AXMINSTER FLOORING FAQS
Everything you need to know about House of Hackney X Axminster carpets, rugs and runners.
Everything you need to know about House of Hackney X Axminster carpets, rugs and runners.
Where and how is Axminster flooring made?
Woven at the Royal Warrant-holding Axminster Carpet factory in Devon, England, each piece is meticulously crafted by the country’s finest weavers, just as it has been since 1755. Here heritage is not preserved, but something to be loved and lived in the everyday.
Behind every carpet is a community of dyers, designers, weavers, engineers and finishers, whose skills have been passed from one generation to the next.
Woven on a single loom with over 40 colours from Nature’s palette, the craftspeople use a unique ‘eight pitch’ weave to build intricate patterns row by row, creating carpets of greater detail, definition and saturation than ever before.
Is Axminster flooring durable?
Our products are woven using 100% wool. This is because the attributes of wool, such as outstanding durability, warmth, flexibility and bounce, lend themselves perfectly to use for carpets & runners. Warm underfoot, naturally durable and acoustically absorbent, it softens sound while bringing comfort and texture to everyday living. Renewable, natural and durable, wool reflects our commitment to creating interiors that are both beautiful and enduring.
Wool fibres trap pockets of air and absorb and release moisture from the atmosphere, keeping you cool when it’s hot, and warming you when it’s cold. It’s made for real life. Designed for longevity, it promises high performance even in high traffic areas.
Wool fibres have a natural elasticity that allows them to bounce back from compression, meaning your carpet will retain its soft, plush texture for years to come. And thanks to its moisture wicking properties (wool can hold up to 35% of its own weight in moisture without feeling wet), and the natural presence of oils like lanolin that keep sheep safe protected from harsh weather, wool flooring has built in stain protection, making it more resilient to wear and tear than synthetic carpets.
Axminster carpets & runners are extremely durable as the pile and backing are woven together in a single operation. The weaving technique, combined with the use of high quality wool, gives the products superior durability and appearance retention.
When looked after, a wool carpet can last for decades, making it a sustainable investment.
What are the benefits of wool carpet?
As well as looking and feeling beautiful, wool is Nature’s high-performance fibre, offering durability, warmth, flexibility and reliability.
Wool carpets are a sustainable choice in the home, not only because wool is a renewable fibre, but also because of its natural ability as an insulator against both cold and heat. Wool fibres have a structure that traps air. During colder months, this acts as a barrier to prevent heat from escaping through the floor, whilst, in warmer weather, it can absorb excess moisture from the air, creating a cooling effect. This helps contribute to energy conservation, in turn, lowering utility bills. Compared to flooring made with synthetic fibres, 100% wool carpet is extremely durable, and when cared for properly, will last for years to come, saving money in the long run.
Contrary to popular belief, wool carpets and rugs are actually great for allergy sufferers. Because of its natural structure, wool helps to cleanse the air of dust, airborne allergens and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), whilst hard floors allow allergens and dust to travel in the air which can make symptoms more pronounced.
Wool is cost effective; compared to synthetic fibres, wool better insulates against temperature differences, and is far more durable, lasting for many years. It is also a natural humidistat which means it can control the humidity of its surroundings
It’s flame retardant and won’t melt like manmade fibres found in other carpets, and is 100% renewable.
How should I clean my Axminster flooring?
What’s the standard lead time for Axminster carpets?
The standard lead time for a carpet order is 10-12 weeks, though this can vary. Our team will confirm the exact lead time at the point of order. You can reach them atldn@houseofhackney.com.
Do you use a mothproofing substance?
Axminster do not use chemicals, due to the toxicity of the mothproofing substances commonly used. It is our recommendation that if the client has a known or existing problem with moths, that they should have this investigated and treated prior to fitting any new carpets.
Can I order a bespoke carpet?
Yes! We offer a custom print and colourway service to bring your project to life from the ground up. Book a free Design Consultation for more information.
Can I order a bespoke runner?
Yes! Need a wider runner, or a bespoke colourway, print or scale? Book a free Design Consultation to find out more.
Will piling (bobbling) occur?
Pilling (or bobbling) is a natural and expected characteristic of wool carpets, and this process does not mean the carpet is defective. Pilling is most prominent during the first months of the carpet's life and decreases over time.
To manage pilling, we suggest using a standard suction vacuum (with a rotating beater brush if possible) to reduce the appearance of pilling. It is never recommended to pull or rip the wool fibres.
Are wool carpets sustainable?
By nature, wool is one of the most sustainable materials around.
Unlike carpets made from synthetic materials like polyester which is derived from fossil fuels, wool is a completely renewable fibre.
Sheep graze on natural pastures and require little intervention to produce fleece, which is sheared without harming the animal, offering a low-impact material.
Our carpet is the product of Axminster’s manufacturing process that’s carefully managed at every stage in order to reduce environmental impact. The wool pile is woven from 100% wool at the Axminster factory in Devon, England. The majority of the wool used is locally sourced from British sheep and processed in the UK to reduce raw material road transport miles. The rest is made up of responsibly sourced wool from AsureQuality verified free-range sheep from New Zealand. The wool sourced is restricted to these two origins, and has documented assurance on the animal welfare and traceability, meaning we know exactly where it came from.
The backing of each carpet, rug and runner is made from natural cotton and jute. The cotton is BCI (Better cotton initiative) or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) accredited. Jute is a natural vegetable fiber extracted from the bark of flowering plants.
Can you recommend a fitter?
We recommend finding a fitter via the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers website.
