A Bit About Carpets
Factors to consider when buying a rug
What you are looking for? Do you have a color scheme in mind? What size carpet do you need? How much foot traffic and wear will the carpet be exposed to? Are you looking for a “practical” carpet or one that will be cherished and handed down for many generations? Are you looking for a carpet from a particular region of the world? It is helpful to think about such questions before you purchase your carpet. At Al-Shahzadi HK, we will help you find a carpet that best suits your individual needs. At Al-Shahzadi HK, we understand the choices are numerous, and we want you to be satisfied with your decision.
Whether you are buying a Persian carpet that will be passed down through your family for many generations, or a carpet that is purchased for a temporary living situation, you want to know you are getting good quality for your money. Al-Shahzadi HK has been successfully serving clients in Hong Kong for over fifty years.
Maintenance of your carpet
Hand-woven rugs should be vacuumed on a regular basis. When vacuuming, use a suction vacuum only. Avoid vacuuming the tassels or fringes, as they may be damaged. Do not have the carpet steam cleaned, wet-vacuumed, and do not use any type of stain protector on the carpet. Approximately every five to ten years, depending on wear, a carpet should be hand-washed by a professional.
The following classifications are used at Al-Shahzadi to help clients understand the wide variety of carpets available:
Country of Origin
One of the most common ways to classify a carpet is from its country of origin. Below is a map of the major carpet producing countries.
Dye
Our carpets are made with either vegetable or chemical (synthetic) dyes. It is a common misconception that one is better than the other. At Al-Shahzadi HK, we believe both types of carpets are valuable. One advantage of vegetable dyed carpets is they tend to fade with age, which some people find desirable and give a look called “abrash.”
Material
The three materials most commonly used in the manufacturing of carpets include wool, silk and cotton. At Al-Shahzadi HK, we carry a large selection of carpets using these various materials.
Size
Carpets come in many shapes and sizes, and our inventory ranges from carpets as small as 3’ x 2’, ranging up to 20’ X 14’. Our small, medium and large sized carpets are available in different shapes including rectangular, round, square, and runners.
Color
We stock a wide variety of colors of carpets.
Knot
Knot density (knots per square inch) is one way to determine quality of a carpet. It is calculated from looking at the back of the carpet, and by counting the number of knots per inch along the length of the carpet and the number of knots per inch across the width of the carpet, and multiplying to get the number of knots per square inch (KPSI).
Age
The age attribute specifies how old a carpet is. There are three major timelines: antique (75 years and older), semi-antique (25-75 years) and new (less than 20 years old).
Condition
Handmade carpets are classified according to their overall condition and may be considered fine, average or worn.
