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How long will it look good?
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Within both the coir and sisal range, there are various qualities. To a great degree, the
tightness of the weave will determine how heavy the traffic a particular floor covering will
take.
However, as a basic rule of thumb, simple powerloomed
herringbone natural coir will give wear
similar to the finer
boucle or ribbed sisals from China. In other words, there is no great
difference between the wearing qualities of the two fibres.
To be more specific; within the sisal range, we have the sisals
from Belgium and those from
China,
Africa and the Americas. While those from outside Belgium are smart and attractive, the
sisals from Belgium
are far finer (their appearance is smoother and they have far fewer
irregularities). These are the products of master weavers, the Mercedes Benzes compared to
VW Golfs. It goes without saying that we sell a lot more Golfs .... but both types have their
place in the market.
Within the coir range, there are also differences in quality. Although we could bring in cheaper
grades, our 30 years experience has taught us that it is best to import the finest qualities
available. Most of our coirs are made on genuine powerlooms so that they are both even in
tension and tightly woven. Our finest coirs are actually a combination of both coir and sisal
yarn - these retain the rustic charm of coir along with extra stability, weight and tightness.
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Aren't they a bit scratchy?
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We have been importing coir and sisal floor coverings for over 30 years. If we were
to add up all the bedrooms, family rooms, hallways and other domestic areas we have
supplied, they would cover the Sydney Cricket Ground many times over.
Over the 30 years that we have been bringing in this group of natural products, life
has begun on it, babies have crawled on it, children have grown up on it, teenagers have
danced on it and adults have had their feet (and other parts) massaged by it.
They will never have the feel of a chenille bedspread. But on the other hand, they do not
feel like a bed of nails. They are not scratchy, not abrasive. They are firm underfoot -
but that is also their strength.
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How does the sun affect your products?
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All natural products, whether they be wool, leather, timber or any of our natural
fibre floor coverings, will be affected in some way by the Australian sun. There is
no hard and fast rule – the amount of sun and its intensity are the most obvious
factors to consider. Colours may fade, natural fibres may darken and in extreme
cases, under very harsh conditions, ultra violet rot may occur.
Our products are used in the surgeries of
leading allergists and in the consulting rooms of other health
professionals. In general, the natural presence of tannins in
pure sisal and coir will discourage dust mites, the bane of
asthmatics. Another advantage for those with upper respiratory
tract sensitivities is that all natural floor coverings absorb
moisture from the air when it is humid and release it when the
humidity drops, which helps to stabilise the surroundings for
sensitive noses.
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