If you want to buy carpets online, you already know that there are many options. There seem to be countless colors, materials, shapes, and sizes to choose from. For these options, you may have a strong idea of what you want. One of the most important decisions you need to make may not be what it should be: whether you’re looking for handmade or machined rugs. You may think this is simple decision, but do you fully understand the difference?
When you buy a handmade carpet, you get a unique work of art. There are many different types of handmade carpets. These include hand-knotting, hand-tufting, and hand-linking necklaces. These technologies require different levels of human resources, and machine-made carpets require significantly less human resources. To buy a carpet that fits your lifestyle, budget, and taste, you must consider three different aspects.
1. Longevity
Bonding carpet fibers make woven carpets to a strong plastic base. This means that when you buy machine-made carpets, they will be very elastic at the beginning of their useful life, but over time the adhesive will break down, and the fibers will start to fall off. While handmade carpets are sometimes considered exquisite, they are easier to stand the test of time. High-quality hand-knotted carpets can be used for up to 20 years and can even be passed on to the younger generation. At the same time, the estimated life of machine-made carpets is about 12 to 20 years. Conclusion: handmade carpets.
2. Price
If you need to buy carpets and are looking for a bargain, look for machine-made carpets. Since these carpets can be produced in large quantities, they are sold at a lower cost. Every handmade carpet is the product of human labor – in some cases hours of complicated work – driving the price up dramatically. Conclusion: woven carpet.
3. Look
When buying carpets, you may not always be able to distinguish handmade carpets from machine-made carpets. Indeed, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish them. However, handmade carpets can be identified by their “imperfections,” which are tiny flaws in patterns caused by human error. Many believe that these flaws give handmade carpets a unique charm and personality, while others prefer the uniformity of mechanical carpets—verdict: undecided.
As you can see, the decision is not clear. Both handmade carpets and machine carpets have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the differences between them allows you to buy carpets online with confidence and choose the one that suits you.