• Decks, patios and other outdoor areas benefit from carpeting. Carpeting adds beauty and comfort, prevents tripping and decreases noise. If you're thinking about buying outdoor carpet, take time to research your options. During this process, consider the needs of your area---for example, its traffic level, size and uses---and match those needs to the properties of your carpet. Different types, of course, offer different advantages.
  
  

Natural Fibers

• Natural fibers are used diversely for outdoor carpets. The toughest natural fiber is sisal, which comes from the agave plant. Because of its durability, sisal is ideal for public, commercial or other high-traffic areas. Another durable natural fiber is coir. However, because of its coarseness, coir is less adaptable than sisal.
  
  Other natural fibers are seagrass, jute and wool, which are commonly used in homes. GreenSpec, a site dedicated to green building, advises that seagrass be avoided on stairs because of its natural oils.
  
  With moderate use, outdoor carpets made from natural fibers will generally last for a decade or more.
  
  

Polypropylene

• Polypropylene, also called olefin, comes with a swatch of benefits. First, polypropylene is a relatively inexpensive material that holds its color well. Second, it has high stain resistance, except for oil-based stains. Third, it has high durability, making it a good choice for high-traffic rooms in your home.
  
  Polypropylene does have its drawbacks. Because of the dying process, polypropylene has a limited selection of colors. What's more, it has a low-melting point, is susceptible to abrasions and has low resiliency. This means that polypropylene will crush easier than other types of outdoor carpet.
  
  

Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate)

• Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) is called PTT for short. PTT was patented in 1941, but it wasn't produced commercially until the early 1990s. Commercial names for this outdoor carpet include Sorona or 3GT, which are manufactured by DuPont and Corterra, which is manufactured by Shell Chemicals. PTT has strong elasticity, holds its color well and resists stains. In addition, PTT produces low amounts of static electricity. For these reasons, PTT is widely used as an outdoor carpet in both domestic and industrial areas.