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

Hand Tufted Area Rugs

While most handmade rugs are of the hand knotted type there is a different weaving process that doesn’t involve any knots whatsoever. It is know as the hand-tufted process. Hand-tufted rugs were very fashionable in the 1920’s and 1930’s and though they are not as popular today they do offer people a less expensive option to hand tied rugs.

The base material in a hand-tufted rug is primarily a pre-woven canvas. The pile of these rugs can consist of wool, silk and synthetic fibers.

Hand-tufted rugs can be mistaken for hand-knotted rugs because they can share similar properties, however they’re not as durable as hand knotted rugs but they cost considerably less. The main reason hand-tufted rugs are cheaper then hand-knotted is they are much easier and quicker to make. Hand-tufted rugs aren’t made by forming little knots; instead they’re made by forming little tufts using specific tools.

The process starts by cutting the backing material into the correct size and shape so that it can be stretched over a backing frame at which point the craftsman can commence. A drawing of the proposed area rug is created so that its image can be projected onto the material and the area rugs design can be traced. Like a paint-by-numbers kit, numbers are given to each area to represent the colors to be used. The correct color yarns are than pushed, with the use of a unique device called a tufting gun, through the backing. Latex glue is then applied to hold each tuft to the backing. The looped tufts are then cut to create the pile. A layer of latex is then laminated on the back of the rug along with a layer of a material designed to protect the floor in the homes where the area rugs will be placed.

While not as durable or valuable, hand tufted rugs do come in similar styles to hand knotted and at a price more consumers can afford.

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

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.

Tracy Reid, East Coast Design Center Manager from Shaw Industries spent some time with us to help you get to know Shaw Industries a little better.

What types of products are offered from Shaw? Hmmmm, there’s so many flooring choices we have to offer in numerous colors, styles, and tastes…We offer a full array of carpet, hardwood, ceramic & porcelain tile, laminate, and area rugs. So the question then becomes, what can’t we offer you?

What should consumers know about Shaw Industries? We create great floors for the places you call home-a privilege we take seriously. Also, we are a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and the world’s largest carpet manufacturer. Shaw is a leading floor covering provider because we believe in the voice of the customer.

What sets Shaw apart from its competition? We have many Shaw Advantages that set us apart from the pack. Life is messy! Therefore, we offer several exclusivities such as our patented revolutionary R2X stain and soil repellency, and Softbac Platinum backing. We believe training is key through our Full Disclosure Selling. We are focused on training design consultants and flooring sales consultants on the features and benefits of our flooring to help set proper expectations for consumer’s lifestyles.

What is the most popular selling product for Shaw? That’s a toughie to name just one! With our cutting edge R&D department and being members of the prestigious Color Marketing Group, we track the latest color and most popular design trends. In carpeting, we see our Anso® nylon patterned carpets emerging in our Inspired Spaces and Savvy Spaces line. In hardwood we are seeing Epic Legends take off. They are hand scraped distressed rustic visuals in wider planks. In tile, we are selling travertine visuals in larger formats mixed with our micro mosaics.

What awards has Shaw been given? We are very excited about being exclusively awarded all of the flooring in HGTV’s first ever Green Home! Also, a few of our most recent awards are from Floor Covering News: Carpet Manufacturer of the Year and Best Overall Manufacturer of the Year. We also won the CARE Large Carpet Recycler of the Year Award. Woo-hoo!!!

What efforts are Shaw Industries making to be more environmentally conscious? I’m so glad you asked. We are a recognized leader in environmental stewardship, because Shaw has implemented hundreds of sustainability initiatives and cradle to cradle design solutions. Collectively we’ve named them the Shaw Green Edge. For the sake of this blog, we’ll highlight three top initiatives ~ Anso® nylon, Evergreen, and Epic hardwood. We’ve developed the world’s largest carpet to carpet^TM recycling process through Evergreen to turn old nylon carpeting into stunning new Anso® carpet. Our recycling efforts keep 300 million fewer pounds of carpet going into landfills every year.

Can you explain about Evergreen and tell me about Shaw recycling? This is getting a little technical, but it’s so important to know. Shaw invested in a cradle-to-cradle future with the purchase of the Evergreen Nylon Recycling facility in Augusta, Ga. All Shaw Nylon 6 products, such as all of Shaw’s nylon area rugs and carpets made of Anso® nylon or Evertouch® nylon, are simply recycled in a closed loop process-we call it carpet to carpet^TM. At Evergreen, Nylon 6 carpets and area rugs can be repeatedly recycled into the building block for new Nylon 6 without any loss of aesthetic or performance characteristics. The exciting fact is that Nylon 6 products are recyclable over and over again – meaning it’s an ongoing lifecycle that can keep carpet made of Nylon 6 out of landfills.

Tell me more about specific green product options from Shaw. We’ve been talking about soft surface so far, let’s switch gears to hardwood. Shaw’s Epic Hardwood uses 2/3 fewer trees than traditional hardwoods. We continue to reduce waste, improve processes, and preserve natural resources through our Envirocore center. Have we invented a new tree? … Almost. Epic is real wood flooring, only better. It’s Made in the U.S.A! We offer Epic in domestic exotics such as: Hickory, Oak, Maple, American Cherry and Walnut. You don’t have to sacrifice style and design to go green.

What can buyers look forward to in the future from Shaw? We will continue to produce trendy, timeless, and environmentally-friendly products such as new ceramic tile introductions with recycled content. With our recent Anderson acquisition, we have gorgeous new hardwood introductions. We can’t wait for you to see them!

Thanks, Tracy!

Question:

Regarding hand tufted area rugs – It is my understanding that synthetic latex adhesives are superior to natural latex adhesives in regards to synthetic does not continue to emit fumes over time. Can you verify this for me, please? I read conflicting reports on this issue. Thanks.

Answer:

Most hand tufted rugs are coming from overseas. Outside the U.S., whether synthetic or natural, it will largely depend on how the latex is cured – oven vs. air dried. Oven curing will drive off more of the volatiles associated with both natural and synthetic latex compounds.

For more information on how to care for area rugs, click here.

Smart, regular care and upkeep will keep your area rugs looking great, and your home looking as beautiful, stylish and unique as ever. Check out the following advice and be a little smarter about smart and stylish, colorful and captivating, area rugs.    

If the rug is to be stored for a long time in a place without exposure to light orair, first vacuum or broom it.Then use mothballs (sometimes tobacco is also used) in order to protect it againstinsect damage. It is best to put the mothballs in the middle of the rug and roll the rug reasonably tight against its nap (against thedirection the pile faces) so that it looks like a cylinder. Then store the rug in a dry location.When considering repairing a rug, factor in the cost of repair in comparison to the value of the rug. Repairing a handmade rug, similar to weaving, is very time consuming and labor intensive; as a result, repair can sometimes be costly.Sometimes, it is better if collectible items remain in their original state and not be repaired because their value might actually decrease by any change, even if the change appears good. Getting the opinion of a professional is always a good idea.Most reputable handmade rug retailers offer you repair services.

 Do’s

• Rotate your rug 180 degrees every few months, or every year, depending on traffic patterns.  Rotation is necessary for two reasons. First, all parts of your rug should be exposed to light equally so that thecolors fade evenly. When colors are exposed to the sun evenly, they become harmonious and the rug ages nicely, but ifdifferent parts of the rug receive unequal amounts of sun exposure, over time, one side might look over faded and one sidetoo bright. Second, is traffic. All parts of the rug should be exposed to an equal amount of traffic so that the pile wears evenly.

• A water spill should be dried immediately with a hairdryer set on a warm temperature.  Try to dry both sides of your rug if possible.  In case of a soft drink or alcohol spill, apply salt or baking soda to the spot for a few minutes to absorb the color of the drink.  Then vacuum off the salt or baking soda. After vacuuming, use a wet towel to gently wipe the stain in the direction of the nap(the direction the pile faces).  You can wet the towel with regular or carbonated water. Be gentle; For old stains,take the rug to a professional handmade rug retailer.



• Have your rug washed by a professional every 2 to 5 years depending on the amount of traffic on the rug. It is important to have it washed professionally because, as the rug is used, dust, dirt and broken fiber get into the foundation.Professionals dust the rug with special equipment to get all of these elements out of the

   

  foundation before washing the rug.Then, they usually wash the rug by hand using natural soap. They will also make sure the rug is dried from the surface to thefoundation before it is used again. Most handmade rug dealers and retailers offer appropriate cleaning services.

• Consult with your retailer about the proper padding to be placed under your rug.Padding is an important element and will both stabilize and protect your rug. Good padding also makes it safer to walk on yourrug and will protect its value and appearance.

Don’ts   

• Don’t avoid walking on your area rugs! Avoiding walking on your new area rug is like keeping a new car locked up in the garage undriven. With usage, as the top layers of pile (in most cases wool) break, the pile looks shinier and smoother, and with light exposure the colors look more harmonious. In fact, with proper use, handmade rugs generally become more valuable.

• Do not scrub your area rug. You can wet the towel with regular or carbonated water. Be gentle;

• Do not try to clean old stains yourself. For old stains, take the rug to a professional handmade rug retailer.

• Do not take your rug to general carpet-cleaning companies because the techniques and chemicals they use for wall-to-wall carpets may not be appropriate for handmade rugs.