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Paul from Rugsale.com has written a guest post to give us some insight on hand woven area rugs and hand tufted area rugs. Look for tomorrows post on hand tufted area rugs! Thanks, Paul!

Hand Woven Area Rugs

Although power machinery turns out most of the carpets sold today, it has not eliminated the ancient craft of hand weaving. Rugs were listed as valued belongings in Persian literature as early as the 6th century. They were most likely coarse flat-woven fabrics produced on looms in much the same way that other plain textiles were made at the time. Hand-knotted rugs were created later, possibly by nomad tribes of Turkestan or the Caucasus. The weaving of hand-knotted rugs spread throughout the Orient, and Persia became the predominant center of manufacture. Most handmade rugs are Orientals and are still made in the Middle and Far East.

Oriental rugs are usually classed geographically. They are referred to as Persian, Turkish, Caucasian, Turkoman, Indian, or Chinese. The different varieties within these groups may be named for towns in the various weaving districts and marketing centers.

Hand tied rugs are constructed on a special form of loom which consists of evenly spaced pegs on long, parallel beams. Most hand tied rugs are made with wool which is spun and died to the specifications of the rug pattern and planned color pallet. Some higher end rugs use silk for highlights in the pattern.

The base components of the rug are called the warp, weft, and Tufts. The stands of warp run parallel to the length of the rug and stick out each end to create the fringe. The spun bunches of wool, known as tufts, are hand tied to the warp stands. After a row of tufts are tied, a weft strand is woven perpendicular to and through the warp strands and then pushed together to create a denser pile. This meticulous time consuming process is then repeated until the rug is complete. The tufts (wool bunches) are then trimmed to create an even pile. This whole process can take a small group of people three years or more to finish but the results can be fabulous. There is nothing like the durability and artistry of a genuine hand tied area rug.

This article was produced exclusively for Floor Talk! by the staff of RugSale.com an online retailer.

 Question:

Can I Install New Laminate Floors Over Pre Installed Laminate Floors?

Answer:

Unfortunately, laminate flooring should not be installed over existing laminate flooring. The good news is, because of the installation method of laminate, the existing will be simple to remove.

You can, however install laminate over ceramic tile if the tile is smooth, sound and dry. Laminate can also be installed over vinyl or resilient flooring that is adhered well. This is particularly useful when going over older vinyl that may contain asbestos that would be costly and dangerous to remove.

Always use the proper underlayment when installing laminate flooring. Other helpful hints are to use a professional installer and always keep mats at every entrance to keep dirt and grit from scratching your laminate floors.

To locate a floor covering professional in your area, click here.

For other posts on laminate flooring, click here.