Plastic pop bottles and other materials are recycled to create Olefin.
While some consider it outdated, berber is known for being one of the oldest and most durable kinds of carpet. Berber carpeting is typically found in low maintenance, high-traffic areas, like basements.
The term Berber generally refers to carpet that's overall light in color with flecks of darker colors (usually brown or gray) and woven with a distinctive loop pile that attaches to the backing and remains uncut.
The Berber carpets nowadays are popularly known as looped style carpets and are available in many more designs and patterns than before.
Carpet fiber: The highest-quality (and priciest) Berber carpets are made from wool and nylon. Berber carpets can also be made from less-expensive olefin (polypropylene), polyester or a mix of fiber blends.
Berber carpets are often a great choice for the living room. Berber is known to be a very versatile and affordable way to carpet your living room. It comes in a variety of quality and can complement many types of décor. Berber is a looped style of carpet.
Fiber pad is made from either natural wool or synthetic fibers. It is very dense and usually thin, making it the ideal pad for Berber carpet. Carpet padding can greatly improve the lifespan and feel of your carpet. The choice about what you put under your carpet is just as important as the carpet itself.
You can install Berber carpet on stairs, but it takes quite a few cuts and some finessing to get it to lay right and look beautiful; that is another reason to turn to a professional carpet installer.
While Berber is able to hide stains and dirt better than plush carpet, it doesn't mean you should take less care of it. You still need to frequently vacuum and occasionally shampoo and clean your carpet no matter which style you choose.
Nylon is the most durable and stain resistant carpet fiber available, when treated with stain protection. It is the fiber of choice for homes with pets and children and for those who entertain a lot. Because of it's durability, nylon carpet is perfect for heavy foot traffic areas like hallways and stairs.
An orange burn with little to no smoke and a flame that sputters out indicates wool carpet. Wool, of course, smells like burned hair and it will leave behind a soft, black ash that crumbles when touched. Wool does not react well to strong chemicals and will dissolve in chlorine bleach.
Berber carpet is durable, aesthetically pleasing, and stain-resistant, making it a great choice for high traffic areas. It is made of loops instead of the strands used in most types carpets. The loop gives it durability and strength. It is great for areas with a lot of foot traffic, children and pets.
The origin of Berber carpet has been traced back to the Paleolithic era (also known as the Stone Age) and is actually named after the “Berber Tribe” of North Africa. The tribe crafted hand-woven rugs and clothing with cloth and natural fabrics.
Fiber pads are usually recommended for Berber carpet types, and may even be required to maintain the warranty. Don't worry though, they're very durable. Fiber carpet pads aren't super soft, but they are flat and dense, making them ideal for Berber carpet and other commercial carpeting.
Felt underlay can be one of the best underlays for wool carpets if you're considering them for areas like bedrooms, hallways or stairwells. This is because felt underlay provides a great level of comfort underfoot and will prevent the wool carpet from flattening out.
A quality carpet pad should also be thick enough to provide cushion. However, a pad that's too thick can damage some types of carpet. A good rule of thumb is: Choose a firm, resilient cushion with a thickness of 1/2-inch or less for residential cut pile carpet.
Berber is still a popular choice. But unlike the plain Berbers of the early 1990s, today's versions have more texture and pattern.
Berber Carpet Prices
As we mentioned, it is one of the more affordable options in the carpet world. It's also no longer considered “cheap” by many homeowners thanks to new styles and fibers, so you can find it installed throughout homes, not just high-traffic areas or finished basements.
Berber carpets became popular in America in the early 1980's and has grown in popularity ever since! Homeowners today have many choices and options with Berber styles, colors and quality levels.
Most Berber carpets last an average of 10 years, up to 15 if they are high-quality and routinely professionally cleaned.
Nylon – Berber carpets made with nylon fibers are the most readily available type of Berber and offer a good balance between affordability, durability and versatility.
The good news is that Berber carpets are highly resistant to most types of stains, so it's easier to clean up most fresh spills. The one exception to this is oil, which Berber carpets usually absorbs quickly.