While indoor/outdoor carpet (also known as marine-backed carpet) looks similar to commercial carpet, there are actually some pretty key differences.
Indoor/outdoor carpet is designed for interior rooms or covered exterior spaces and is ideal in settings with fluctuating temperatures. Made with synthetic fibers, this carpet choice is able to withstand the elements by resisting damage from UV rays, moisture, mold, and mildew.
A majority of indoor-outdoor rugs are made of synthetic materials like polyester and polypropylene. These materials are very durable and stain-resistant, and they also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. And many polypropylene rugs are also UV resistant, so their colors don't fade in the sunlight.
The six types of carpet are textured, plush, frieze, cable, Berber, and cut-and-loop. Each type has its own look and performance conditions.
Saxony carpet is a cut loop pile carpet. Its pile is designed to be incredibly dense, for a soft feeling underfoot. This makes it popular for bedrooms and living rooms. Sometimes Saxony carpets are called a plush carpet, based on the luxurious style and feel.
High pile carpet has long fibers that create a plush and fluffy look and feel. High pile carpets add extra cushion underfoot but also more readily collect dust and debris, making it require more frequent maintenance.
Can Indoor rugs be used outside? No, indoor rugs are not made to withstand the elements – rain and sun – of the outdoors. The sun can fade them. The rain can cause watermarks and the fibers to disintegrate.
Olefin is known for its toughness and properties such as being stain, dirt, fade and mold-resistant as well as fast-drying. Popular for use in residential, marine and industrial outdoor carpet applications, olefin carpeting may be of a cut and loop or a pile type.
Outdoor carpet is often made from UV-stable fibers like polyethylene and polypropylene, meaning it's not going to fade in direct sunlight. It's also mold and mildew resistant, and even water-resistant.
The outdoor materials are made from a material that is tough and can withstand the various elements that Mother Nature throws at them. Indoor rugs are made from a softer material, and this is because they are mostly kept away from the harsh elements outside the house.
What is Olefin Carpet? Olefin is a synthetic (manufactured) material. It's also known as polypropylene, a type of thermoplastic used to make a wide range of household products, medical devices and more. Because it's derived from plastic, olefin carpet is best installed in places with the potential for water damage.
Outdoor carpets tend to be cheaper and easier to maintain than indoor carpet, mostly due to the fact that outdoor carpets are usually made from synthetic materials which are much less expensive than the natural materials typically used for indoors carpet floors.
It will stay put with a quality rug pad. Rug pads provide comfort. Most outdoor rugs are fairly thin so adding a pad helps to make them more comfortable to walk on. Look for a thick rug pad to give yourself an extra soft surface to walk on.
Water-resistant and UV-stable, outdoor carpet is made with materials that can withstand anything Mother Nature throws at it. Its low-pile or densely woven synthetic or natural fibers help repel dirt and water and resist mold and mildew.
The difference between indoor and outdoor is the backing. Marine and outdoor should have the same type of backing. Other than the backing you have the fiber type. As long as you are happy with the quality and type of fiber at Home Depot it will work fine.
Marine carpet is made from products which resist ultraviolet radiation so that the carpet will not fade or become damaged through regular sun exposure, and marine carpet also resists mold and mildew so that it can withstand wet environments like docks.
Marine carpet is extremely versatile for either domestic or commercial purposes and is excellent for outdoor purposes as it is water & stain resistance, will not rot or fray.
Can Indoor Ruggables Be Used Outside? Yes, it's OK to bring Ruggable rugs outdoors. Also, it is possible to machine-wash Ruggable rugs because they are made of a rigid material that still has a nice woven texture.
Many customers ask if they feel scratchy and unpleasant. While this may have been the consensus a few years ago, many indoor/outdoor rugs are made to feel very pleasant underfoot. Sometimes they may have to be “broken-in”, but will feel even softer over time.
Fibers that hold onto and absorb moisture are far more likely to develop mold and mildew when exposed to outdoor elements. Wool, for example, is a beautiful and soft fiber for indoor rugs, but is too sensitive to moisture to be used outdoors.
Outdoor needlebond carpet is made by repeatedly needling UV resistant synthetic fibers to make a felted piece of material. Since there are no individual yarns and the fibers are all intermeshed with each other, this type of carpet experiences no zippering like is common in traditional commercial or berber carpet.
Other types of cut pile carpet are: plush, Saxony, frieze and shag or cable. However, different carpet manufacturers might refer to their carpets as being “textured”, “cut pile” or even “cut pile twist” – all of them more or less the same type of cut pile carpet.
Texture – made in a way to mask or hide foot traffic as much as possible; may have a dappled light effect or texture. Plush – made to be soft under foot in a multitude of beautiful colors colors. Twisted or Frieze – the fibers or yarn are twisted in enough turns per inch that they start to bend or “kink” over.
Sisal comes from a cactus plant
Sisal rugs are both stylish and eco-friendly. They are made from the natural plant fiber sisal, which comes from the cactus plant Agave sisalana, and they are very sustainable. If you're "going green," adding a sisal rug to your space is a smart choice.