Moisture and dimensional movement
Natural fibres absorb and release moisture with the room. In a Fife property with high humidity — a stone-built cottage, a flat with poor extraction — that means visible expansion and contraction across seasons. We fit with that in mind and avoid natural fibre in bathrooms and kitchens entirely.
Spills need blotting immediately. Water alone can leave a ring on sisal, and there is no cleaning method that reliably removes it.
Where we fit natural fibre happily
- Sitting rooms and studies where drinks are handled carefully
- Bedrooms — jute or a soft wool-sisal blend
- Stair runners in sisal, never seagrass (grip)
- Porches and boot rooms in coir matting