What is a natural carpet?
Coir is full of natural character. It is made from the strong fibres of the coconut husk found in Kerala, India. The natural fibres are removed by hand and softened in sea water, so that they can be woven into a selection of designs. Coir is both durable and good value. It is available in a spectrum of golden shades from natural to bleached.
Seagrass grows in the tropical climates of China and Vietnam, in coastal meadows on the banks of the rivers. The natural fibre is harvested by hand, dried and hand spun into cords before being woven into flooring.
Mountain Grass, natural flooring which gives a luscious, loosely woven feel. Distinctive and durable, its charm lies in the natural irregularities and rich golden shades made from the outer fibres of the grass.
Sisal is extracted from the Agave Sisalana plant, which is farmed in Mexico, Brazil and East Africa. This natural fibre flooring is versatile and hardwearing making it an ideal choice for hallways and stairs. Tightly woven with a subtle sheen, the natural fibres combine well with selected colours for a touch of easy glamour.
Jute is made from the stalk of the giant Corchorus plant which grows in India and befitting of its warm roots has a lovely light brown shade. Jute fibres are naturally fine and particularly soft to the touch, these are great for low traffic areas such as bedrooms.
Other Carpet finishes
Twist Pile
A twist pile carpet is made from yarn that has been tightly twisted and set to form a pile with a slightly textured surface. Twist piles are produced in both plain and heather colours (Heathers are created using a combination of complimentary coloured fibres to obtain a tonal effect).
Loop Pile
In a loop pile carpet the yarn forms loops on the surface of the carpet, either in uniform height, creating a level loop pile, or with differing heights creating a textured loop pile. Variations include a rustic tweed style loop known as a Berber which contains highlight flecks. Wool loops are a popular alternative to coir and sisal floors because they have the added comfort, warmth and durability of natural wool.
Velvets
Velvets are carpets with a smooth cut pile finish, also known as velour. This is finish is achieved by the yarn only having a slight degree of twist. This carpet style brings a luxurious feel to the home, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms and bathrooms.
What is the difference between shading and color fading?
While shading is simply the result of the change in direction of the carpet pile due to pressure from footsteps and vacuuming, color fading is more serious. Color fading of carpet occurs when particles of oily soil deposited on carpet fibers cause gradual but significant dulling of colors — the color is not lost, but hidden under the film. Cleaning your carpet regularly will help avoid color fading.
My carpet looks like it is shedding. Is this normal?
Some shedding is common in new carpet with a cut pile. The loose fibers are easily removed with regular vacuuming. This should not affect your carpet’s quality and should diminish after a few weeks or months depending on vacuuming frequency.
Maintenance information
These 8 tips will extend the life of your carpets, and keep them looking fresh and newer for longer.
1. Vacuuming Vacuuming is the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to extend the life of your carpet.
2. Buy a good vacuum cleaner All vacuum cleaners are not created equal so make sure you buy a good one that pulls the grit that lays low in the carpet and not just the surface debris. It's the grit deep in the carpet that rubs and wears the fabric away causing your carpets to look older.
3. Good quality underlay When you buy a carpet you should always replace the underlay with a good quality underlay to support your new carpet, if you don't you'll shorten the life of your carpet. A new good quality underlay will keep your carpet looking fresher for much longer and extend the life of your carpets.
4. Carpet Cleaning Ideally you should clean your carpets at least once a year. Carpet cleaning removes the ground in dirt and debris and also removes oily residue and stains. It will make your carpet look newer and it will extend the life of your carpet.
5. Shoes off Have people remove their shoes when entering your home. Even though the soles may be clean they carry fine particles and oily substances from outside which can damage the carpet and age it.
6. No bare feet Now I bet you didn't realise that bare feet are as damaging to your carpets as shoes are. That's because the soles of your feet have an oily film (no you can't feel or see it) that will be picked up by your carpets leaving a residue behind that attracts dirt which then abrades your carpet.
7. Mats and Runners For high traffic areas such as halls or entrances a mat or runner is an excellent way to save abuse to the carpet. Use the mats and runners to absorb initial dirt and grime upon entering the house and keep it isolated. The mats can easily be replaced or cleaned. This will add years to the carpet in these areas.
8. Remove Stains Remove stains immediately after they occur. Follow the manufacturers directions or use a carpet cleaner solution. Stains once set can be difficult to remove and nothing will age your carpet faster than a bunch of stains. Most stains, yes even the difficult ones, can be lifted if the proper procedures are followed.