Rug manufacturers are always striving to improve their production processes in order to make better quality rugs at better prices that satisfy your needs. On the other hand, not knowing exactly what rug is suitable for you can make the process difficult and may lead to disappointment when your new rug arrives.

There are a multitude of things you will need to consider before buying and it is best to compare a variety of different materials and construction techniques to ensure you get the best possible rug for your needs.

Before we even look at construction techniques and materials the first thing you need to ask yourself is ‘where will the rug be placed?’ and ‘what is its purpose?’ The placement of the rug will determine just how much foot traffic is expected and the more traffic the more robust your new rug needs to be.

Most Common Rug Construction Processes

The three most common construction processes include woven/loomed (hand or machine), knotted (hand or machine), and tufted. They all have their different strengths and weaknesses and so are all suitable for different areas.

Woven or Loomed 

Hand-woven and hand-knotted rugs are the most expensive rugs available with each individual rug taking a skilled crafts person at least a year and with costs starting in the thousands. They usually contain extremely intricate patterns and are always one-of-a-kind. If this is what you are looking for please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assist you in locating your ideal rug. With that being said you do not need to spend thousands to achieve the same look, feel, and satisfaction as there are production processes designed to replicate the look and feel of hand-made but at a fraction of the price.

Power loomed rugs are machine made rugs that replicate traditional weaving but can be produced in a fraction of the time. Power loomed rugs will normally be made from 100% heat set polypropylene. Our power-loomed rugs are available with a 10, 11, or 19mm pile.

Knotted

Machine knotted rugs along with the power loomed rugs are very strong and durable. You can easily determine if the rug is hand-knotted or machine knotted by the size and consistency of the knots on the underside of the rug. Hand-knotted rugs generally have much larger knots that are not completely uniform whereas machine knotted will be a smaller knot that is almost completely uniform.

Tufted 

Hand-tufted rugs are usually made from wool and sometimes acrylic. It should also wear similar to a woolen rug if it is looked after. Hand tufted rugs are most suitable for hard surfaces and you should avoid placing them on soft ground which can cause the tufted strands to come loose. These rugs are made by using a modified hand drill which somewhat resembles a hand-held sewing machine. The strands are then pressed through a backing to create the desired pattern and then they are secured with a clue before a second backing sheet is applied. If these rugs are looked after they will last many years however by placing them on soft ground the glue can be broken allowing the tufts to come loose.

Ultimately which style you choose is most likely going to be decided by the available patterns and what matches the décor in the room already but at least now you have a little bit of knowledge and aren’t going in completely blind.

If you have any further questions regarding this or any other rug related topic, contact us!