OT: carpet runners

[Bonnie Jean]

I am in the market for an Oriental style runner for my stairs. I am torn between synthetic and wool. I've been told (by a carpet store) that the wool wears better/longer but they both clean comparably easily. They said the synthetic compacts more over time.

I have an Oriental wool Karastan area rug in my living room that I love.....but I find that the moderately priced (~25/linear foot) wool runners don't reproduce color as nicely as the synthetics. (The reds seem a bit orangey to me.) And how much of a difference is there between different synthetics----Olefin vs. Nylon vs. etc, etc. And of course the synthetics are more reasonably priced (~18/linear foot).

Anyway, I am wondering if you can offer any advice? It's just me, 2 pugs and a cat here, so wear may not be a big issue.

Thanks for your comments.

[Phisherman]

There are so many properties to carpeting, you'll have to evaluate these yourself. I find that nylon wears good, takes color exceptionally well, cleans up fairly easily, and is reasonably priced. Carpeting on stairs will takes a lot of wear and tear, compared to an area or room. You will need to be sure that a runner on stairs is secured properly.

[ameijers]

(snip)

What he said. If you find one you like that matches or complements the one in the room, I'd strongly consider buying 2 of them, and carefully packing the spare away where it won't rot or get eaten. The installed one will wear out before the area rug does. In the old days, they used to tuck about

8inches extra folded under on the bottom riser, so when the noses got shiny, you could tug the whole thing uphill about 8 inches, and refasten it. Of course, back then in fancy houses, they also had removable rails at the bottom of each riser, often brass, to hold the runner in place. Poor folks had bare wood steps.

aem sends....