If I had a family member with severe allergies, I'd live with a sealed plywood subfloor rather than put in any type of carpet. Then I'd buy a flooring nailer from Harbor Freight and find a local source for prefinished hardwood and do a room at a time as I could afford it. It'll save you money and save your son's health. Even good quality carpet is just plain nasty under a microscope after a year or two.

I went to the Mohawk site but I could not find the Stockton Springs carpet. I would think a low nylon cut pile with a high density would be best to reduce the amount of trapped dust.

The BCF (bulk continuous fiber) does not shed compared to the staple nylon. However if you son is not allergic to the carpet, then I don't think it will matter in your case.

Good luck with your purchase. Let us know the results.

Moniku - I work for Mohawk and sell the Aladdin line to flooring dealers. So I'm going to give it to you straight.

Staple fibers will shed (fuzz) like a wool sweater will. BCF or bulk continuous filament won't shed and is a better choice for allergies. From the stand point of allergies, I can't think of an advantage to either nylon or SmartStrand except that all SmartStrand carpets are BCF. Some nylon carpets are staple and some are BCF. SmartStrand eliminates that concern.

As you mentioned, Stockton Springs is a nice carpet, but it is a staple nylon. The Horizon SmartStrand line contains a wide variety of carpets to choose from with an equally wide range of colors, so I would keep looking at your options there.

You seem to be asking for two different things. Short and dense is not going to be a heavy carpet, then you comment that the nylon seems heavier.

If you want a short, dense SmartStrand carpet, look for Starcrest, Avington Park or Belchamp Hall in the Aladdin line. In the Horizon line, there are some nice looking short, dense LCL or pattern cut pile carpets - Etchware, Chantelle, Council Gardens, Deco Design, Dramatic Flair or Guided Path.

Finally, take a look at the link below - it is the Carpet and Rug Institue blog and the link is all their posts on carpet and allergies.

Good luck with your purchases.

RB

Here is a link that might be useful: Carpet and Rug Institute Carpet and Allergies

I'm with "live wire oak". I'm currently pulling up old berber carpet and painting the parquet wood flooring (everyone gasp) with latex porch and floor in a chocolate brown over latex primer. Every bedroom will then have washable area rugs.

Even if I didn't have the parquet, I would paint builder's plywood rather than have wall to wall.
Congestive heart failure makes you rethink all the dust and crap floating around. Forget the carpeting. Think dust free.

This is probably too late- and you also seem to be oblivious to your son'e health wanting carpet for 'noise control' rather than a son who can breathe easier...
Carpet-ANY CARPET- holds dead skin cells that in turn support dust mites. Dust mites then poop- leaving their SH$# in the carpet. That is the number one antagonist to people with asthma. You can't say- 'I'll have the carpets cleaned professionally' every six months- even every month can't do the job- having carpets cleaned cannot get the crap- literally- out. Vacuuming just stirs up the mite dust and spreads it around.
This may sound harsh- but wanting carpet to reduce noise is of no importance compared to your sons health. Live wire oak is right on the money.....
I speak as both an RN and an asthma patient who beathes with only 40% of capacity.