Hand tufted rugs have become increasingly popular over the last few years. With their eye-catching designs and often lower price tags compared to hand knotted rugs, it’s easy to see the appeal. But many shoppers wonder – are hand tufted rugs durable?
It’s a fair question. When making any substantial purchase for your home, you want to know that it’s built to last. And durability is especially important for an item like an area rug which will see plenty of foot traffic.
So in this post, as a professional custom tufted rugs manufacturer, we’re going to dig into the key factors that affect hand tufted rug durability. I’ll also outline what you can expect in terms of lifespan for decent quality hand tufted rugs.
Let’s get started!
Why Durability Matters with Hand Tufted Rugs
Any rug that you put on the floor needs to stand up to wear and tear. But durability takes on added importance with hand tufted rugs for a few reasons:
Affordability: Hand tufted rugs are typically cheaper than hand knotted alternatives. So even if you invest $800+ on a nice hand tufted wool rug, you don’t want it looking worn out after 12-18 months. Not when an equivalent hand knotted rug would still look great 5+ years later.
Easy to Damage: The fibers used in hand tufted rug construction can be prone to damage if the rug isn’t durable enough. For example, spills are more likely to stain a lower-quality hand tufted rug.
Hidden Shortcuts: Some hand tufted rug manufacturers cut corners to save money. This often involves skimping on materials or adhesives which leads to a less durable end product.
The key is finding a hand tufted rug that balances attractive aesthetics, materials and construction to deliver lasting durability.
Easier said than done though!
Hand tufted rug durability depends on several factors. Let’s take a look at each one…
4 Key Factors That Impact Hand Tufted Rug Durability
1. Quality of Materials
The materials used to construct a hand tufted rug have a BIG impact on durability.
Wool is the most popular material for higher-end hand tufted rugs. In particular, New Zealand wool is prized for its thickness, durability and natural stain resistance. Properly maintained 100% wool hand tufted rugs can last 10-20 years in residential settings.
Other common hand tufted rug materials like viscose, cotton and acrylic are less durable than wool. But when blended with a high percentage of wool, these materials can still deliver decent longevity.
Synthetic fibers like polypropylene(PP) take rug durability to the next level thanks to their colorfastness and stain fighting properties. But PP and other synthetics usually result in a lower quality, mass-produced hand tufted rug.
The main takeaway?
100% wool or a high percentage wool blend will give you the best chance at solid hand tufted rug durability.
2. Density/Pile Height
Hand tufted rugs with a high density (over 100,000 tufts per square meter) feel thicker and stand up to wear better.
But density alone doesn’t guarantee a durable hand tufted rug.
Pile height also plays a role. Think about it like carpet on your stairs. Low pile carpet shows wear and tear much faster than plush carpet because the fibers have less give.
General guide for decent hand tufted rug durability:
- Moderate density (50,000 – 80,000 tufts per m2)
- Pile height of at least 7-10mm
Going with a higher density and pile height will increase longevity even more. But lower density hand tufted rugs can still last 5+ years with proper care and maintenance.
3. Backing Materials
Believe it or not, the materials used on the back of a hand tufted rug impact durability as well.
Cotton canvas is the most common backing material. It provides a solid foundation for the tufted wool fibers on top.
Some lower-end hand tufted rugs use cheaper synthetic backings. But these cheaper synthetic fabrics can deteriorate much faster than cotton canvas.
4. Adhesives
Here’s where many hand tufted rug manufacturers cut corners…literally!
The glue adhesive used to attach the tufted yarn to the rug’s backing has a huge effect on overall durability.
Low-quality adhesives break down faster. Which causes the tufted fibers to wear out quicker no matter the quality of the face fibers/materials.
So when evaluating hand tufted rug durability, you want rugs constructed with premium rug adhesives. These cost more but deliver 3-5 years of extra life.
It’s also smart to ask manufacturers about any chemicals used in production. Some cheaper glue adhesives contain solvents and fillers that can yellow or degrade rug fibers.
Expected Hand Tufted Rug Lifespan
Now that you know about the durability factors, what kind of lifespan can you realistically expect from a hand tufted wool rug?
Here’s a general guideline for a medium-high quality hand tufted rug used in residential settings:
- Light-use bedroom: 7-15 years
- Moderate traffic living room: 5-12 years
- High traffic hallways/entryways: 3-7 years
What about comparing hand tufted rug durability vs hand knotted rugs?
It’s no contest really. Properly maintained 100% wool hand knotted rugs will easily outlast nice hand tufted wool rugs by 5-10 years (or more).
And high-end hand knotted silk rugs can literally last multiple lifetimes.
But hand knotted rug longevity and durability comes at a price – literally!
Boosting Your Hand Tufted Rug Lifespan
Looking to get the maximum lifespan out of your hand tufted wool rug? Here are my 5 top tips:
- Buy from a reputable brand. Big name rug companies may charge more. But the materials, construction and oversight is far superior to generic hand tufted rugs found in casual furniture stores or big box retailers.
- Select a low-medium traffic room. Hand tufted rugs will show wear faster in hallways or other heavy traffic areas.
- Use a rug pad underneath. The right pad cushions your rug from excessive wear and can also prevent slippage on smooth floors.
- Vacuum weekly. This keeps dirt and dust from breaking down the fibers prematurely. Go easy though…high suction can pull yarn tufts out from the backing over time.
- Professional cleaning every 2 years. Small spills should be blotted up quickly. But periodic professional cleaning is important for eliminating ground-in dirt and keeping fibers feeling soft.
The Bottom Line
So back to our original question – are hand tufted rugs durable? The answer is yes…with some qualifiers. When produced properly using quality materials, medium to high-end hand tufted wool rugs can last 5-15 years with typical residential use.
Hand tufted rugs likely won’t equal the lifespan of durable hand knotted rugs. But proper selection and care can still deliver lasting beauty and enjoyment for years to come.
I hope you found this hand tufted rug durability guide useful! Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments section below.