There are many reasons why you’d want to replace the existing carpet in your car. Carpet that’s torn, frayed, faded or stained beyond repair or a good cleaning just puts a blemish on the overall look of your vehicle’s interior. Sure, you can hide the odd imperfection with a set of car mats, but you’re doing more harm than good.

Car carpeting needs to both look good and be in top condition. After all, it’s this and the carpet underlay that separates you and the chunk of metal that’s the car floor. Having cracks means that water and grime settle in and over time can cause rust pockets, nasty smells, and even damage to wiring. The same can be said of heat and noise coming from the engine, tranny or exhaust. Decent underlay is the first line of protection here, and a well-set automotive carpet roll on top makes sure the cabin stays cool, quiet and comfortable.

Rebuilding a Classic? Consider Getting Moulded Carpet

Aussies love homegrown cars. And a lot of us go the extra mile in restoring cars to their original look. Parts may be easier to come by, but carpet can cause some trouble. If you’re ripping out old carpet from a new car or older classic, consider getting moulded carpet in the right style and colour for the vehicle. This is cut to precise dimensions of the footwells and floor, so everything looks neat. For newer cars, there’s the choice of OEM carpeting, but for older cars, say Commodores or Falcons, you need to go a different route. Here, look to retailers or workshops specialising in car rebuilds.

If you’re working from the ground up, then you might also need to replace the carpet underlay to maintain excessive heat and vibrations from spoiling your ride. Underlay that’s in good condition means less work in fitting your new carpet.

Types of Moulded Carpet – Loop vs. Cut Pile Carpet

Moulded carpets differ in their design and look. Older cars had loop pile carpets, consisting of strands of fabric constructed tightly and closely together and looped through the carpet backing. This gives off a coarser look due to being quite dense. The design is also non-slip, offering better traction, so can be considered a safer choice than modern cut-pile carpeting. And it was a regular sight in anything before the 1980s. Loop pile carpet is mostly made of what is called 6.6 Nylon, the most durable carpet fibre currently sold, so will hold a form even under heavy use. There’s little need for maintenance and being thicker, it keeps warmth in during the winter, and cooler air in the summer months. You can also go for more exotic flooring with loop pile wool yarn, but at the expense of overall durability.

Many older cars had two-tone loop pile carpets in colours to suit the interior. You can choose to do the same during the car rebuild, or go for one of the dozens of colours available for a more understated look.

Cut pile carpets feature on cars from the mid-1980s and onwards. They first appeared in luxury German cars and now are a standard feature in all new vehicles. This differs from loop pile automotive carpet roll in that the fabric is threaded through the backing, then the tops are cut to leave a smooth and uniform finish. Materials range from 100 per cent Nylon yarn in most cases, to cheaper polyester or wool and nylon mixtures. The luxurious look is also coupled with a softer feel. Cut pile carpets are somewhat lighter and less dense, but are easier to clean and maintain than carpets in loop pile designs. For better footing, cut-pile carpet can be optioned with rubber inserts on the driver’s side.

What’s Stretch Carpeting?

While moulded car carpet rolls are tailor-made to fit the cabin floor of your make and model, stretch carpet is universal and used everywhere else. The carpet comes in various sizes and is easily cut to shape. This is good for the boot floor, side panels, around the wheel arches, along the roof, the firewalls or for the speakers. Stretch carpeting is flexible and easily moulds to the contours of the surface, and sticks well with a simple dose of adhesive spray.

Stretch carpets come as cut-pile designs, that are also durable and benefit from UV resistance, so won’t fade or degrade under the hot Aussie sun. They too can be optioned in a range of colours.

Summing It Up

A new carpet can completely change the look of the interior. Different designs, textures and colours will liven up a drab and downtrodden looking cabin, while also upping comfort. Moulded carpets work well with the layers of underlay to keep away heat, moisture and noise. They’re also easy to maintain and clean, so stains and spills aren’t an issue. Stretch carpeting is inexpensive, has a neat, clean look and does a good job of protecting exposed areas.

Both types are simple to install, and stretch carpets even more so. Moulded car carpet roll requires cut-outs for the seat rails and gear shifter, but no other fussy work for a tidy fit. Just remember to specify the carpet for your make, model and production year.