Hearth Rugs

Everybody knows that a hearth rug plays an important role in the enhancement of a fireplace and room’s appearance. That’s a given. But, there is more to hearth rugs than what you usually know. They are also pieces of art that can be a lifesaver.

But, for what reason?

The hearth rugs are originally crafted and designed to elevate the appearance and looks of your fireplace. But, the process involved in the making of this excellent material is not just considered to focus on what the rugs can provide in terms of looks. The truth of the matter is that the fireplace hearth rugs are crafted to catch sparks coming from the fireplace. Yes, that’s one of their biggest tasks – to catch the harmful sparks.

How The Hearth Rugs Are Made?
Unlike the typical carpet or flooring material, a hearth rug is designed fireproof. It is often treated with a conditioner formulated to resist fire. So being a fireproof material, the hearth rugs can prevent fire from developing even though a spark from the fireplace lands on them.

The fireproof hearth rug is made to boast a variety of designs. They are often shaped in a form of semi-circle and are meant to be put directly on the opening of the fireplace. There are some fireproof rugs for hearth also that come in rectangular shape, allowing a maximum protection to the floor or carpet.

And, with the variety of designs and styles available for fireplace heart rugs, it’s no wonder that today you can find a selection of wildlife pattern heart rugs. You can find some more designs though including flowery, abstract, and other possible images.

Types Of Heart Rug
As with the other fireplace accessories and tools, the hearth rugs come in a wide range of form. The types generally differ according to the materials used for the construction. So what you can possibly find on the market today are rugs made of wool, olefin, fiberglass, nylon, polyester, and polypropylene. Of these varieties, two stand out as the most preferred: the wool and fiberglass.

The fiberglass hearth rugs are by far the strongest and the most popular type of rug available on the market today. It is deemed that powerful since it is crafted and designed with the highest level of protection possible. It works then to protect the carpet and flooring, as well as the rug itself, from the fire that may possible occur through the sparks. So what to expect from this material is then a stronger foundation that allows the sparks and embers thrown at them to just melt, instead of kindling fire. And, although it is typical for this type of rug to form black marks after a spark landed on it, the marks can easily be removed by a hearth rug cleanser. What’s more, the fiberglass hearth rugs, although of great quality, comes out as the most expensive variety.

On the other hand, the wool hearth rug is made from wool itself. It is noted as the second provider of the highest protection available. Since it is made from wool fibers, it tends not to melt once exposed to heat. Instead, it just allows itself to extinguish, unlike the synthetic fibers.

The wool hearth rugs, however, can be burnt by sparks and embers once these particles landed on them. The most interesting part though is that these singes can be eliminated easily without any signs of damage after. You just need to rub the marks off to make that possible. And, in terms of cost, a hearth rug made from wool comes less pricey than those that are crafted from nylon and other synthetic materials.


Just A Tip For Buying
There are some products sold on the market today that are labeled as “hearth rugs” but do not carry fire resistant properties. If you are a bit doubtful for a particular hearth rug, go and ask your provider of what the rug is made of. Make sure that it is designed with the highest protection level possible.