How to choose an easy-to-clean carpet

Carpets can make a room feel warm and cosy, but households considering installing them in their Chester or North Wales home may be concerned about keeping them clean. Interior style expert and journalist Rhiannon Faith Ireland has advised on the best type of carpets that are low maintenance and easy to clean.

Carpets are typically made from synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene, or natural materials like wool, silk, jute, cotton, and seagrass. With care, all carpets can be cleaned effectively.

Nylon carpets are often treated with solutions that help prevent stains and fading, making them very easy to keep clean.

Polyester provides a wool-like feel at a lower cost, and can be textured to resemble wool. Polyester carpets are also resistant to stains and low maintenance.

Although there is a view that natural fibre carpets are difficult to clean, Rhiannon states that some natural fibre carpets are extremely easy to keep clean. Coir carpets, for example, are low maintenance and won't show stains or dirt, but may feel hard underfoot.

Wool carpets have many benefits, including heat insulation, noise reduction and durability. Rhiannon notes that they are not as low maintenance as synthetic carpets, although the British Wool Organization states that wool evolved to protect sheep from harsh weather and is naturally stain-resistant. Dirt, spills and stains can be removed from wool carpets, provided care is taken and the right tools and solutions are used.

While all carpets require regular vacuuming, professional deep cleaning is recommended at least once a year.

How to deal with water damaged laminate flooring

Damage can occur when water penetrates the gaps between laminate planks. Signs of water damage include swelling and bubbling of the top layer. Laminate is a layered material, and excess water can cause the layers to separate.

If the water damage is not too severe, remove the damaged planks and allow them to dry completely. Then, treat the exposed edges with wood glue so that it penetrates the layers. Clamp the planks tightly so that the layers are solidly glued together, and then place the laminate flooring planks back in place.

If there are several planks beyond repair, remove them and replace them with matching new planks. If matching planks cannot be found, try swapping the damaged planks with good condition planks from an unseen part of the floor, such as under furniture or a rug. It’s a good idea to purchase extra planks when fitting a new laminate floor, as these can be used to replace damaged ones.

Of course, it is even better to prevent water damage in the first place. If the laminate flooring is in a North Wales location that is commonly at risk of flooding, install flood prevention barriers.

In high moisture areas such as bathrooms, install special water-resistant laminate flooring or apply a polyurethane coating to existing laminate flooring to repel water.

Avoid using too much water when mopping laminate flooring, and dry with a cloth after wet mopping. If liquid spills on the floor or a pet has an accident, promptly clean it up.

Here are just a few tips that you can try in your home. If you have any of your own, feel free to comment and share them below.

Pure wool carpets make a more sustainable choice

Many wool carpets are made using a blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon. When these carpets reach the end of their life, it is difficult to separate the nylon from the wool, making it challenging to recycle the yarn. Carpets made from 100% wool are more sustainable, as wool can easily be recycled.

Nylon is added to wool carpets to increase their durability. However, pure wool carpets made with long-fibre wool are hard wearing. Wool carpets are available undyed or pre-dyed, either in plain colours or patterned. They are suitable for both traditional style and contemporary decor rooms.

Domestic or business buyers in North Wales who prioritize sustainability choose pure wool carpets made from environmentally friendly natural fibres. Wool's insulating properties help keep rooms warm and cosy and add a luxurious feel. Wool carpets are available in a range of shades and patterns. With proper care, including regular cleaning and wiping up spills promptly, wool carpets can last a long time. It is recommended that wool carpets are cleaned professionally at least once a year, or more frequently in areas of high foot traffic.

Most rooms, stair runners and hallways are suitable for wool carpets. However, they are not recommended for high-moisture areas such as bathrooms or utility rooms. Professional carpet installers can quickly fit these carpets with minimum disruption. Wool is a naturally flame-retardant fibre and hygienic.

Local carpet retailers have wool carpet samples available to borrow, allowing customers to see how they look and feel in a room.

How to choose the right laminate flooring thickness for your home

A lot of people favour laminate floors for their homes, and they have good reason to do so. This surface is one of the hardest wearing and most versatile. Laminate generally comes with a layer that is designed to protect against surface damage such as scratches. It also now has a coating that safeguards against water damage, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.

Laminate is long-lasting, flexible and can be made to resemble other surfaces from stone to marble or wood, so it is popular and cost effective. The thickness of the laminate can vary considerably though, so how should you select the right thickness for the floors of your home?

How is the thickness determined?

When it comes to working out the thickness of a laminate floor, each plank is measured by millimetres. Some of the manufacturers provide information concerning thickness as part of the packaging or adverts. That is something that you can look out for if you are going to be fitting them yourself. Most people opt to get their laminate floors installed by pros though, and it is often the same people that they bought the floors from. Therefore, it will be possible to enquire about the different thicknesses that are available before you actually buy one. This is the best way because it can save you a lot of problems further down the line.

Determining the thickness means measuring each plank from any subfloor surface padding that it might have to its top. If such a surface layer is pre-installed, a good thickness to look for will be around 14mm, with 2mm being the pad. If not, you should consider a 12mm thickness to be good.

What does the thickness mean?

There is no question that having reasonably thick laminate planks is important, but when choosing the right thickness, it is important to bear in mind what this does and does not mean. A thicker laminate will protect against some things but not others.

• Durability

It may be widely assumed that thicker means greater durability, but that is not always the case. What thicker laminate will protect against is issues such as warping. In terms of overall durability though, the water seal coating and scratch layer are probably more important in ensuring the floor continues to look good over a long period of time. The AC rating is also crucial, with AC1 being least durable and AC5 most durable. Professionals will usually recommend a minimum of AC3.

• Quality

Once more, the common belief is that the greater the thickness of a laminate floor, the better the overall quality. That is a simplistic assessment though and ignores a lot of elements that are involved in the manufacturing process. You should look for a floor with a core made from high-density fibre and at least 50% hardwood. This will act as a more reliable guarantee of floor quality than simply measuring the thickness of the planks.

Why does the thickness matter?

All of this might have you wondering why the issue of floor thickness even matters. The truth is though that there are real benefits to having a laminate floor that is reasonably thick. For one thing, it will make the installation process easier than it would be with a thinner one. Thicker planks are able to cope with small variations in the subfloor without causing problems for you at a later date. They will ensure that the floor is level regardless of those variations.

Thicker laminate floors are also better at creating good acoustics within a room and will provide you with a floor that is more resistant to impact. If it is going to be fitted in a room that people use a lot – or if you have small children – these can be very important factors when choosing a floor surface. Therefore, it is vital to get the right thickness.

How to choose laminate flooring thickness

The best way to make this choice is to talk to the professionals that you are buying the floor from before actually completing the purchase. However, there is a standard thickness range when it comes to laminate floors that you should abide by. Most floors are either: 8mm, 10mm or 12mm in thickness and anything less than 8mm will be too thin.

If you have children who are more likely to drop items like a ball onto the floor, then selecting thicker 12mm laminate will be best. That will apply to high traffic rooms in general, as thicker laminate will protect against the impact of boots or shoes. Given the noise-muting effects of thick laminate most people are likely to find planks that are nearer 12mm to be their preferred choice anyway.

You can get further information about laminate floor thicknesses from flooring professionals with years of trade experience.

Tarkett launches new sustainable floor covering range

Tarkett is a flooring manufacturer that strives to create sustainable and environmentally friendly flooring options. Their new product, Safetred Serenity, is a slip-resistant safety floor that not only provides safety but also style. It can be used in a variety of environments while still being eco-friendly.

The collection comes in twelve different shades, each inspired by the natural landscapes of the UK and Ireland. The colours are chosen to create a sense of peace and calmness and are reminiscent of natural features such as beaches, oceans, mountains, and cliffs. The designs aim to embody the beauty of nature in a way that is organic and authentic. Safetred Serenity flooring is easy to install and requires no adhesive.

The Safetred Serenity collection is suitable for both commercial and residential use. It is made and fully recyclable in the UK, reducing transportation emissions. The flooring is made from 50% recycled materials and uses a closed loop water system that re-circulates industrial water. The Safetred Serenity flooring system is free from harmful phthalates and biocides, making it safe for all people to use.

Tarkett's Safetred Serenity is a hard-working floor covering that offers impeccable sustainability credentials and designer good looks, making it a perfect fit for any environment that prioritizes both style and safety.

There are numerous contemporary flooring options which are very popular with both residential and business properties. Visit a local stockist of Tarkett luxury vinyl tile in North Wales or Chester to see their full range of sustainable floor coverings.