Ask Ahmad

Ahmad has been the manager of Persian Rug House of Pineville
for over fourteen years and grew up with fine Persian masterpieces
underfoot.  His mother was a rug weaver, and her love of the art has
been passed on to Ahmad and his three sons as well, the youngest
of which is a naturally talented apprentice rug repairman.   

Click here showroom@persianrughouse.com or on CONTACTS above 
to Ask Ahmad your Oriental rug question by email. 

 

QUALITY 

 

Q     Handmade, Hand-knotted, Hand crafted and Hand tufted,  - is there a difference? 

A     There could be.  Ask the rug merchant to define his term for you.  Handmade is the general term used to describe a hand-knotted rug.  Hand-knotting is the process by which a handmade rug is made, the knot made by hand, similar to tying your shoe.  Hand tufted, on the other hand, is the process of punching wool into a grid material, gluing the reverse side and covering with a cotton backing.  We carry only handmade, hand-knotted rugs in our showroom.

 

Q     How can I determine if a rug is handmade or machine made?

A     When the pile is spread apart, the knots should be visible in a handmade rug.  A machine made rug will not have knots and will have a machine sewn edging attached, as opposed to a hand-sewn edge, however some machine made rugs have been repaired or altered, using hand-sewn edging.  Sewn on fringe is also indicative of a machnine made rug.      

 

Q     What are the other factors that determine the value and price of a handmade rug?

A     The quality of new rugs is determined by many factors, including place of origin, knot count per square inch (KPSI), wool quality, silk quality, foundation - weft and warp materials.  Quality is rated as superior, good, fair, and poor.  For older and antique rugs, the most important factors are age, beauty of the colors, and condition.  

 

 COST

 

Q     What is the average cost of an authentic, handmade Oriental rug?

A      Since there are several grades of rug, from the rustic all wool Mahal design with thicker wool and less knots per square inch (KPSI), to very fine all silk tapestries, there is no true average.  However, among our selections it is possible to purchase one of several, new, good quality, authentic (not a reproduction), unique, 8 x 10 Persian rugs for around $2,000, however, during our Retirement Sale, in its final weeks, we have beautiful pieces that originally sell for $2000 for under $800!    

 

Q     What is the price range of your selection?

A     We have rugs priced from $200 to $50,000.  The most often purchased sizes are the 8 x 10 and the 9 x 12.  A good quality rug in these sizes are priced between $2,000 to $8,000, not including antique Persian rugs.

 

Q     What determines the cost of a particular rug?

A     A rug made using thicker wool will have less KPSI, and therefore take less materials and time to complete.  A rug with finer wool or heavy silk use will result in more knots per square inch, utilizing more materials, and taking much more time to weave.

 

Q     How are your rugs priced?

A     Much like the real estate market, our prices are based on the rug's appraised and insurance replacement values.  Supply and demand also make a difference.  Years ago, during the Oriental rug embargo, less supply and high demand meant higher pricing.  Today, In showroom one, we offer hundreds of new reproduction rugs of famous Persian designs in various sizes and shapes made in Pakistan and India which offer handsome and affordable choices to coordinate with today's home fashion color palettes.  In showroom two, we offer all unique, new and antique rugs from across the globe.  Showroom three showcases our fine selection of authentic, antique Persian rugs, including Reza's signature rug, the Bakhtiari garden design.  With normal wear and tear, your investment will not decrease in value, but, like fine antique furnisings, is one of the few items in the well-appointed home that will appreciate.  With the readlily available selections, it is a rug buyer's market!

 

CARE

 

Q     What is the best way to clean a handmade Oriental rug?

A      For spills, blot immediately.  The natural lanolin in wool rugs gives protection to the fibers so that spills rest on the top of the rug to allow for prompt cleaning.  Because a handmade rug is all natural fibers, for full cleaning, we use only hands, soap, and water, and allow the rug to air dry.    NEVER steam clean an authentic, handmade Oriental rug - it will remove the naturally protectant oils in the wool and will lead to breakage of the fibers, and will devastate silk.

 

Q      How often do rugs need to be cleaned?

A      Depending on the traffic, the rug needs to be professionally cleaned every three to five years. 

 

Q      How often should rugs be vacuumed?

A      Rugs should be vacuumed as necessary, but never vacuum the fringe.  Flipping the fringe flat before vacuuming perpendicular to the edge can help prevent getting the fringe tangled in the vacuum brush.

 

Q      How do Oriental rugs wear?

A      A good quality rug, with a little bit of tender loving care, will last over 100 years. 

 

Q      How do I choose the right size rug for my space?

A      The dining room is the room that must have the right size rug.  When the chairs are pulled out, they must still be on the rug. Other rooms can have between six inches to two feet between the rug and the wall. Furnishings can be half on or half off the rug, or all on or all off.  If the sofa is skirted, the rug can be placed in front of the sofa to maximize the rug size and pattern. Use several small rugs in the bedroom. 

 

Q      Where should I start when designing my room?

A      The rug is the foundation of of any well-appointed room and should be chosen first.  From there, fabrics and colors are chosen.  There are more fabrics available to go with the rug.  If you start with the fabric, the rug choices in your price range may be limited. 

 

Q      I am updating and upgrading a space with an Oriental rug and my colors and fabrics are floral and striped primary colors hues.  What will be the best rug type for me?

A      The best choice when designing around florals is a rug with more geometric designs, such as a Persian Heriz.  It will bring together the room and give balance to the floral design without overwhelming the space.

 

 

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