Sisal is an extremely long and rugged fiber obtained from the leaves of the agave plant. Although the plant is indigenous to the Americas, more than half the sisal produced in the world now comes from East Africa. The African fiber is longer, finer and white, making it possible to dye clear, even colors and to spin a consistent and smoother yarn. It's considered the best in the world. Many of our Premium Sisal weaves come from Kenya and Tanzania and are dyed, spun and woven in Belgium. Others are produced and woven in Brazil or Mexico.
Our Everyday Sisal is every bit as durable as the Premium, but because most of it's produced in China, it's less expensive. The sisal fibers tend to be shorter, creating a more “hairy" look and more shade variation than you'll see on one of our African sisal rugs woven in Belgium. (Sometimes that's a plus, especially if you'll be placing your rug in a high traffic area and want a weave that will camouflage dirt a little better!)
*Seagrass All of our seagrass comes from the fibers of long, reed-like grasses that grow in the wet areas of South Asia. Following traditional use, the fiber is almost never dyed and exhibits a range of soft, sage green colors that become brown with age. Color variations abound, which is one of the benefits of seagrass—it hides dirt really well. It's one of our bestsellers, offering a durable, resilient floor covering that brings the look of nature into your home or office.
*Coir Also known as coco fiber, coir is taken from the fibrous husk that surrounds the common coconut. This is the stuff you see used for welcome mats, and it's very durable. It's also sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, which is why it's not recommended for wall-to-wall installation—over time the material could shift and warp. (Hint: if you like the look of coir but want something that has more stability, take a look at one of our sisal-coir blends, such as our Premium Singapore or Eco-Contract weaves.)
*Jute Jute fiber is obtained from the stalks of several species of plants (in the corchorus genus) grown in hot, humid climates. Our jute is selected for fiber length, flexibility, strength and luster, and it's carefully spun to produce strong, consistent yarns that feel soft underfoot. (Because of jute's softness, we've discovered that heavy furniture can cause indentations on the surface, especially on flatter weaves. Since most of our jute weaves are thick and bulky, however, that shouldn't be much of a concern.) Jute is generally recommended for light-traffic residential applications.
*Paper We're always asked: is it really paper? Yes, it is. Our woven paper uses pulp from coniferous softwood—stronger than paper made from hardwoods because the fibers are longer. When the pulp is blended, resins are added to coat the fibers, producing a high wet-strength paper that is extremely durable. The result is a strong, smooth-surfaced floor covering that will maintain its beauty for a long time.
*Wool If you love the look of sisal but want something softer, then we recommend that you consider one of our wool-sisal blends. The addition of wool adds a softer feel to the weave (as well as some of wool's inherent moisture-resistance—though you'll still want to avoid spills).
What's your sisal backed with?
All of our sisal weaves in our Premium and Everyday Collections use natural latex backing.
What's the difference between the Premium and Everyday collections?
Both our Premium and Everyday sisals derive from the leaves of the agave plant and offer the same degree of durability. The main difference is origin: most of our Premium sisals are woven in Belgium using the finest plant fibers from East Africa (considered the best in the world)—or, in some cases, Brazil and Mexico. Nearly all of our Everyday weaves are imported from China, so they're less expensive. (See “What is… sisal?" above.)
There's little difference between the Premium and Everyday seagrass, hemp and coir weaves, but our Premium collection offers a more refined edge finish and more customization options, for example 10 different binding fabrics (150+ colors in all), blind-stitched binding application (except where noted) and hand-sewn mitered corners (optional). And unlike the Everyday collection, our Premium natural fiber rugs can be cut into circles and other unusual shapes.
We offer a great selection of fabric bindings for our Everyday collection too, but the binding width is not adjustable, mitered corners are not an option, and the edges are finished using a top-stitch application. Finally, our Premium collection offers many more natural fiber weaves, including jute, paper, wool-sisal blends.
In general, if you plan to use your rug in a formal setting and want all the top-of-the-line features—blind-stitched binding, mitered corners, a specific binding width on the face of the rug—then splurge on one of our Premium sisal rugs. If you just want the textural interest of a natural fiber rug in a more casual setting, and you'd like to save a little money, consider one of our Everyday weaves
Sisal, seagrass, hemp, coir, jute, paper...which natural fiber should I use?
In terms of overall durability and performance, sisal, seagrass, and coir-sisal blends are probably going to be your best bets—whether you select one of the Premium or Everyday weaves. Our 100% hemp, 100% jute and woven paper weaves are also really good, but you'll need to watch them in high traffic areas. Softer wool-sisal blends like Tournai, Grand Tournai and Artiste are durable, but they're recommended for use in low traffic areas like bedrooms or formal living rooms.
If you have pets, kids, and/or a floor to cover in a busy room, we recommend seagrass more than anything else. It's inexpensive and great looking, and the texture and color variations in the weave tend to hide dirt and stains more than tightly woven sisal. If sisal is really the look you want, choose a weave with lots of shade and texture variation, in one of the darker hues. Or go with one of the less expensive weaves— that way, if accidents do happen and your rug is ruined, replacing it won't cost an arm and a leg.
Which binding should I use?
It all depends on the look you want. Whether you choose one of our Premium or Everyday floor coverings, there are plenty of fabrics and colors to choose from. Each collection offers its own range of bindings—we're sorry, but we cannot apply Premium bindings to our Everyday weaves (or vice versa).
Many people want the “best match" binding for their natural fiber area rug, meaning a neutral binding that blends with the rug material. That's usually the narrowest material available—we can help you to select the color. (Note that there isn't always a perfect “best match" for every weave we offer. That's why we recommend getting swatches, even if you just want the “best match.")
Whether you want the “best match" neutral or a bold, textured border, the best way to choose a binding is to see samples of the different types. That way, you can compare them and determine which texture and color best suit your home and the look you want to achieve. Just click the “Get Swatches" link at the top of nearly every page on our site.
Can I select how wide the binding will appear on my rug?
Most of the bindings for our Premium natural fibers collection can be applied in a range of different widths. (The exception is Narrow Cotton, which is always applied showing 1/2" on the face of a rug.) The cost is the same, whatever width you select. Refer to the individual bindings pages for more information about width options.
You cannot specify a binding width for our Everyday area rugs.
What size rug do I need?
If a standard size won't work in your space and you'd like to order a custom rug, ask yourself how much of your floor you'd like to see around it, and then also think about the placement of the furniture in that room. For example, in a dining room, you'll want to make sure that you can scoot your chair back from the table without falling off the edge of the rug. Refer to our Design Tips page for hints and suggestions.
Can I install natural fibers wall-to-wall?
Most of our natural fiber weaves are available as broadloom for wall-to-wall installation, with a few exceptions. Installation can be tricky—we recommend leaving it to the professionals. Refer to our Design Tips page for more information.
Are there limitations to the size or shape of custom rugs?
Size: You're limited only by the roll width of the material you've chosen—in most cases 13' 1"—because we do not seam our area rugs. Since most rolls contain around 85' of goods, you shouldn't have to worry about length. Do note that natural fibers tend to fluctuate depending upon humidity levels, so the roll width listed for each weave may actually vary by 1-2 inches.
Shape: Many of our natural fiber weaves can be cut into custom shapes such as circles, ovals, L-shapes or shapes with cut-outs (to accommodate a firelplace, for example). Depending upon the shape you need, you may need to provide a diagram or full-size template.
For more information on custom size area rugs, refer to our Custom Options page.
Will my rug need a pad?
Except where noted, our natural fiber weaves come with a natural latex backing that will prevent your rug from slipping, so you will not need a pad. However, if you would like additional cushioning or protection for the flooring beneath your rug, we offer standard and custom size rug pads.
I spilled on my rug! What should I do?
Click here for our guide to taking care of common spills and to purchase a HOST dry cleaning kit or Sisal Guard spray protectant.
Is there anyplace I shouldn't use natural fibers?
Because sisal and other natural fibers are naturally absorbent, they should be used indoors, in dry areas only. That means that covered porches, basements, kitchens and bathrooms are out. Exposure to changes in humidity and other elements can cause excessive wear and a potential environment for mold growth.
Also, we do not recommend using sisal on stairs, as the fibers are sufficiently smooth that there's an increased risk of someone slipping and falling. For areas like patios, screened-in porches, covered verandahs, damp basements, bathrooms, kitchens, poolside areas, etc., take a look at our Synthetic Sisal collection.
Will my natural fiber rug fade over time?
Placing natural fibers in direct sunlight several hours a day can, over time, result in the fading of dyed materials and the gradual darkening of un-dyed fibers. We therefore recommend that you turn your rug occasionally, especially if it's placed somewhere that's exposed to direct sunlight.
What is the life expectancy of a natural fiber rug?
It all depends on where it's used, the amount of traffic (human and pet) it receives, its exposure to high moisture levels, and whether it's been spilled upon. These are durable rugs that can last 5, 10, 15 years... but if a large, nasty stain occurs, you could be talking about a MUCH shorter period of time. If you want your investment to last, you'll want to avoid situations where contact with water/condensation, food, liquid spills, or extreme amounts of dirt or grease could occur.
How are our products tested for performance?
All of our products are tested for a variety of performance and wear tests as well as a number of safety tests required by the industry (i.e. flammability.) We work with several independent testing laboratories as well as the Carpet and Rug Institute. Our products are rated for flammability according to fire ratings from the ASTM E-648 test for commercial application of carpet. All of our products' fire ratings are posted on our Web site and on each rug label. Please contact Merida Meridian if you need more details on performance tests.
Will the latex backing discolor or stick to hardwood floors over time?
The performance of natural latex backing varies depending upon environmental factors in a room. For example, natural latex can break down or start to crumble if the room is dry. There are many types of finishes and sealants used on wood floors, such as oil-based, solvent-based and water-based polyurethane. Natural latex can react with a floor finish when exposed to moisture, cleaning detergents, soaps or other liquids. How it reacts depends on the floor finish and the substance it comes in contact with. If the finish becomes porous, sticking can occur.
Finally, for information about PRICE QUOTES, ORDERING, LEAD TIMES, SHIPPING and our RETURN POLICY, refer to our Customer Service page.
