If you are looking for waterproof carpet tiles or larger sizes of carpet on a roll for a bathroom or basement, you will want to select one with a gel or foam rubber backing. The foam rubber backing could be waffle rubber, urethane foam or bonded urethane, depending on the level of wear it is likely to receive. Alternatively, many people are happy to use a polypropylene carpet in a bathroom. Although it is not strictly waterproof, it dries very quickly and getting it wet does not damage it. A particularly popular bathroom flooring is flotex, which is made of an extremely dense nylon fiber, making it the most impervious to water.
For use in smarter areas such as the hall, reception area or living area—and very much in demand in hotels—the only truly waterproof carpet is a rock carpet. This is a floor covering which you can custom design to your own taste. It is composed of thousands of tiny rocks and stones, combined with water resistant resins with an epoxy polymer finish. This works by draining away moisture from the surface, leaving it dry and nonslip. You can select the rock and stone composition and design, ensuring it is unique and completely distinctive.
Another type of flooring to withstand extreme use is marine carpet or boat carpet. Obviously this is designed primarily for use in a boat, but is also very useful in other environments such as your garage, basement or patio. There are several grades from which to choose, depending to what level of demand it will be subjected. Marine carpet is usually made with a top layer of olefin or polypropylene, with a rubber backing. Olefin is a synthetic resin material that is exceptionally tough and resistant to mold, dirt and stains, and resistant to UV radiation, meaning that it can be used outside in places exposed to the sun without fear of fading. 
The benefit of the rubberized backing is that air can flow through the base of the carpet, and means that the flooring can be easily stabilized without needing snaps. However, if you prefer to glue it down, you can obtain it without the rubber backing.
Marine carpet is also known as indoor outdoor carpet. However, indoor outdoor carpet can also be marketed directly as such, making it cheaper than marine carpet. This is most often used for porches, sunrooms, playrooms or pool changing rooms, or any areas where it could get wet, dirty or exposed to the sun. A very popular style for a long time has been a green grassy one that looks like golf course turf, but recently the range of choice has become a lot wider and you can choose from an almost infinite range of colors. Many people choose colors that blend with the outdoors, such as shades of green or brown.
Some people choose Berber carpet as a floor covering for areas that take a lot of hard wear or abuse. Berber carpet is traditionally made of wool or camel hair, but can also be made of nylon or olefin. Its high density means it can stand up to hard wear, and is stain resistant, especially if it is made of olefin or nylon. However, it is not a waterproof carpet and is not really designed for bathrooms. There is a wide range of highly resistant floor coverings for indoor and outdoor use, and you should take care to select the right one for the right purpose.
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