This stair carpet runner is a loop which has been made for durability. A loop pile is becoming one of the most popular styles of carpet weave, due to the value for money that it represents. The weave is made so that it bounces back when walked on almost like a spring effect, this means that the pile will not flatten down easily and maintain it's looks for many years to come. A loop pile is not so good for pet owners as the pets claws could potentially catch the pile and cause it to snag. Ideally if you have pets then you would want to go for a cut / twist pile to stop this happening but it really does depend on the behavior of your pet. The pile of this carpet runner is a very tight knit, this makes the stair carpet less prone to flattening or crushing. It has been classified as a heavy domestic product, this means that it is suitable in high traffic areas in all domestic locations, especially the staircase. This stair runner has a latex, gel backing. The means that the runner is non slip and grips to pretty much any surface. Also it means that it can be fitted on the stairs without gripper and underlay and simply fixed to the stairs using adhesive, staples or stair rods. Underlay and gripper can still be used but it is not a necessity. The gel backing makes the stair carpet 100% waterproof and rot proof, meaning that spillages will never cause the product to shrink. The texture of this carpet is smooth, however it has a firm feel and offers little comfort. This product is not made to be luxurious, it is made to be very durable and practical. The carpet is made using a fibre called Polyamide. Polyamide is a man made fibre that has good properties and advantages. This carpet stain resistant and resistant to fading from the UV sunlight. It is anti-static and moth proof. The product has a low radius of ignition and has been hot nut tested to comply with (BS 4790).