Considering Carpet

Cincinnati flooring expert says “green” can also mean affordable and durable

It used to be hard to find a “green” carpet product that was reliable and durable – in addition to being affordable. If you told me you were concerned about chemical emissions and indoor-air quality, I would tell you about all-natural wool carpeting, and when you saw the price, you paused. Wool is arguably natural, and one of the most resilient carpets available, but it isn’t cheap.

These days, I have a lot more to offer at competitive prices. These carpets come with great “green” stories, they are highly durable and easy to keep clean.

With Lees for Living’s Triexta fiber and Tigressa’s recycled type 6 nylons, I now have options for almost every price-conscious, “green” customer. In addition, they offer the necessary fiber density and composition needed for long-lasting durability.

Ben Lanich, second from left, oversees the sales staff and Carpetland Carpet One, Tri-county

Lees for Living’s Triexta fiber, made by DuPont, is manufactured using plant-based fuel, a renewable resource, instead of petroleum. This reduces energy usage by 30 percent, and greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent when compared to costs of producing typical nylon carpet. Triexta fiber also means better indoor-air quality. It contains no heavy metals or chemical treatments. Because of the manufacturing process and fiber composition, it is permanently stain-proof without using chemicals. This stain resistance does not wash off, so you don’t need to reapply stain guards by spraying the carpet.

Tigressa, an extremely soft and durable product made by Shaw, also has a great “green” story as it is made from 25 percent post-consumer carpet and can be recycled as part of Shaw’s recycling program, which has outpaced all others.

The unique trait of this Nylon 6 fiber is its size – half the thickness of a human hair, which gives it extreme softness. The carpet has twice the number of fibers per square inch of an ordinary carpet, so it’s packed tighter and holds up better. This, combined with the inherent characteristics of nylon, makes Tigressa one of the best choices for long-term resiliency. It also meets the standards of CRI Green Label Plus indoor-air quality certification.

– Ben Lanich is sales manager at Carpetland Carpet One Floor & Home, Tri-county. Contact him at blanich@carpetland-cincy.com or (513) 772-3456.

Lees for Living is available exclusively through Carpet One Floor & Home. Tigressa is available through Carpet One Floor & Home, at Buddy’s Flooring America, and other Flooring America locations.