Fiber Types
All rugs are made of fibers. These fibers can be either synthetic, or natural. The type of fiber you choose, impacts the way a rug looks performs, and costs. In general, here are some of the defining characteristics of the most commonly used fibers:

S ynthetic fibers
Nylon

• Strongest, most resilient, and widely used synthetic fiber
• Perfect for high-traffic areas
• Available in a multitude of colors
• Wear-resistant, can withstand the weight and movement of furniture
• Able to conceal and resist soil and stains

Polypropelene (or Olefin)

• Strong, resists wear and permanent stains
• Easily cleaned
• Best suited to low-traffic areas
• Extremely colorfast
• Generates low levels of static electricity
• Resists moisture and mildew

Polyester

• Fair to good resilience, but may mat, crush or compress
• Excellent color clarity and retention
• Easily cleaned and resistant to water-borne stains
• A plush "sink in your toes" feel

Natural fibers
Wool

• Noted for luxury and performance
• Soft, thick and available in many colors
• May be blended with 20% nylon to add to performance
• Strong resilience, good for high-traffic areas
• Level of performance may vary by manufacturer
• Will fuzz and shed, especially when new

Sisal

• One of the most popular natural fibers
• Strong and hard-wearing, performs well under traffic
• Usually found in a neutral, natural color
• Not suitable for outdoors
• Coarse texture
• Will crush under furniture
• Stain removal may be difficult
• Made from the agave plant

Sea-Grass

• Most cleanable of all grass fibers, but stains may still be difficult to remove
• Will crush under furniture
• Usually has an unpredictable green/beige/brown coloring for a rustic look
• Performs well under traffic

Coir

• Made from coconut husks
• When dyed, may fade when placed in direct sunligt
• Creates a beautiful, hard wearing rug that performs well under traffic

Jute

• Known for a natural color and appearance
• Soft, will crush under furniture
• Natural color is brown, and will darken over time
• Not recommended for high traffic areas

Silk

• Many wool rugs feature silk highlights
• 100% silk rugs are primarily made in China
• Has a high luster and an extremely soft feel
• Not recommended for high-traffic areas
  
  

Bulk Continuous Filament or Staple Fibers
A rug is made of either Bulk Continuous Filament (BCF) Fibers or Staple Fibers. Each type of fiber has different characteristics. Wool is always a staple fiber. Polyster and polypropelene are always BCF fibers. Nylon may be either staple or BCF.

Staple Fibers

• Uses short lengths of fiber approximately 2 1/2 to 8 inches long, spun into lengths of yarn
• Used in cut pile and some looped products (such as wool berbers)
• Will shed initially, but stops after 3-6 months. Fiber loss is less than one percent
• Some manufacturers provide anti-static technology by spinning grounding fibers into the yarn or providing a topical treatment

BCF Fibers

• Uses continuous strands of fiber twisted into yarn
• Used in both cut and loop pile products
• Some manufacturers provide anti-static technology by spinning grounding fibers into the yarn or providing a topical treatment
• Does not fuzz or shed
  
  

Performance Characteristics
When considering how a certain rug and the fibers it is made of will perform, the following characteristics need to be considered:

• Abrasion Resistance: How well the fiber will resist wearing away, or where fiber is actually lost from the rug
• Resilience: How well the fiber will bounce back to its original height after it has been crushed; crushing can be seen when the carpet is beaten down by traffic, or by heavy furniture
• Soil Hiding: How well the fibers will hide soil remember (soil-hiding has no relation to stain-blocking)
• Cleaning: Some colors and fibers are more easily cleaned than others
• Spot Removal: On average, how easily spillage is removed; this can be affected by the type of spill, how long it has set, and if any special stain-blocking treatments have been applied beforehand
• Pilling: How prone the fibers are to becoming entangled and forming hard masses or tufts

The chart below will allow you to easily compare the different characteristics of the various fibers.

Construction Techniques
No matter what type of fiber used, rugs are made in three different ways. They can either be tufted, knotted or woven.

• Tufted Rugs: Yarns are inserted or "punched" by needles through a backing to form loops on the face of the carpets. The loops are then either cut, or left as loops.When the loops are not cut, the rug is called a "looped rug." When the loops are cut, the rug is called a "cut pile" rug.Tufted rugs can be made by a machine, or by hand. Because hand-tufted rugs take longer to make, they are generally more expensive.
• Knotted Rugs: Similar in appearance to a tufted rug, knotting small pieces of yarn on the rug backing makes knotted rugs. Most knotted rugs are made by hand, and can feature extremely intricate patterns. A large hand-knotted rug can take several people months to finish, and are priced accordingly. However, because a hand-knotted rug is more of a work of art than a rug, the additional price may be worth it.

• Woven Rugs: In rug weaving, lengthwise and widthwise yarns are interlaced on a loom, without using a backing. Woven rugs can also be made by machine, or by hand and are priced accordingly. Like knotted rugs, woven rugs can also feature intricate patterns.

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