After a custom made rug or a hand tufted rug is blocked, we may recommend coating the back of the rug with latex.  We recommend latex for several reasons:  the back of the rug  was not finished properly at the time of manufacture,  the rug's seams have become loose from "wear and tear," or the rug requires the additional sturdiness that the combination of latex and a new cotton backing will provide.

After the standard blocking procedure has taken place, and latex has been spread across the back of the rug, the latex is allowed to partially dry.  The sticky, rubbery surface adheres tightly to cotton muslin, which is smoothed over the latex layer.  After the latex is completely dry, the overlapping edges of the muslin are trimmed away.