Sisal Rugs

Many homeowners are now concerned about the ecological footprint of their lifestyle choices. Renewable hardwood flooring is now gaining popularity and so are carpets like wool Berbers and carpets made from natural fibers like seagrass, sisal, and jute.

Interior Designers have realized the beauty of nontraditional flooring materials. One up and coming green flooring material that can add a lot of value to your home is Sisal. Sisal is a fiber that is similar to jute and coir. The fibers of sisal, however, are much stronger than either. Typically, a sisal floor is a combination of sisal with other fibers like seagrass.

What is Sisal?

Sisal rugs are made of a natural fiber. Sisal fiber is derived from ‘Agave’ a type of cactus. The plant is common in Brazil and Africa. The fibers of the plant are harvested by hand and have long been used to make ropes and mats in the areas where they are found. With the modern emphasis on renewable flooring Sisal has become the material of choice for home owners and designers alike.

Why Sisal?

Sisal has several advantages as a flooring material. It is

• Natural and Renewable
• Non toxic and Hypoallergenic
• Durable
• Biodegradable
• Non static and Stain resistant.

When it comes to being an ecofriendly material, Sisal does not even need a lot of water. Agave which produces Sisal is a xerophyte – i.e., it grows in semi arid areas. Sisal does not need dying and does not stain easily. These properties of sisal reduce the ecological impact of your flooring choice to a bare minimum. Sisal is a natural material and can absorb moisture. It therefore helps in regulating the humidity levels of the rooms where it is installed. Sisal is a tough material that is not easily bleached by sunlight making it ideal for areas where another flooring material would quickly lose its appeal.

Disadvantages of Sisal Flooring

Sisal flooring is susceptible to water damage. Water reduces the integrity of the floor and provides a fertile ground for molds to grow. Therefore, Sisal flooring should not be used outdoors where it may be exposed to excess moisture. Sisal like jute and coir has a rough texture. It is therefore not the best material to sit on or to walk bare feet.

Care and Maintenance

Sisal is a tough material. Care and maintenance is therefore easy. Occasional vacuuming is all that a sisal floor requires. Should you happen to spill a liquid all you need to do is wipe it away and follow it up with a burst of air from a hot air blower. Sisal does not stain easily so you need not worry about spots. Moisture generally does not affect sisal but if too much moisture gets into a sisal floor, mold may develop. It is therefore advisable to avoid using water to clean the floor.

With Sisal flooring you can have a great looking, easy to clean floor that is environment friendly as well. Sisal flooring would make your house beautiful and also help you make a statement about sustainability. Why not walk into a Contempo Floor Coverings store today? Pick a free sample and see if it would go with your décor. Should you decide to own a sisal floor, you will find our professional installers only a phone call away. Even if sisal does not suit your décor you can consider other ecofriendly options like wool carpets and Linoleum or choose easy to maintain floors like laminate and vinyl flooring.

Visit our Los Angeles Flooring showrooms for more information about Flooring.