Jute Carpets

Jute is recognised as the softest and silkiest of the natural plant fibre floor coverings (Sisal, Coir, Seagrass), making it the ideal choice for spaces where comfort and warmth underfoot are the top priority.

• Source of Softness: Jute is hand-harvested from the stalk of the giant Corchorus plant. Unlike Sisal, which is derived from rigid leaf fibres, Jute is much finer and less abrasive.
• Ideal Placement: Because of its delicate nature, Jute is best suited for low-traffic, 'shoeless' areas of the home.
• Recommended: Bedrooms, dressing rooms, and quiet living rooms.
• Areas to Avoid: Stairs, high-traffic hallways, and rooms that involve heavy furniture movement.

Jute is extremely sensitive to moisture and must be kept completely dry. As with all natural plant fibres, Jute is highly absorbent, and water can cause permanent staining or even cause the fibre to stiffen and shrink.

• Cleaning Method: Only use dry cleaning methods (such as specialised dry-powder cleaning kits like our Natural Flooring Care Kit) and vacuum regularly with a suction-only setting (avoiding beater bars).
• Spill Protocol: If a spill occurs, blot it immediately with a clean, dry white cloth or towel. Do not rub, and never attempt to spot-clean using water or traditional liquid cleaning solutions.
• Protection: We recommend professional application of a stain inhibitor, such as Intec, to provide a time-sensitive barrier against accidental liquid spills. Alternative Flooring can supply this to all Jute carpet, rugs and loose laid runners. 

Jute naturally has a beautiful, organic, soft golden-brown hue, and its colour profile is typically more subdued than Sisal.

• Inherent Colour: Unlike Sisal (a white fibre), Jute retains its natural pigment, which gives it a comforting, warm undertone. It can be dyed, but its inherent colour limits the vibrancy of the final colour palette.
• Sunlight: While its natural tone handles ambient light well, like all plant materials, prolonged exposure to intense, direct sunlight can cause gradual colour shifting or lightening over time. We recommend rotating rugs and using window coverings to mitigate this where possible.

Yes, Jute is suitable for installation over underfloor heating (UFH) when following specific professional guidelines.

• TOG Rating Compliance: Jute tends to have a low thermal resistance (TOG rating), which is beneficial for UFH systems. However, the combined TOG value of the Jute carpet and the underlay should not exceed the maximum thermal resistance recommended by your UFH manufacturer as this may affect the efficiency of your UFH system. 
• Professional Fitting: Installation must be completed by a qualified professional using the appropriate low-VOC adhesive and a climate-controlled fitting process (including acclimatisation) to prevent the natural fibres from stretching or contracting during temperature changes.

Jute is an excellent choice for bespoke rugs and loose laid runners, especially through the Alternative Flooring 'Make Me A Rug' tool, but it is not generally recommended for stairs.

• Bespoke Rugs: Its soft, pleasing texture makes it perfect for luxury area rugs in bedrooms and living spaces. Jute can be finished with a fabric binding or whipping (an over backed edge finish). 
• Stair Limitation: Jute's softer fibres are less durable and resilient to the concentrated crushing wear that occurs on stair treads, meaning it will likely flatten and show wear patterns much faster than a Sisal or Wool carpet.

Alternative Flooring offers Jute in various weaves, each providing a slightly different level of texture and resilience:

• Jute Bouclé: Uses small, tight loops. Offers a chunky texture and is one of the more visually interesting and resilient Jute weaves.
• Jute Panama: A dense, uniform basket weave. Provides the smoothest and most consistent look, suitable for minimal pattern interference.
• Jute Herringbone: Features a classic V-shaped repeat pattern. Offers strong visual definition and structure while retaining the soft textile of the Jute fibre.

Due to its soft nature and lower resilience compared to hard fibres, Jute can be prone to indentations from heavy items like beds or wardrobes.

• Prevention: Use furniture cups or mats beneath heavy item legs to help distribute the weight more evenly across the carpet and underlay.