Triexta Carpet vs Wool Carpet

Carpeting is an essential element of home decor, and it plays a significant role in the overall aesthetic appeal of a room. There are various types of carpeting available in the market, each with its own set of pros and cons.

Triexta and wool carpeting are two of the most popular types of carpeting, and they are known for their distinct characteristics. In this guide, we will be comparing the innovative triexta and natural wool carpeting in terms of durability, stain resistance, longevity, water resistance, comfort underfoot, and cost of supplying and installing.

1) Softness & Comfort

Comfort is one of the most important factors when purchasing carpet, however the battle between triexta or wool carpet must factor in more than just softness.

Wool has long since been considered one of the most luxurious and soft carpets since the beginning of modern carpets. Not only do they offer softness, but also natural benefits including air quality by trapping dust and humidity regulation thanks to it’s “breathing” fibres. Furthermore, wool offers insulation of temperature much more effectively than synthetic carpet alternatives.

Triexta carpet on the other hand is arguably softer than natural wool carpet, but does not offer the other natural benefits that wool comes with. Triexta is a type of polyester derived from corn starch that is recognised as the softest carpet fibre commercially available.

Winner: Tie – Triexta is softer but wool offers more benefits.

2) Durability

Durability is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a carpet. This reflects how well a carpet can resist wear and tear from daily life activities.

The fibers of triexta carpets have decent strength amongst synthetic carpets, only second to nylon carpets. This makes triexta carpeting a great choice for high-traffic areas such as hallways, living rooms, and bedrooms.

Wool carpets on the other hand is not as durable as triexta, and it may require more frequent cleaning and maintenance. Wool carpet owners and buyers often notice shedding of the wool which requires regular vacuuming, especially during the first 3 to 6 months after installation.

Winner: Triexta carpet is more hardwearing than wool.

3) Resilience

Resilience refers to how well carpets retains it’s shape despite daily foot traffic and heavy furniture. Not to be confused with durability which impacts the wear and tear resistance, resilience is just as important when choosing a long lasting carpet.

Wool carpets are more resilient than triexta carpets because they have natural memory and tensile strength which makes the fibres harder to tear. As such, wool carpets can resist furniture marking and remain good looking for longer than triexta carpets.

Winner: Wool has better resilience and shape retention than triexta carpet.

4) Stain Resistance

Stain resistance is another important factor to consider when choosing a carpet. Less time spent cleaning and maintaining your carpet the better.

Triexta is known for its excellent stain resistance, as it is made from synthetic fibers that are resistant to spills, stains, and dirt. This makes triexta carpeting a great choice for households with children and pets. In fact, many triexta carpets come with 7 days of stain resistance, which exceeds that of even the best solution dyed nylon carpets.

Wool, on the other hand, is not as stain resistant as triexta. Wool fibers are naturally porous, which means that they can absorb spills and stains. However, wool carpeting can be treated with special stain-resistant coatings, which can help to improve its stain resistance.

Winner: Triexta carpet is more stain resistant than wool.

5) Water Resistance

The bane of all carpets (and most hard floors) is water since time immemorial. Moisture and water is known to cause mould and mildew, rotting and other issues.

Triexta is known for its excellent water resistance, as it is made from synthetic fibers that are resistant to moisture. This makes triexta carpeting a great choice for households with children and pets.

Wool, on the other hand, is not as water resistant as triexta. Wool fibers are more susceptible to absorbing moisture and can lead to mould growth.

No carpet is truly 100% waterproof and due care should be taken to ensure spills are dried quickly.

Winner: Triexta carpet is more water resistant than wool carpet.

6) Carpet Pricing & Budgeting

At the end of the day, the cost of laying a carpet must be considered when choosing between the options. There are many factors other than material that can affect the price of a installing new carpet including how thick the pile is, how close the gauge is and even the shape of your room, to mention a few.

The more affordable option between the two would be triexta carpets. This is because synthetic fibres like triexta are much easier and cheaper to produce and manufacture. You can have a quality triexta carpet supplied and installed with underlay between $70 – $100 per square metre on average in Sydney & NSW.

Wool carpets on the other hand maintain it’s reign as the most luxurious (and expensive) carpet fibre. This is because wool is a natural material which cannot be mass produced on demand, but are rather grown on a set number of sheep. Furthermore, wool carpets are always in high demand as they are recognised for the natural benefits mentioned above. You can expect to pay between $80 – $150 per square metre for wool carpets to be laid in Sydney & NSW.

Ultimately, wool carpet will cost more than triexta carpet because the material is more expensive. Installation rates may also vary as wool carpets can be much heavier and hence more labourious to transport, cut and install.

Winner: Triexta carpet is cheaper to lay than wool.

What is the Difference Between Wool and Triexta?

Wool and triexta carpets offer very different in properties and functionality, which can be attributed to the materials they are made from. The main difference is that wool is sourced from sheep (primarily), alpacas and goats. Triexta is a type of synthetic fibre derived from corn starch through chemical reactions known as transesterification.

How Are Wool Carpets Made?

The wool used in carpets are primarily sourced from New Zealand sheep. The production process all begins when the wool is shorn from the sheep.

The fleece is scoured with hot water and detergent to remove any dirt, grease and other impurities. Scoured wool must then be straightened into string like lengths through a process known as “carding” before it can be spun together into one long continuous yarn.

Dyes and other treatments can be introduced to the yarn to increase the stain protection and water resistance. Some wool carpets come in more than one colour by combining two or three different coloured threads during tufting.

Looking to learn more? Feel free to explore our ultimate guide to wool carpets and discover their key characteristics.

How Are Triexta Carpets Made?

Triexta is noticeably different from wool fibres. It is considered the “next generation” of polyester carpets as they have a very similar chemical composition to the more affordable polyester. However, triexta offers much greater durability, is more stain resistant than solution dyed nylon, and softer than traditional polyester carpets.

Triexta starts from the fields as corn, which is harvested for either food or processing. The sugars are then extracted from the corn and fermented in a process that is similar to alcohol production. The resulting chemical compounds are then reacted with an acid that produces the high performance fibre known as triexta.

The triexta is first melted and then extruded through a spinneret, which forms the fibers. The resulting fibers can then be spun into yarn and used to make textiles including carpet. Other additives such as dyes, fire-retardants, or UV stabilizers can be added during the spinning process to give the fibers specific properties.

If you wish to learn more about triexta carpets, we have an ultimate guide that covers every advantage and disadvantage.

Conclusion – Is Triexta Carpet or Wool Carpet Better?

Ultimately, the better carpet depends on which characteristics you prioritise. Your individual circumstance must be taken into account when choosing a carpet. Both are luxurious and on the more costly side of the spectrum, however they are key differences.

Triexta is easier to clean and maintain, and more hardwearing than wool. This makes it suitable for family use with active kids or pets where there might be high traffic and the occasional spill.

Wool on the other hand is offers natural benefits including humidity regulation, temperature insulation and traps dust to improve air quality. This provides more comfortable living, which may be a priority for those with asthma or elderly.

If you would like a free consultation for professional advice when it comes to choosing carpets, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly carpet experts. We’d love to help you make the right decision for your home or property.