What's the story on wool vs PP carpets?

[Once a Wheeler]

Now you’re showing your age @Dave7 .
The advent of Cyril Lord was because of an new technology in the industry. Up until then carpets had been woven on a loom, be it Axminster for figured multi coloured designs or Wilton for plain.
A process invented in Dalton Georgia USA (still a huge centre for carpet manufacturing) used a hollow needle to punch yarn through a scrim backing which was then backed using a secondary material stuck on with latex to give it stability. It worked like a sewing machine and in fact these tufting machines, as the process was called, were made and still are by Singer. The cloth came off the machine like pulling toilet paper unlike the slow weaving machines so costs were much lower.
Initially these tufted carpets were synthetic which further lowered costs and the strength of the yarn prevented breakages. Now the vast majority of carpets are made by this method.

If he was good enough for the Bat Cave…

Makes all other product placements look threadbare.

 

[Time Waster]

Floorboards are very good but the better underlay offers better feel under the carpet. You can feel more of a bounce. Whether that's subjective or not real I don't know but I've had thin underlay before and it's not as nice as the better underlay I've seen. £2.50 per m2 extra for it doesn't seem much. Pure stats indicate improved insulation, both acoustic and thermal.

 

[bikingdad90]

I’d go for PP in a bedroom because if your kids/wife is messy and likely to get make-up or spill stuff etc on the floor it’s easier to clean as it doesn’t stain as easy.

For areas like the living room I’d be going for wool as it feels nicer underfoot and is less likely to have things spilt on it and trod through it etc.

For high traffic areas such as the hallway and landing I’d be going for a wool/nylon mix to help the wool last longer and slow down the wearing of it.

 

[Cycleops]

Regards underlay you'll probably find the shop will want to sell you a lightweight foam type which are very popular now as they are not messy like the old felt/crumb rubber stuff and much lighter to haul about. Should perform well.

 

[Moon bunny]

Never had woollen months, ever. Didn't even know they were a problem these days. Is it everywhere or in particular parts of the country? Lived in northwest England most of my life and never had moth infestation. My issue with wool is that merino wool wears through way too easily for the amount you spend on them. That's not a moth issue but a fibre property.

Always put felt down. We are thinking of an extra 2.50 on a thicker, better felt for evening up the floorboards and insulation from the garage underneath. Better to get good underlay in with carpets imho.

I used to live in Cumbria, and moths were a problem, especially the white-shouldered moth. Now over the border in York I am mainly concerned with webbing clothes moths and case-bearing moths.
We use pheromone traps, exclusion and hygiene, with chemical insecticides as a last resort.
The National Trust has had good results with parasitic wasps, which we may try next.
https://www.dragonfli.co.uk/product...MIqOHq7ZWc-AIVepBoCR2VGwalEAAYASAAEgL-qfD_BwE

 

[KnittyNorah]

Another bonus with a wool carpet is that wool is a natural fire-retardant, in that it is to a significant degree, self-extinguishing. Neither does it produce toxic fumes, melt or drip in the way that synthetic floor coverings might, in the unfortunate event of a fire breaking out in your home.

 

[Time Waster]

If there's a fire such that any carpet is at risk I doubt I'll be in the house somehow but waiting for the fire and rescue service. We have good fire alarms and exit plans.

Getting the felt underlay that's like multicoloured fibres felted up with something eurethane foam sort of thing.

Funny thing is the pp carpet sample had a bad coffee type of stain that looked like it would be persistent. Not a good sign I think. Wool does have good treatment to resist stains these days as well.