When it comes to flooring, opting for hardwood flooring is a popular way to go. Tons of homeowners and renters alike can’t wait to cover up or completely do away with the carpeting in their homes. Just like there are different options for area rugs, there’s also more than one type of carpeting. For some, carpet is functional and cozy, and they’d like to keep it around. One popular type of carpeting is berber.
What Is Engineered Berber carpet?
Believe it or not, you’ve probably seen berber carpet before. It was really popular in the ‘90s and is making somewhat of a comeback in modern homes. Berber is also known as “loop style carpeting” because of the way the fibers are formed with short, thick loops that weave back and forth to create the signature tight look.
While some consider it outdated, berber is known for being one of the oldest and most durable kinds of carpet. Berber carpeting is typically found in low maintenance, high-traffic areas, like basements. As far as the style goes, this sort of carpet typically comes in neutral colors with flecks of color here and there, making it versatile for various homes and styles.
Pros
- Durable
- Spill-friendly
- Hides dirt well
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Outdated
- Limited color options
- Hard to repair
- Rougher than newer carpet styles
Cost of Berber Carpet
If you have weighed the pros and cons and have decided that berber carpet is the best option for you, then it may be time to start considering costs. Berber carpet is undoubtedly one of the more affordable types of carpet, and now it comes in new styles and fibers. Because there are so many options, there isn’t one simple price when it comes to this carpet.
Simple, neutral berber carpet is probably the cheapest way to go. Just like area rugs, the more patterns and details, the more money it will cost. It’s the same thing with Berber carpeting. The more flecks and details, the more expensive your project could be. With prices ranging from $5 to $8 per square foot, wool berber carpet is probably the most expensive kind you’ll find. Nylon berber is a bit cheaper, but it varies between $3 to $4 per square foot.
In the end, though, the quality of the carpet plays the biggest role in pricing when it comes to berber carpet.
Maintenance and Care
One downfall of Berber carpet is that it can be a bit hard to repair. Because of the way the loops are weaved, a small snag in this carpet can quickly turn into a bigger one that will be more expensive to fix. For smaller damage, you can buy a kit for as low as $15 to do a DIY repair. To stop snags from happening in your Berber carpet, you should avoid dragging things across the carpet and loosening the loops.
In regard to cleaning, the thick material of Berber carpets stops lots of moisture from locking into the carpet. Many spills won’t take much scrubbing and cleaning to remove. So while Berber carpet is not the most difficult to clean, cleaning could be a problem because of how tight the weaves are. It really all depends on what you spill and how long you let it sit before you attempt to clean it.
Design Options
Berber comes in different styles, colors and materials like nylon, wool or polyester. The styles are more extensive though, like:
- Simple Loop Berber
- Patterned Loop Berber
- Patterned Cut and Loop Berber
- Cut Pile Berber
- Multi-color Loop Berber
- Cut and Loop Berber
Lifespan
Depending on maintenance and upkeep, Berber carpeting can last anywhere from five to 20 years. The type of fiber used by the manufacturer also contributes to the longevity of this flooring.The average lifespan of Berber carpet is 10 to 15 years.
Top Brands
Stainmaster: This is a trusted carpeting brand that’s worth checking out. Stainmaster is available at retailers across the US and has a good reputation for quality flooring and lifetime warranties.
Shaw Flooring: Shaw has a collection of 42 carpets in their Berber collection that comes in a few different color palettes. They offer carpets made from nylon, olefin and polyester.
Mohawk Flooring: Mohawk has been around since 1878 and is one of the largest flooring companies around. They have a large selection of Berber and loop pile carpets available, with over 15,000 matches on their website.
Bottom Line
Berber carpet is a solid flooring choice for a few different reasons. Not only is it more affordable than other types of carpet, but it comes in a bunch of different fiber types to tailor to your needs. Wool works for a softer feel underfoot, whereas Olefin is a more stain-resistant option.
Just because Berber carpeting costs less money, doesn’t mean it is a lower quality flooring option for your home. As long as you stick to a good brand that offers quality materials, Berber carpet is an affordable, durable and resilient flooring option.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
