Hand Tufted RugsHand tufted rugs are made using one of the three major weave techniques: hand-tufted. When most people buy an area rug, they mostly look for what would look good in the area that they want to put the rug in. However, the buyer should also take a look at the kind of weave the rug has.
The hand tufted weave is made by pushing high quality wool (or yarn) into the primary backing, thus making the "tuft." Latex glue is then applied to hold the tufts in their placement. Then a secondary foundation, referred to as a "scrim" is added, and on top of this secondary foundation, a third backing is added, generally made of cloth, which is to protect the floor. In the final step, the top of the rug is sheared off at the desired height to create the pile. The tool that is used to create the rugs is referred to as a "tufting gun." This tool is used to hold the yarn, as the yarn is being pushed through the first backing. This backing is stretched on a frame. This technique is less demanding than tying the knots by hand, which consumes more time, but it still requires a great deal of skill to do. The design of the rug is created by transferring the pattern onto the first backing, so the weaver knows where to put each piece of colored yarn. Since hand tufted rugs are faster to make than hand knotted ones, this makes them less expensive than the hand knotted rugs. Tufting the rug makes the rug more durable to foot traffic, as well as adding to the decor of the room. They are designed to last for years of use.
Because of their construction, hand tufted rugs have often been regarded as "disposable rugs." Nevertheless, they still have their advantages and disadvantages the buyer must consider. The advantages of a hand tufted rug are that they are less expensive. Since they are made from high quality wool, they are very durable, able to handle heavy foot traffic for years and will not lose color. These rugs also offer the look and feel of higher quality hand knotted rugs, but are priced less. The main disadvantage is that they are not one of a kind, so are not a collector’s piece. They also tend to have an odor to them from the glue that was used to make them. The odor ranges from mild to offensive. The reason the glue is so smelly is because the filler sometimes used to make the glue stretch is like marble dust. Unfortunately, the smell is permanent. Ways to tell if the rug is really smelly is to roll it up and take a good sniff of the open ends. Hand tufted rugs tend to shed. The way to test if a rug is going to shed a lot is to tug on its fibers. If they break easily then the rug is less durable and will wear out easily. Unfortunately low-priced and medium-priced tufted rugs have poor cleaning options. Other than the regular vacuuming and spot cleaning, many of these rugs simply will not react well to a proper, formal shampoo wash. This means having it done by a professional. This has a lot to do with the quality of the materials used in their construction. Washing, depending on the size of the rug, could be as much as half the rug’s price. It might be better to just get a whole new rug because of the washing risk and its cost. When considered in light of the rug’s projected lifespan, which is probably no more than just a few more additional years, you might prefer it. If you do replace your old tufted area rug with a new one, what about your older rug? You could find another area for it to be used, such as the garage or another less conspicuous place. Sometimes there is dye bleeding, so be sure to check the backing. If it is dark, the rug may bleed when wet. So, using a pad under the rug if it is going to be on a light colored carpet is a good idea. A way to test to see if the rug is going to bleed is to take a damp cloth and press it on the backing. If you want to put a rug where there is a lot of traffic then the rug is going to wear out fast and a hand tufted area rug is not recommended if you will have pets around it. Odors cling to this kind of rug. One way to tell if it is time to replace your rug is to see if the rug’s edges have become unglued, there are rust colored stains on the edges, or if the rug has become more flexible.
Vacuum your rug’s front and back as best you can, and then treat all current stains with a topical spot treatment at home. Or purchase a new rug.
All things considered, you will treasure the heirloom quality of a hand tufted wool area rug, if you use it wisely. Because of their availability in a vast array of designs and styles, these rugs will indeed enhance your space at a lower cost. If you want to leap right in and do some pre-shopping for some tufted rugs, I'm sure you'll find the rug that suits your choice in design, material, color, type of weave, and size at one of the recommended sources below. I can assure you I took great care to select each one. Each ranks high in customer satisfaction, and they have quality rugs in many price ranges, a sure bet they can satisfy their customers' needs.
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