Published January 2018 | Updated April 2024
Have you ever wondered what causes sisal carpet to ripple after it’s been installed? Is your sisal carpet rippling or buckling? We got this question recently and would like to share the answer to help you avoid this situation.
The main reason that carpet might ripple is because it is stretched in. We don’t recommend this because it might be stretched too tightly or loosely. The improper stretching installation can cause an expansion or contraction of the carpet if it’s pulling off of the tack strip. Other factors that will cause your sisal carpet to ripple or buckle are changes in temperature, high humidity, improper cleaning or dragging heavy furniture.
Not all may be lost if your carpet is buckling. We suggest having your professional installer examine your flooring to determine the actual cause. If it’s expanded, it may need to be stretched, trimmed and re-glued. Rippling can be avoided by letting your carpet fully acclimate to your environment as it has traveled from the warehouse in different temperatures. Your new flooring needs to adjust and relax before being installed and placing furniture on top of it.
Feel free to email us with your specific questions at any time.
Teneille Tierce is a contributing writer for Curran and sisalcarpet.com.
6 comments
Thanks for suggesting that a professional installer examine your flooring to determine the actual cause. From the installation into the maintenance of your carpet, you should consult only on a pro. They know how to handle your carpet problems since they are trained in this area.
Hi there . We have had sisal fitted up our stairs (2 flights) and on our landing . The stairs have been edged and with the exception of one step look really good. The landing looks terrible . We got the fitter back and he restretched it . 6 months on its looks absolutely dreadful . So many ripples and bumps it actually looks like we have just thrown it down ourselves .
The carpet shop refuse to accept anything is wrong and say it’s our fault for not understanding the risks of installing sisal !
We have obviously paid them and have no recompense with them at all now.
Any advice please? I’m tempted to rip the whole thing up and start again , although my husband may well divorce me given the cost of the sisal!
Many thanks for your help
Hi
I want to use sisal to carpet a van. They say the carpet needs to be a four way stretch material. Is sisal going to be a suitable material please? Thanks
Hi Adam,
Thanks for reaching out. Sisal is inherently absorbent and can show water marks, so keep this in mind when considering carpeting options for your van. That being said, you can find the details for our natural fiber sisals on each collection’s page. Just click on a weave that you like and then navigate to the Specification tab to find the backing material and the Installation tab to read about recommended installation options. Most of our natural fiber sisal products have a natural latex backing which is not suitable for stretch installation.
We do offer an unbacked sisal wallcovering that is better suited to stretch installation and might be a good option for your van. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact our customer service team or follow up in this comment thread.
Best,
Patrick
Hello,
My sisal rug has ripples in it,down the sides
It is bound around the edge.
Is there anything I can do to get rid of the ripples?
Many thanks Be.
Dear Christopher,
I just took over the blog writings for sisalcarpet.com and saw your sisal rug ripple inquiry. I know it has been some time ago and you might have found a solution following our blog suggestions in the meantime. If not feel free to write to one of our knowledgeable customer service people in as much detail as possible. Sometimes photos of your sisal rug might help them too to better evaluate your problem. The email to contact is [email protected]. You should be able to get an answer within 1-2 business days.
Best,
Martina
Martina Guttenberger
Marketing & Content
curranonline.com
sisalcarpet.com
+1 206 441 2721