With social concerns around the environment growing more prominent year by year so has the desire to shop more eco-consciously. As consumers look to choose more environmentally friendly choices demand is increasing for these options which often means an impact on the cost of such options. When it comes to flooring and carpets sisal has become the leading choice for home renovations. This leads us to the question, is sisal carpet expensive?
In this article we will look at sisal carpets and weigh them up against other flooring choices, and whether or not they are a viable option for the budget conscious eco warrior.
What Is Sisal Carpet?
Sisal carpet is made from the Sisalana Agave plant. A form of cactus, this material is durable and sustainable by way of being a renewable resource.
Originally manufactured in the use of rope, sisal has over the last century become a popular choice for carpeting too. The benefit of sisal flooring is that aside from being eco friendly it is also incredibly durable and versatile.
Unlike other natural flooring options it is both able to be coloured with vegetable dyes and mass manufactured. This means that the variety of choice in sisal carpet is enormous. Coming in herringbone, stripes, thick and thinner weaves, there is a style to suit any home design.
As mentioned previously, sisal is also able to be dyed with natural vegetable dyes. Because of this, the carpet can maintain its non-toxic quality while being available in vibrant colour options.
Cost Compared To Other Natural Carpets.
Comparing the cost of natural carpets is not always straight forward. What we are able to do is compare the cost of carpets available at Sisal & Seagrass to give a broad idea of cost comparisons.
Sisal Carpet.
Due to the variety of sisal weaves and colours, it’s not surprising that the prices vary wildly as well. Sisal carpets can be anywhere from £29-£60+.
One thing to note about the price of sisal is that the cost is usually down to the thickness or rarity of manufacture of these products. That means that the quality of the lower priced options is usually just as good as the higher priced carpets!
Seagrass Carpet.
Seagrass carpets are visually stunning and unique. The advantage they have over sisal carpets is how well they deal with mud. Unlike sisal, if you were to track mud over your seagrass floor, you wouldn’t need to rush to the cleaning cupboard to desperately clean the stain; quite the opposite in fact.
When it comes to mud being tracked in on seagrass carpet it is actually advised to leave the mud to dry and brush it off after. This makes this carpet perfect for hallways near the front or back doors of your home.
In terms of price seagrass tends to be quite low. like sisal it is grown and manufactured for many other use cases like baskets and furniture to name a few. This enables the cost to be quite low in comparison to other natural flooring options.
One disadvantage however is that there are significantly less options in the way of weaves and colour. For the same reason that seagrass is more resistant to wet mud means that it also is unable to absorb vegetable dyes like sisal can. This means that the colour variants tend to only be natural.
Jute Carpet.
The softest of all the natural flooring options is Jute. This carpet is great for bedrooms and low-foot-traffic areas making it a great option for children’s rooms to avoid VOCs and keep that gentle underfoot feel.
In terms of cost jute carpet is in the middle of the spectrum. Less widely produced than sisal or seagrass in terms of other types of products as well as being less commonly grown contribute to the slightly higher base price.
However, due to the unique softness of this carpet demand is high and is often used in luxurious interior design projects.
Coir Carpet.
Coir carpet is a real attention grabber for anyone who has not experienced it before. Its chunky design and darker natural colour can really help a room stand out.
The feel underfoot is quite rustic but also quite bouncy. A real favourite for country-style homes this material is durable and interesting.
The price is generally on the lower mid end of natural flooring, but like sisal this material can also be dyed with vegetable dyes. Because of this extremely colourful and fun designs and patterns are available in this carpet. A great example of this is our Aurora coir runner range which are typically used as carpet stair runners.
Value In Durability.
When assessing the value of any carpet it is important to factor in its durability and life time value.
Sisal flooring is fantastically durable and long lasting, the average life span of a sisal carpet is roughly 10-15 years. This puts sisal flooring in the top end of flooring options in terms of durability. The actual rating for sisal carpets is heavy domestic, this means that it can endure high foot traffic without becoming warn out quickly.
A little bonus to remember about sisal carpet for the eco conscious is that when it does eventually reach the end of its life cycle it will naturally bio degrade if disposed of properly.
Although sisal carpet is rated as heavy domestic it is important to remember that it can be prone to stains. Before you panic and look to lay plastic sheets across your floor this flaw can be navigated (mind the pun).
Intec stain treatment is a standard on all Sisal & Seagrass carpets unless you choose to remove it. This stain protection is water based and non-toxic acting as a barrier between spills and your carpet. It is vital for sisal owners to include this in their order which will help greatly reduce the risk of staining.
If you include this treatment and take care of the carpet by having a natural carpet cleaning kit on hand were confident this carpet will easily last you a long time.
Should You Buy A Sisal Carpet?
Well in our opinion yes! But it can depend on your circumstance. Is sisal carpet expensive? This question is incredibly subjective, but if it is within your price range and you are looking to make a more eco friendly choice it could be the right option for you.
If you are looking to learn more about our natural carpets read our blog on spring home make over with sisal rugs. If you’re interested in learning more about VOC Free carpets read here.
