Wool vs. Man-made Carpet

Hello everyone! This is another question that seems to be asked a lot. Many people want to know what is definitively better, wool or man-made. Well, I might as well tell you now that there’s no absolute answer - like everything in life, it’s a matter not of which is better, but which is more suitable for you! Here are some things you might like to think about before making the choice...

1. What Is Your Budget?


Pure wool carpet is often very expensive - of course, all our carpet remnants are heavily discounted, but they may still be prohibitive for those wanting to keep costs down. This doesn’t mean that man-made carpets are poor quality - this cost increase for wool is due both to the complex manufacturing process and the transport. Wool from New Zealand, principally from the Romney breed (which originated in the UK), is generally considered to be the finest for making carpets, and naturally importing the wool comes with its own price tag! Man-made carpets, on the other hand, can be made quickly and with relative ease, which reduces the overheads.

2. Where Is The Carpet Going To Be?



This is always something to consider when choosing a carpet - the number one question is, will the carpet being going in a ‘high traffic’ area (typically stairs and landing, also entrance hall depending on the layout of the house) or a ‘low traffic’ one (e.g. bedrooms, spare room etc.). Of course this will also depend on how many people are living there (see the next point, below). If it’s a high-traffic area, you’ll need a durable carpet - wool is naturally very resilient and springy, able to keep its shape without being ‘flattened’ - most man-made fibres like polyester flatten more easily but some, like nylon, are tougher. This is where the direct comparison breaks down a little, as there are lots of man-made fibres, so it’s always best to do some research for yourself - there’s good independent advice here.

NB: When it comes to durability there are other things to consider too, such as the construction of the carpet - pile density, for example, is a key factor. We’ll hopefully write a whole blog on this in the future, but the rule of thumb is that a high pile density will make for a tougher carpet!

3. What Are The Needs Of Your Household?


Of course every house is different, so here are a couple of points to consider...

Dirt/Spills
If you’re living with pets or small children (or large children for that matter!) having a carpet that can resist dirt and spills is essential - there are points of both sides for this one. Wool carpet is better at hiding and resisting dirt, but it is notoriously difficult to clean - it reacts very badly to steam cleaning, bleach and other common cleaning products - you either have to use specialist products or have it cleaned professionally, which can be expensive!
Man-made carpets, on the other hand, are often far easier to clean - they can be bleach-cleaned, unlike wool - but the dirt tends to show up more as the fibres are translucent, where wool is opaque.
If you do choose wool, it is always worth considering stain-guarding; this process coats the fibres in a polymer to add extra protection. We have more information of tackling dirt and spills on this blog post.

Open Flame
If you have a house with an open fire or you like using candles, oil lamps and the like, then that will affect the carpet you choose - man-made carpets tend to be flammable, whereas wool is naturally resistant to fire. Man-made fibres will also melt when sufficiently hot, leading to tell-tale ‘cigarette burns’ in the carpet - not a good look!

Insulation
If your house tends to get cold a carpet can help - wool is a natural insulator, which makes perfect sense considering where it comes from, so that’s a bonus, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that man-made carpets can’t be good for retaining heat - the same rules about pile height and density apply for insulation as well as durability - likewise, a good underlay can also really help. Something else to note - wool carpet is great at muffling sound as well as trapping heat, so it’s worth considering if you like your peace!

Tactile Qualities
Thick, luxurious carpet is something that many of us dream of - if you are wanting carpets in your bedroom or living room, something soft may be ideal, and of course wool has a natural advantage there - however, man-made carpets, especially those marketed as ‘velvet’ in style can give them a run for their money. Of course ultimately the only way to know which carpet has the right feel for you is to touch it - that’s why we offer free samples of all our products!

NB: Remember to consider the durability question when thinking about the feel - a carpet may feel very nice at first, but if it isn’t durable it will be prone to flattening and won’t be as comfy in the long run!

4. The Bottom Line

Ultimately, you need to find what’s best for you - but if you are still on the fence about the whole issue, then never fear, there is an option to compromise! Many carpet manufacturers make great wool blends to get the best of both worlds. Westex, for example have a fantastic range of 80-20 Wool-Nylon blends, and Crucial Trading make excellent wool and polypropylene carpets.

We hope this has been helpful for you, and if you need any more advice you can always check our FAQ or contact us via e-mail or phone.