Buying Natural Sisal Floor Covering

Description - feel, colour, lifestyle

Sisal is quite rough but not as rough as coir. In its natural state it is a golden, brownish colour. To get an idea of how it feels, imagine string - the coarser (brown) variety. The weaves can be quite tight as sisal is pretty flexible (but bear in mind this real search quote from a sisal buyer - "my sisal carpet has a lot of straw sticking up is there anything i can do").

Weaves are varied and feature the traditional boucle, Panama, basketweave, herringbone and linen.

The textile welcomes dyeing because it is very susceptible to moisture penetration. It has thus been treated with both colours and metallic pigments which has given it far more diversity in its appearance than coir or seagrass. If you're looking for an additional designer touch in natural floor coverings - sisal is your choice.

Sitting on the floor is possible with sisal but it won't be as comfortable as carpet - the fibres will probably irritate skin.

Wear factors - stain resistant, intolerant of disturbance

It is a tough fibre and would probably wear better than coir or seagrass. It won't compare to wool or nylon for wear although it comes closer.

Where sisal falls down is its vulnerability to moisture - this makes it susceptible to staining and shrinkage. It is seriously advisable to ensure you can afford to have it sprayed with Intec polymer treatment and to have it professionally fitted.

Price - the dearest natural flooring

Many seagrass and coir sales arise as a compromise because sisal is just too expensive in comparison (although sisal was what the buyer really wanted). Think in terms of the low to mid 30's for a square metre of the basic weaves, and up to £50 for the designer metallics. Of course this is exasperated by the higher fitting cost for natural flooring which also applies to sisal.

Widths - 2 metre; 4 metre; 5 metre

Sisal is available in 4 metre (13') widths in all designs and colours. Some 5 metre (16') widths are available from Crucial Trading and The Alternative Flooring Company but expect fewer designs. The Alternative Flooring Company provide a limited 2 metre (6.5') width range, cut down from its 4 metre widths.

Fitting - about stairs, gripper, underlay, adhesive and acclimatising

It needs to be understood that sisal is fundamentally an ethnic product which would have been laid as loose mats in more basic architectural surroundings than we have in the west (i.e. huts). Western taste has demanded it be adapted to wall to wall fitting - this has been achieved quite successfully for sisal which is flexible enough to avoid the fitting problems encountered by seagrass.

Fitting natural sisal flooring is more expensive than normal carpet fitting - there is more involved - both in labour and materials.

Most people tend to have sisal fitted on underlay, which needs to be the urethane type as opposed to ribbed rubber.
Gripperods are appropriate because sisal is flexible.
Sticking (or stapling) the underlay to the floor, then sticking the sisal to the underlay is the preferred method of laying, and might be the only one that gets a guarantee.
You can have the sisal glued straight to the floor without underlay which will give a firmer feel more conducive to moving chairs upon (think home office/dining).

Sisal and stairs - suitable

Sisal is perfectly safe for use on stairs and is best fitted with underlay and gripper in the conventional way. It is tough enough to wear well on the stair nosing and winders (curving steps).

Useful Sisal links

Crucial Trading - large sisal range; get free samples; free brochure

Alternative Flooring - sisal boucle range; get free samples; free brochure

Alternative Flooring - sisal Panama range; get free samples; free brochure

Alternative Flooring - sisal herringbone range; get free samples; free brochure

Alternaive Flooring - sisal colours; get free samples; free brochure

Kersaint Cobb - sisal range; get free samples; free brochure

Facts about sisal - production, geography etc

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Fitted Carpets