Should I Choose Berber Carpet for My Home?

When you choose new carpeting, you might not pay a lot of attention to names. If you’re like most people, you walk around the carpet store feeling different types of carpeting to see what you like. From there, you ask questions pertaining to durability, pricing, and perhaps extras like stain resistance to determine if your favorites meet other criteria.

That said, a bit of knowledge about different types of carpeting could help you to narrow your options before your shopping excursion. One of the most popular types of carpet is Berber. Why would you want this carpet in your home? What are the potential pros and cons? Here’s what you need to know to determine whether Berber carpet is right for your home.

Comfort and Durability

You naturally want your carpeting to be comfortable underfoot, and the dense, looped fibers of Berber offer an advantage. Not only are Berber carpets cushy from the outset, but they are also extremely durable, holding up well under wear and tear. Whereas cut fiber carpets may bend and compress, flattening over time, Berber loops tend to hold their shape well. This means your carpet will look and feel new longer.

Comfort and Cost

Generally speaking, the cushiness of Berber adds to comfort all around. However, the type of Berber fibers you choose could affect comfort levels somewhat. Berber is not considered terribly affordable, but because of the longevity and other points of value, many homeowners find it worth the added expense.

That said, olefin and polyester fibers are definitely going to cost less than wool or nylon counterparts. The only drawback here is that cheaper materials could feel rough or scratchy underfoot. If you wear socks or slippers around the house, you’ll never notice. However, your best bet is probably to feel different materials beforehand to see what you prefer.

Stains

When it comes to stains on Berber carpets, owners will discover a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Berber can be fairly stain resistant, or rather, spill resistant. Berber carpets aren’t particularly absorbent, and the dense clustering of fibers delays many stains from soaking in. If you’re quick to blot the area, you could avoid a lot of staining.

Unfortunately, stains that do manage to soak in are going to be a lot more difficult to clean. In such cases, you’ll want to hire a professional service like Curtice Chem-Dry to get your carpeting clean. In fact, you should probably avoid steam cleaning on your own at all (regardless of staining) because the dense fibers can retain moisture once it soaks in. Professional cleaners can account for this difficulty.

Maintenance

Because Berber features looped fibers, you have to be particularly careful when it comes to maintenance, especially vacuuming. The loops can become snagged, pull free, and unravel, causing unsightly marring or even bald patches in carpeting. This isn’t terribly common – Berber carpets tend to be well-constructed – but you want to make sure the vacuum you use is suitable for your carpeting and that you adjust the settings accordingly.