Wool or Synthetic? Factors for Choosing a Carpet for Stairs

Stair carpeting takes a beating. It is often the most-traveled pathway in the house.

"There are certain carpets that are suitable for stairs and ones that are not," said Gail Silverblank, showroom manager at Classic Floor Designs in Washington, D.C., who added that carpet fibers break down when the stairs are heavily used.

The durability issue begins with what the carpet is made of: wool or synthetic. There is much debate on this, and we turned to designers, retailers and experts at the Carpet and Rug Institute. Opinions were mixed. Most went with wool.

"Wool has it hands down for durability, cleanability," said Jeri Gregeris, designer for Lustig Interiors in Vienna, Va.

Wool wins "for its durability and easy care," said Washington area designer Dana Tydings. "It can be cleaned with mild soap and water."

Wool, said Norman Moore, flooring manager at Expo Design Center in Bethesda, Md., "because of its resilience." In the time it takes wool to wear out, nylon will have to be replaced three times, he said.

But synthetics have their defenders, including Carroll Turner, a manager at CRI, who said that "nylon rugs are more durable, resilient and tough. ... Nylon doesn't stain quite as easily ... (but) may not be soft or give you the aesthetics of wool."

So while wool gets the edge, it's more costly. "It's three times the expense," said D.C. designer Stan Kelly, "but you'll also get three times the life out of the carpet."

After material, the biggest issue is weave, specifically loop or cut pile.

"You are best suited with a cut-pile carpet" on stairs, Silverblank said.

"Cut pile tends to be a little more forgiving," added Robert Johnson, a salesman at Abbey Carpet and Floors in Fairfax, Va.

Turner, however, had a different opinion: "Loops are more durable than cut pile."

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