The process of choosing a new commercial carpet for heavy-traffic areas such as condominium hallways must be considered carefully. The commercial traffic that you elect must be able to withstand years of high traffic. We recommend the following fibers for condominium hallway carpets : wool, nylon, or a wool/nylon blend (80% wool/20% nylon). These carpets have several variations, you’ll have the multitude of choices that vary over designs, colors, prices, and certain advantages and disadvantages. Our guide will appropriately help you to make the best commercial carpet choice for your condominium hallway.
WOOL
For centuries over, wool has been the golden standard in commercial carpeting, of which, many have tried to replicate with synthetic fibers. Wool has long been adored among those who are more environmentally focused for it’s environmentally sensitive nature. Wool commercial carpeting is a great choice for condominium hallways because it is non-allergenic and doesn’t promote bacteria growth, dust mites nor does it emit harmful emissions. It is easy to clean and will not soil quickly due to it’s natural soil resistance, making chemical stain protection treatments not necessary. Luckily, wool fibers absorb polluting gases like nitrous oxide, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide.
One of our favorite characteristics of wool is it’s amazing ability to absorb colors. Due to wool carpet’s ability to absorb colors so easily, this allows for wool carpet to come in various colors and prints.However, one of the major disadvantages to wool carpets is its susceptibility to being stained with bleach- making it and unpopular choice for condominium hallways in condominiums that also have laundry rooms. Something else to keep in mind is that, wool is relatively crush-resistant, but must be cleaned appropriately in order to maintain its reciliancy. Wool commercial carpeting is the most expensive commercial carpeting on the marketing going between $8 to $10, that’s without labor. Wools face fiber weight should be 36oz. to 40oz. and 1/10 gauge.
NYLON
As compared to other synthetic fibers, Nylon has excellent abrasion resiliency and shows much less pile compaction. Nylon is made two ways for commercial purposes: print-dyed and solution dyed. Nylon possesses excellent cleaning characteristics and holds it’s own when exposed to grease, cooking oils, or other household lubricants. It is manufactured in two different ways called print-dyed and solution-dyed. If treated and solution dyed, it holds up to staining and soiling well . Nylon yarns resist indirect sunlight fading and retain their color very well. Like all synthetics, nylon has great resistance to mildew resulting in less bacterial growth. It is difficult to set on fire and produces little or no smoke.
PRINT-DYED NYLON
Print-dyed nylon is like a blank canvas, the color only goes on the fiber. With this dye method you can choose any design you want and the patterns can be more intricate. In most cases your order must be over 2000 yards for the factory to make your custom design and colors. But, the downside of this fiber is that it can, and will, fade in the sunlight and stains with bleach. Print-dyed nylon carpet costs between $6 to $8 per square ft, without labor. Print-dyed nylon’s face fiber weight should be 36oz. to 40oz. and 1/10 gauge.
SOLUTION-DYED NYLON
Solution-dyed nylon is more like a small child; the color is already built-in to the fiber. This carpet comes in cut pile, loop pile, or cut & loop pile patterns. There are several advantages to solution-dyed nylon commercial carpet, it’s easy to clean stains of all kinds, it’s bleach resistant, and is the cheapest of all of those discussed thus far. The disadvantage with solution-dyed nylon is that intricate designs and colors are not possible like in print-dyed nylons and wools. Solution-dyed nylon is priced between $2.50 to $3.50 per square foot without labor. For the best performance, it should have a face fiber weight of at least 36oz. and 1/10 gauge.
WOOL/NYLON BLEND
A wool/nylon blend carpet is truly a union of the best in carpeting. The construction of this carpet blends the natural benefits of 80% wool, with the resiliency of 20% nylon, making it a great option for everything from residential to heavy traffic commercial. Thanks to wool’s soil resistant nature, it cleans better and easier, and, nylon has excellent cleaning characteristics and holds-up to staining and soiling well if treated and solution dyed. Wool is a non-allergenic fiber and does not promote the growth of bacteria and dust mites. Moreover, nylon is excellent extremely mildew resistant. Wool will not promote the spread of flames and self extinguishes once the heart source is removed, and nylon is difficult to ignite and produces little or no smoke. Wool is a sustainable product offering a longer life cycle than other fibers, and nylon has superb abrasion resiliency with less pile compaction in comparison to other synthetic yarns resulting in a more environmentally friendly combination. This fiber prices between $6 to $8 per square foot without labor. Wool/nylon blend’s face fiber weight should be 36 to 40oz. & 1/10 gauge.
