FAQs

Products

Natural flooring is rugs and carpet made from the natural fiber of vegetables, like sisal, seagrass, mountain grass and jute or animal fibers such as wool.

Sisal, sisal wool, seagrass, mountain grass and jute area rugs and wall-to-wall carpet have excellent durability for residential and light commercial applications. The machine woven, natural fibers are anti-static and non-toxic. The plant material creates healthy indoor humidity levels and prevents the build-up of static. The natural fibers have no off-gassing fumes to irritate the eyes or throat. View our sustainable products page to learn more about these.

Sisal is a natural fiber derived from the long, green leaves of the 'agave sisalana' cactus plant. Sisal grows in semi-arid regions in Africa and Brazil. Sisal fibers (which can be up to three feet long) are sustainably harvested by hand from the leaves of the cactus plant. Sisal is not the same fiber as coir or jute. Sisal is stronger and more durable than other natural fibers. In fact it is used for rope and twine. These qualities make Sisal a preferred material for carpet and rugs. Sisal’s textured look is a favorite of interior designers.

Sisal wool is a combination of the best of both worlds. Sisal wool has the look, texture and durability of sisal with the soft feel underfoot of wool. The percentage of Sisal to Wool depends on the collection. Sisal fiber percentage can range from 78% to 60%. Wool  fiber percentage can range from 45% to 22%

Seagrass is a durable, economical plant fiber derived from tropical grasses. Seagrass grows in the low-lying areas of the Asia-Pacific region. Seagrass reeds are thick and rigid. The non-porous fiber is smooth to the touch and gives a slight natural sheen. Seagrass is only available in its natural color, which has an organic, green cast and becomes less green overtime. Seagrass is the most stain resistant fiber we offer.

Mountain grass is grown in the highland fields of China. Chinese Mountain Grass is also known as Hemp. Mountain Grass is a smooth grass fiber which is a rich, coppery shade of brown.

Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. The finest jute comes from the Bengal Delta Plain, mostly in Bangladesh and India. The stalks of the plant are harvested, bundled and soaked in water for about 20 days to soften the tissues and permit the fibers to be separated. The fibers are then stripped from the stalks, washed, dried and baled. Jute has a very soft feel similar to cotton.

Every rug, small to large, is made to order. Custom rug sizes and shapes are our specialty. We can make rugs as small as 1' wide to 16' wide. Most of our materials are 13' wide, with some available in 15' and 16' wide. See our Extra Wide Rugs section to find which are available wider than 13'. Sizes can be ordered in one inch increments. You can make your own custom rug on each product page.

Runners can be made from almost all of the natural fibers (except jute self-bound rugs). On the collection page, choose Runner as your Product Type. choose your rug color, rug border, border color and type in your runner width and length sizes. 

If you have any questions, please contact us by email or phone (1-888-613-1335).

Looking to order a stair runner? Check out How to Measure for a Stair Runner.

Determining what size is easy to measure. Looking at your room, decide the area you would like to cover. Measure in feet and inches; i.e. 6’ 4” x 9’ 10” or measure in inches and convert to feet and inches. Here are some guidelines for specific rooms:

  • Dining Rooms: Measure your dining room table, and then add 54” to both the length and width to allow for chair movement.
  • Living and Family Rooms: Measure the size of your room, and deduct 48” (4’) from both the length and the width. This will allow for 2’ of the floor inside the perimeter of the room.
  • Bedrooms: Measure the size of your bed, and then add 48” (4’) to both length and width. For further information, check out our Area Rug Measuring Guide under Rug Guide.

Yes, we offer round, ovals, octagons, and cut-outs. Please note that rounds and ovals can be finished with serging or narrow cotton binding only and are not available in seagrass, jute or hemp grass. On the collection page, choose a shape other than rectangle from the list.

We can also cut from your drawings or templates. Click on the arrow next to the Shape section on the collection page and click where it says "Don't see your shape? Click here." Which will take you to the Custom Shaped Area Rugs page. Fill out your information and send us a diagram of your custom shape. The diagram can be hand drawn or use one of our custom templates.. Please include all measurements.

 

Yes! In fact, we recommend that you request samples before ordering your rug and the first 6 samples are Free! You can order samples of the rug you have created on the collection page, just click on Order Free Sample. Please note that there may be a slight variation between your sample and the rug that you receive due to the natural characteristics of the materials we use.

Yes. We can put your own fabric on a rug to coordinate with your décor. This is a very popular option. The rug will be finished with the fabric showing the width of your choice, padded and with mitered corners. Fabrics should be upholstery weight. The usual width of the fabric is 54”. Please inspect your fabric to be sure there are no flaws or defects before sending it to us. We cannot be responsible after it is applied to the rug. Send us at least 1 linear foot more than your longest rug length (i.e. for a 8x10 rug, 54” x 11’). Please note that rugs purchased with your own border cannot be returned except for manufacturer defect or shipping damage.

A rug pad is always a great option for additional protection of your floors. Most of our rugs have a latex backing that provides dimensional stability and prevents slipping. We also have pads for outdoor rugs.  See rug pads here.

All of our rug materials are available for wall to wall installation.  On the collection page, in the Product Type box, choose Wall-to-Wall. The full width of the rug material must be ordered for Wall-to-Wall. Thelength can be ordered in one-foot increments. Our rolls are approximately 90-100 feet long. Please note, we do not provide wall to wall installations. We strongly recommend that you contact a floor covering installer with experience installing natural fiber carpet material before placing your order. You should have the installer measure the amount of material you need.

Natural fiber rugs can be used in every room; living rooms, family rooms, entry halls, bedrooms, computer workstations, home offices, commercial offices and showrooms, exercise rooms, and covered patios. Natural fibers provide a massaging underfoot, which is preferred for rooms where you do not sit on the floor.

For rugs that can be used outdoors, see our complete line of indoor/outdoor rugs. Natural fiber floor coverings are for indoor use only and should be used in a covered area; protected from the elements. Natural fiber rugs are highly recommended for enclosed and screened porches. Do not expose to rainfall or allow to become water-saturated (i.e. sisal and seagrass are NOT for bathroom, sauna, Jacuzzi, uncovered patio deck, swimming pool or rooftop patios).

Top Stitching vs. Blind Stitching refers to the appearance and sewing of the binding. Top Stitching means that the stitching (thread) is visible on top of the binding and face of the rug. In contrast, Blind Stitching means that the stitching (thread) is hidden and invisible on the face of the rug. With Blind Stitching the mitered corner threads are also hidden. Blind Stitching is performed by hand and provides an exceptionally clean and elegant finish to any rug. Blind Stitching comes standard on Leather and Linen rugs!

Custom widths are available with blind stitching but requires the purchase of the Extra Wide or Faux width material.  You can request the binding to show anywhere from 3/4"-2.5" on the face of the rug in the notes in the review section when checking out.

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No, the rug border or binding does not add any size to the rug.  All of our borders are lapped over the edge of the rug and swen on. 

Care, Maintenance and Cleaning

Natural fiber floor coverings are relatively easy to maintain because dirt does not cling to the hard fibers, but rests loosely in the weave. Natural fibers do not show dirt readily.

Normal Maintenance: Regular vacuuming is the best care you can do to keep the fresh appearance of your natural fiber flooring. Visible and loose dirt should be vacuumed with a strong suction vacuum. Vacuum the carpet from different directions, making several passes over the area. Do not use the beater bar.

Although the need may not be visible, this frequent and regular vacuuming will increase carpet life by preventing soil build-up and will help eliminate stains caused when spilled liquids dissolve soil accumulations.

Vacuuming Bound Rugs: When vacuuming bound area rugs, take special care with the binding border. Do not let the vacuum sit on top of the binding or catch the corner of the rug as it could damage the binding. Do not use the beater bar. Vacuum in the direction that the binding is sewn so as not to pull up the binding from the rug. Rugs will not be replaced or repaired due to improper vacuuming or care.

Vacuuming Sisal Wool Rugs: Do not use the beater bar and put the vacuum at the highest level. The suction of the vacuum will be sufficient to pick up and dirt or dust.

Overall Cleaning: It is important during cleaning to control the amount of moisture during cleaning. NEVER steam clean, wet shampoo, or use any other method that involves water saturation on a natural fiber rug. It is recommended that a dry cleaning process be used. We offer a Host Cleaning Shaker Pak for your convenience and it cleans up to a 250 sq. ft. area.

If exposed to dryness or low humidity, a frequent, light, and even application of water strengthens these natural vegetable fibers and enhances the wearing qualities. Moisture can be applied by spraying, light sprinkling, clean mop, damp brush, or any device that would give a light and even application of clean water. This dampening can also help eliminate minor bubbling and looseness, as both carpets will tighten up slightly as they dry. Sisal carpets dry quickly. Under no conditions should the carpet be saturated, or undesirable changes could result, as well as possible staining from dyes in the underlay. Care should be taken that the carpets are vacuumed and clean before applying the moisture since dirt in the matting might stain if dissolved.

Fresh Stains or Spills: Immediately remove any spills by blotting liquids (blot do not rub) with a white cloth or scrape up solids with a dull knife or nail file. Never rub the area of the spill. Rubbing can work the liquid deeper into the fibers, making the spill more likely to stain the carpet. For red wine and tomato sauce, dab with a white cloth dampened with club soda to neutralize the spill and remove any possible stain. Let dry. Many times the stain disappears. If not, try cleaning with a cloth dampened with mild soap, or use our Rug Spot Cleaner. Dry immediately with a hairdryer or fan.

Water: Because sisal, seagrass, mountain grass, and jute are natural fibers, they can absorb moisture. To avoid watermarks, spills must be cleaned up immediately with an absorbent white cloth. Dry with a hairdryer or fan.

Cleaning the Binding: For routine maintenance of our woven fabric bindings, simply vacuum the edge finish as explained above. If excessive soiling or spills occur on the binding, our Rug Spot Cleaner works really well and also reapplies the Rug Stain Guard as it is applied.

Protecting Natural Fibers: We highly recommend that the natural fibers be treated with our Rug Stain Guard to decrease absorbency and lengthen the time between cleaning. Sisal Rugs Direct can professionally apply the stain guard. You can also purchase the Rug Stain Guard in a "do-it-yourself" 22 oz. bottle. We also offer other Sisal Rug cleaning accessories.

Our stain guard is an acrylic polymer fabric and textile protector. Natural fibers and other fabrics treated with this stain guard will repel water and resist virtually all cold liquid spills and even oily soil. It contains no ozone-depleting chemicals. We highly recommend treating natural fiber rugs with our stain guard to protect against spills and increase the life of your rug. Applying the Rug Stain Guard will NOT GUARANTEE that your sisal will never stain, but it will reduce the chances should a spill occur.

Responsibility for cleaning and maintenance lies with those performing this work since the manner and conditions of rug cleaning or maintenance, and the cleaning materials used are beyond our control.

Indoor Outdoor rugs generally require little maintenance. They are made to clean easily, dry quickly, and resist fading. They can be spot cleaned, steam cleaned or hosed down.

Normal Maintenance:

* Regular vacuuming or sweeping with a broom is the best care you can do to keep the fresh appearance of your Indoor Outdoor flooring. Visible and loose dirt should be vacuumed with a strong brush-suction vacuum. Although the need may not be visible, this frequent and regular vacuuming will increase carpet life by preventing soil build-up and will help eliminate stains caused when spilled liquids dissolve soil accumulations.

*Where to use an Indoor Outdoor rug: Indoor Outdoor rugs are very versatile and can be used in any indoor room or outdoor space of your home or office. These rugs are used indoors in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and family rooms that have high traffic. Outdoors the rug can be used on patios, balconies, screen porches, or any outdoor area.

*Vacuuming Bound Rugs: When vacuuming bound area rugs, take special care with the binding border. Do not let the vacuum sit on top of the binding or catch the corner of the rug as it could damage the binding. Vacuum in the direction that the binding is sewn so as not to pull up the binding from the rug. Rugs will not be replaced or repaired due to improper vacuuming or care.

*Overall Cleaning: Wash with a hose on both sides. Use a mild soap for more soiled rugs. It's best to rinse the rug on a sloped surface, like your driveway, so the water can drain away. Indoor Outdoor rugs can also be cleaned using any of the normal rug cleaning services. Dry the rug in sunlight. Hang it over a porch railing in the sunlight. If you don't have a railing, lay the rug out in the sun to dry and flip it over to make sure both sides dry thoroughly, or lay it over your outdoor chairs to allow for air circulation and quicker drying.

* Binding: For routine maintenance of our woven fabric bindings, simply vacuum the edge finish as explained above. If excessive soiling or spills occur on the binding, our Sisal Life Cleaner works really well.

*Mold & Mildew: Indoor Outdoor rugs are mold and mildew resistant.

Additional Tips: Store the rug when it is not in use. If your backyard is going to be covered in snow for months at a time, roll up your rug and store it inside instead. If you lack storage space for a large rug, roll it up, cover it with a plastic painting tarp, and secure it with bungee cords. You can prop it up in the corner of a yard or deck without worrying about damage.

Responsibility for cleaning and maintenance lies with those performing this work since the manner and conditions of rug cleaning or maintenance, and the cleaning materials used are beyond our control.

Ordering

There are two ways to order. You can order online or by phone.  To order by phone, if you have questions, call us toll-free at 1-888-613-1335. We are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. central standard time.

All rug sizes are approximate. Allow approx. 2" (+/-) in width/length) for adjustments made during fabrication process.

Shipping and Delivery

We proudly offer free shipping and handling on most orders within the continental US.

For any rugs 106"x106" or greater, we currently charge an additional $150 due to rate increases outside of our control.

Free Shipping will be applied automatically to all qualifying orders. No minimum purchase, coupons or promotion codes are required.

We also can ship to Alaska, Puerto Rico, Canada and other countries. See below for shipping outside of the Continental USA.

Free shipping applies to the first delivery attempt.  Any redelivery fees, or fees to reroute a shipment in transit, are the responsibility of the customer and will be collected before redelivery is attempted.

Any additional shipping fees are the sole responsibility of the customer. This includes but is not limited to additional charges for deliveries to rural and remote areas, white glove deliveries, areas in New York and addresses determined to be undeliverable. Customer is responsible for any fees due to refusal, redirection and/or returns. The free shipping covers curbside delivery.  Some carriers charge additional per rug if brought inside the home.  Any additional delivery charges are the responsibility of the customer/receiving party and will be billed to the delivery address.

Your rug will be made and shipped within approximately 2-4 weeks, as each rug is made to order to your specific size, binding and binding color. Custom shapes or blind stitched rugs can take 5 days longer. We will advise you if your rug production will take longer to ship. Shipping time is 2-5 business days depending on your location and the shipping method used. Once your order ships, we will send you an email with the tracking information. We offer FREE SHIPPING IN THE CONTINENTAL US ONLY. See below for shipping outside of the Continental US.

Yes, we can ship to these locations. There will be a shipping surcharge (above what it would cost to ship within the Continental USA) for shipments to these regions. Hawaii and Puerto Rico ship via UPS 2nd Day air for rugs up to 8x10. For rugs larger than 8x10, we will quote you on additional shipping charges. For Canada shipments, the additional shipping charges do not include duties, taxes or brokerage fees. These fees are collected in Canada.

When you place your order to ship outside of the Continental USA, your order will be sent for review to add any additional shipping charges. Once the charges have been added, you will receive an email with a payment link to complete your order. This can take up to 24 hours.

Easily shop with us from anywhere in the world!  Our free shipping only covers the continental US and international orders require additional shipping costs.  If you place an order online, it will go into ‘review’ after you enter your international shipping address. We will calculate the additional freight costs, add them to your cart and send you a link to complete the checkout.   All easily done online!

Another common way for our international customers to save is to use a US based freight forwarder.  We can ship to their local address for free and they handle the international portion of the shipment. 

Please note our international shipping rates do not include duties, fees or taxes. Additional charges are the responsibility of the customer.

Rugs up to 9' wide ship via UPS Ground or via freight carrier. Any rugs larger than 9' will ship via Freight carrier. Large rugs shipped by Freight carrier are delivered to the curbside. For inside delivery, we offer White Glove service.

Sisal Rugs Direct takes no responsibility for any charges, bills fees or cost of lost time due to late, delayed or damaged orders and deliveries.

Exceptions:

  • Deliveries are not made on Saturdays or Sundays
  • We cannot ship to P.O. Boxes or Military APOs
  • If you live in a non-contiguous U.S. state or territory—in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands—additional fees or shipping restrictions may apply

Rugs Under 9' Wide:

Signatures are not required for rugs under 9’ wide delivered via UPS, but the decision to leave your package will ultimately be at the discretion of the delivery carrier. If you have any special delivery instructions, we recommend placing a note on your door on the delivery date with your name, request, and tracking number. You can also provide instructions in our Comment Section at Checkout.

White-Glove Delivery:

Have your rug delivered into your room of choice, unwrapped, unrolled and wrapping materials cleaned up.  You can sit back and relax!

$250 Standard Service

Features:

-4 Hour Delivery window

-Rugs will be delivered up or down one flight of stairs.  If moved more than 1 flight of stairs or elevator ride see below**

- Rugs placed in the room; unwrapped and rolled out; the wrapping is removed.  You just sit back and direct.  The room must be ready as furniture WILL NOT be moved by delivery service.

**Additional Charges will apply for:**

$100 Multiple rugs

$75 New York City Zip Codes 100-104 & 110-119 (Areas include Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Western Nassau County)

$75 Rug moved more than 1 level from building entry point up to 10 floors or if an Elevator Ride is required

- White Glove will add additional transit time to order

- Remote/Isolated Areas: Quote only basis- You will be contacted for additional charges if your address is in one of the remote or isolated areas.

**Customer must contact delivery agent 24 hours prior to delivery appointment to cancel or reschedule**

Yes we do! We have two ways to expedite your rug if you need it for a special occasion or event:

  • Expedited Order: Expediting your order places it at the top of the production schedule and can usually be shipped out within 24-48 hours provided the material is in stock. The cost for this is an additional 25% of the cost of the rug(s).
  • Expedited Shipping: We can expedite your shipment via UPS 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air. Larger rugs that ship via Freight Carrier are more difficult to expedite, but we do our best to get your order to you by your desired date.

Have your rug delivered into your room of choice, unwrapped, unrolled and wrapping materials cleaned up.  You can sit back and relax!

Features:

-4 Hour Delivery window

- Rugs placed in the room; unwrapped and rolled out; the wrapping is removed.  You just sit back and direct.  The room must be ready as furniture WILL NOT be moved by delivery service.

**Additional Charges will apply for:**

-Multiple rugs

- White Glove will add additional transit time to order

- Remote/Isolated Areas: Quote only basis- You will be contacted for additional charges if your address is in one of the remote or isolated areas.

**Customer must contact delivery agent 24 hours prior to delivery appointment to cancel or reschedule**

If your rug has shipped to a white glove carrier it can take anywhere from 2-5 days to arrive at their facilities.  Once received it will be 24-48 hours until they contact you to schedule the delivery.

If possible, take photos while the driver is present and call us immediately so that we determine if it is damaged.  If the rug is delivered when you are not at home, leave the rug in the original packaging and call us.

Open and inspect your rug as soon as you receive it. Any damage to the rug must be reported within 72 hours of confirmed delivery.

A few steps to perform upon receipt of products from a Freight Carrier:

  • Check to ensure everything is there. DO NOT sign for delivery until you have completely inspected the rug.
  • If something is missing, note it on the bill of lading.
  • Check for obvious signs of damage. If you note something that looks damaged, first bring it to the driver's attention. Open that package, and carefully inspect the product. Note any damage directly on the bill of lading. Take photos of the damage.

Packaging note: On larger area rugs we wrap very carefully and wrap sisal scraps around the outside of the package at both ends and the middle. The scraps are not the same as the rug you ordered.

Have the delivery person confirm the missing goods or damage by signing the Bill of Lading. If you are unable to inspect the product then sign your Bill of Lading," received subject to inspection."

Keep a copy of the bill of lading.

Pricing and Payment Questions

Most people pay by credit card. We also can accept checks for payment, PayPal and Amazon Pay. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit cards, PayPal and Amazon Pay. Your card will be charged when the order is placed. If you pay by check, we will process your order when we receive the check.

The cost of a rug is determined by the type of material, the type of binding (narrow, wide, extra-wide, linen, faux leather, leather or outdoor) and the size of the rug.

All prices on this Site are subject to change and/or correction at any time without notice. Should a malfunction or pricing anomaly be discovered in our system we reserve the right to deny any claims, purchases, and orders.

Only one coupon code can be used per order.  Codes cannot be combined.

Return Policy

Sisal Rugs Direct stands behind every product we sell.  As every rug is made to order and "one of a kind" we do not accept returns on rugs or carpet. Custom shaped rugs, custom border rugs and custom carpet runs are not returnable under any circumstances. No cancellations after 48 hours from when the order is placed. Please request FREE sample swatches before ordering. Please measure carefully.  We have a "Try Before You Buy" service where you can have six curated samples sent to you from our in-house designer.  Free samples give you a chance to see the color and texture of the material in your home.  We strongly encourage every customer to take advantage of these as rug colors can appear different online and in person. 

All rugs are guaranteed against manufacturers' defect or damage during transit. If either of these happens, we will repair or replace the rug at no charge as quickly as possible. Contact us immediately if there is a problem with your rug.  Returns on  cleaning items are not accepted under any circumstance. 

As all rugs are made custom we do not accept cancellations or exchanges on any orders. A 6% processing fee deducted from all refunded orders.

Claims

Before cutting, the carpet should be visually inspected for any defect or flaw. The carpet should be checked against the shipping papers, labels, and samples to ensure it is the correct pattern, color, and size. Any noted defect or discrepancy should be immediately reported to customer service.  We cut all rugs to maximize material unless explicitly stated by the customer to cut a certain direction.  Claims due to weave direction are not considered.  Our products are carefully inspected prior to shipment. Claims covering merchandise custom sized or shape, cut or installed with visible defects, wrong color or off dye lots will not be considered.  Claims for shipping damages should be handled directly with the carrier.  We assume no responsibility for labor, freight, or lost time, etc. All goods are sold FOB warehouse.  All goods are to be unpacked and inspected for defects upon delivery.  We warrant our goods against manufacturing defects for up to fifteen days from the invoice date.  Any claims registered after fifteen days will not be considered.  

Copyright Information

Unless specifically indicated in the Site, the Site and all content and other materials on the Site, including, without limitation, the Sisal Rugs Direct logo, and all designs, text, graphics, pictures, information, data, other files and the selection and arrangement thereof (collectively, the “Site Materials”) are the proprietary property of Sisal Rugs Direct or its licensors and are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.

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