Godfrey Hirst recently allowed us to participate in their Wool College program which educated salespeople and team members wool fiber. So now that we are the "experts" we are here to share everything you need to know about wool carpet.
Wool is a natural fiber, shorn from the coats of sheep usually native to either New Zealand or the United Kingdom. It's biodegradable as well as recyclable so it won't spend centuries taking up space in a landfill like a synthetic carpet will. It also takes less energy to produce than synthetic carpets.
Wool carpeting typically falls well behind synthetic carpets in terms of quantity of sales. One reason might be the cost but another could just be better marketing by the synthetic carpet makers.
Regardless of the reason however, wool offers a number of benefits as a floor covering that deserves some attention when considering carpet options. A closer look at those benefits might be enough to sway you toward this environmentally friendly carpet choice, even if wool's prices tend to be more than nylon or polyester.
Not only is it good for our world as a whole, wool also helps your home's environment too. It can absorb about 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp which make it a cheap but efficient humidifier (and dehumidifier too). In warmer humid conditions it absorbs some of the moisture in the air making it feel cooler. When the air dries out it releases the moisture helping to humidify the air.
Wool carpeting has also been shown to be an effective 'filter'. It's natural fibers can absorb and retain chemicals such as formaldehyde (present in certain wood products and other building materials) and nitrogen dioxide, a by-product of smoking and combustion (think heaters, fireplaces, stoves, etc.).
Wool fiber has an overlapping "scaly" outer structure which looks and acts somewhat like roof shingles. This helps repel dirt and liquids by shielding the inner part of the fiber. It also helps hold the dirt and spilled liquids near the top surface of the carpet giving you a better opportunity of cleaning dirt and spills.
Wool fiber's protein-based chemical makeup readily accepts dyes and locks in the color for superior intensity and color fastness. Carpets made from New Zealand wool, which is naturally white, make an easy pallet for applying color.
Overview Why Wool Carpet?
Wool is durable, resilient, affords comfort and safety - and wool is a renewable resource! Wool fibers are naturally superior to synthetic fibers, as well as longer lasting, inherently flame retardant and resistant to dirt and crushing.
Performance
SUPERIOR TEXTURE RETENTION & RESILIENCE - SUPERIOR WEAR
- NATURALLY SOLID & STAIN RESISTANT
- SUPERIOR DYE FASTNESS
- NATURALLY FIRE RETARDANT & SELF EXTINGUISHING
Value
- Slightly higher initial cost massively offset by product longevity and ease of maintenance. WOOL CARPET ACTUALLY COSTS LESS!!!!
- WOOL CARPET ADDS VALUE and is the ULTIMATE STATEMENT OF STYLE, SUCCESS, AND COMFORT.
- WOOL IS WARMER IN THE WINTER AND COOLER IN THE SUMMER. Wool naturally feels better, is more resilient, and helps moderate temperature and humidity in the home by absorbing and releasing moisture as needed.
- Wool's natural soil and stain resistance allows for wool to require LESS CLEANING THAN SYNTHETICS.
- Wool is a renewable resource and is biodegradable. Wool is a way to be kind to Mother Earth. WOOL IS GREEN AND IS RECYCLABLE.
Comfort
- WOOL'S SOFT & NATURAL FEEL to the hand and beauty underfoot simply cannot be achieved with any synthetic fiber.
- Wool is a NATURALLY DELUSTERED FIBER that is appealing to the eye and allows for a soft and comfortable appearance on the floor.
- Wool's natural luster and gentle light reflection characteristics give a home or office an ELEGANT AND PEACEFUL BACKGROUND.
Quality
- All HIBERNIA WOOL CARPETS ARE CAREFULLY TESTED for consistency, performance, and overall adherence to strict product specifications.
- Our yarns are TRIPLE SCORED to enhance soil resistance and extend the life of the carpet.
- HIGH TWIST YARNS equal higher performance and all HIBERNIA fabrics utilize higher than normal twist multiples to insure customer satisfaction.
- All HIBERNIA carpet products are PERFORMANCE TESTED and TRAFFIC RATED to insure performance and proper utilization (see product sheets).
Drawbacks
As we know, nothing is perfect. Wool carpet has its drawbacks and we feel its important to share what you can expect.
Wool fiber is by nature a staple fiber. Staple fibers are shorter filaments wound into yarn that's made into the carpet's pile. This is in contrast to synthetic fibers that are manufactured in very long continuous filaments.
Carpets made from staple fibers sometimes have the tendency to shed some of the filaments as they naturally work themselves loose from the yarn that makes up the carpet. They usually lie on top of the carpet and/or get caught up on your clothes if you've been down wrestling with the toddler or family pet.
In addition, highly alkaline substances like certain detergents, soaps and household cleaners can damage the wool fibers and mar the carpet.
It is important to review all of your options with a flooring specialist to weigh your options and get more specific information about your carpet choice.
You can instantly request a free quote from our website.
A flooring specialist will give you an in home consultation and help you choose the perfect carpet for your project.
One of our recommended vendors for wool carpet is Godfrey Hirst.
About Godfrey HirstGodfrey Hirst predominantly uses New Zealand wool for its carpets. With some 40 million sheep grazing on beautiful, lush green pastures, use of New Zealand wool ensures an environmentally sustainable fiber that is the cleanest and whitest wool in the world.
The Wools of New Zealand Brand represents the standard of excellence in wool carpets. Godfrey Hirst USA and Godfrey Hirst Carpets of Canada are proud licensed partners with Wools of New Zealand, requiring our products to meet demanding quality standards and fiber content requirements.
The name and trademark, used exclusively on products containing at least 80 percent wool, with the majority (60%) being New Zealand wool, are applied only to carpets and rugs that have met the highest performance and environmental specifications.
Find our more about Godfrey Hirst here.
