Can vinyl flooring be used in a bathroom?

A question that many people ask about vinyl flooring is whether it is suitable from bathrooms and other areas that regularly get wet. Here are some common queries:

Is vinyl plank flooring good for a bathroom?

There are three main sizes of vinyl – tiles, sheets and planks. All sizes of vinyl are suitable for bathrooms, as they are resistant to humidity, steam and moisture. Sheet vinyl has the advantage that it can be laid in one piece without leaving exposed seams, but depending on the size of the bathroom, the sheet width could mean you pay for more vinyl than you need. If planks or tiles are used, there will be no problem provided that the floor is sealed, especially at the seams.

Planks are 100% waterproof so will not absorb moisture. If the bathroom should flood, planks can be lifted and dried, then replaced. If damaged they can easily be replaced.

What is the best vinyl flooring for bathrooms?

If the floor is sealed properly, vinyl flooring is ideal for bathrooms. Other floor materials may be waterproof, but they can still be affected by high humidity. A hot bath or shower can raise the humidity to high levels. Wood gradually absorbs moisture from condensation and can warp, making it unsuitable. Engineered wood is better, but the top choice is still vinyl.

Stone and tiles are suitable for bathrooms, but they are colder on bare feet. Most types of vinyl are suitable for bathrooms, but many people prefer the look and feel of luxury vinyl tiles or planks. Quality vinyl will last longer and is easy to clean and maintain.

Cheaper thin vinyl, especially when installing in sheets, can curl and can easily get damaged if objects are dropped on them, so choose a high-quality option.

Vinyl flooring is available in wood and stone patterns that look natural, or you can choose from many different colours and patterns.

Is Amtico flooring suitable for bathrooms?

Amtico produces a range of vinyl flooring, especially for bathrooms. It combines outstanding performance with beautiful designs, making it the top choice for architects and interior designers.

The Amtico bathroom range can be installed over most existing floors, including wood, stone and concrete. To make your bathroom extra cosy in winter, Amtico bathroom flooring can be installed over underfloor heating.

The Amtico Signature range is suitable for both home and business bathrooms. If you follow Amtico’s recommended maintenance practices, Signature vinyl will last a long time. When installed in the home, it has a lifetime warranty which lasts the lifetime of the purchaser.

Amtico vinyl should be professionally installed in the bathroom. The installer will make sure that the existing floor is smooth, dry and level. If the subfloor is uneven, they can coat it with a cement scree to level it.

As you might expect, Amitco flooring costs more than some other brands, but it is worth paying for extra quality and durability. It lasts for years so it is cost effective in the long term compared to cheaper vinyl that may need replacing after a few years.

How to lay artificial grass

Artificial grass is an alternative to the real thing that costs less time and money to maintain and keeps it looking like new. It’s easy to lay too, provided you follow the guidelines.

How to lay

The surface on which the grass is installed needs to be level. This can be achieved with the addition of a sand layer. Use a small bit of wood to level it out.

Next, add a membrane layer over the sand to keep the weeds out. Roll out the artificial grass, making sure that the pile of each section leans one way, usually towards the house. Each roll should be next to each other with no blades caught. A craft knife can be used to trim the rolls, which are then fixed together with tape and adhesive.

Ground pins can be used to secure the edges. Brush the grass pile with a stiff brush then apply a thin silica sand layer.

Can you put artificial grass on dirt?

You can lay artificial grass on dirt, but you must first dig out the soil up to two and a half inches deep. This will also make sure that stones, leaves and other debris are removed. The ground needs to be levelled too.

Can you lay artificial grass on top of grass?

While it is possible to lay artificial grass on top of grass, it’s not recommended. Though you will save time by not removing existing turf, you may encounter problems. With real grass below the artificial grass, there is a good chance that weeds will grow through the artificial grass backing.

Consider too that there may be drainage issues with rainwater not running off the lawn. The existing grass will die and rot, and this may cause an uneven surface.

Laying artificial grass over existing grass saves you time and money on the initial installation, but in the long-term the lifespan of the grass will likely be shortened, ultimately making it a poor economic decision.

Why do you have to put sand on artificial grass?

Artificial grass can be laid without sand, but the lawn will benefit from a thin silica sand layer. This provides extra weight on the grass which adds to its stability and protects the turf, while also keeping the blades of grass erect.

Sand adds fire resistance too. This is especially important if you intend to have barbecues anywhere near the lawn.

The sand is heavy so that it will not blow away in high winds, and it can help drainage. It’s safe to use and is suitable for lawns where small children play, but make sure you are using silica sand specially formulated for artificial grass use.

What happens after the artificial grass is laid?

After the artificial lawn has been laid, there’s not a lot you need to do. Regular brushing will remove seeds, leaves and other dirt from the grass, and you should occasionally use a hose to clean it.

An artificial grass lawn installed correctly will last for many years.

Artist and manufacturer come together to produce wall carpets

A partnership between a Swiss artist and an Indian carpetmaker has created carpets that have been displayed on the walls as art.

Karim Noureldin, a Swiss-Egyptian artist, wanted to design and produce carpets made using the Panza weave technique, which is a rare process that few people know how to do. After years searching for people capable of producing his Panza weave carpets, he tracked down a small workshop in a village near Jaipur in India where over 60 weavers work.

The 20 metre by 5 metre carpets are made on the floor, not on a loom. The name Panza refers to the hand tool used by several weavers at a time to make the carpets. The carpets produced for Noureldin are bright modern designs. They are recognised as art and two were selected to be hung on the walls of an exhibition that was part of Art Dubai.

Panza carpets take 10 times longer to weave than traditionally weaved rugs. This makes them very expensive, but 30% to 40% of the purchase price goes directly to the weavers. Some of their income has been given to their village to purchase a water purveying system and sweaters for the local schoolchildren.

The weaving factory does not have the capacity to produce many carpets, so people who can afford the prices may wait a very long time for delivery. Less expensive carpets for your Chester home are available now for your floors, not your walls.

Beckhams build artificial grass tennis court

David and Victoria Beckham have built a tennis court at their Cotswold home estimated to have cost around £30,000.

The court was built mainly for their son Romeo who is a good tennis player and is being mentored by top tennis coaches. He could follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a professional sportsman.

The court was designed by Marcus Barnett, a landscape designer who has won three gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show.

It is thought that the chosen site for the court on the Beckham estate was originally going to be a five-a-side football pitch with an all-weather artificial turf, but Romeo's love for tennis changed these plans.

The tennis court will enable him to pursue his passion and develop his tennis skills. It is thought that he will spend his summer holidays playing tennis, with his parents hiring top tennis coaches to enhance his skills. In London, Romeo plays at the elite Queens tennis club and has been spotted training with some of the world’s top ranked players Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov and Caroline Wozniacki.

Not many homes have the space or budget for an artificial grass tennis court, but laying artificial grass in Chester gardens can be ideal for people who want the look of real grass but do not have the time to cut and maintain real grass. The average lawn costs a lot less to cover in artificial grass than the £30,000 the Beckhams paid for their tennis court.

3D printing creates unique floor coverings

A Dutch company is pioneering the use of 3D printers to create unique floor designs.

When choosing commercial flooring for your Chester business, there are plenty of designs to choose from. Dutch firm Aectual is developing a 3D printing process for floors, walls and mouldings. Aectual’s co-founder Hedwig Heinsman said:

“The first product we launched is Aectual Floors, a sustainably produced 3D-printed floor with terrazzo infill. We chose flooring because it allows us to share the opportunities of this technology in an accessible manner with a large audience. With our smart technology, we make it possible to custom 3D print any design on large surfaces, where each square meter is unique.”

The company's first floor was a 600 square meter 3D printed floor at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which was installed in 2017. The terrazzo elements of the floor were made from recycled granite and marble chips. As well as using recycled materials, the process produces no waste. Aectual Floors claims that their printed floors are more environmentally friendly than other floor coverings and this reduces their carbon footprint.

The advantage of 3D printed floor designs is that they can be made on demand. The process is quick, from design to the first prototype is done in a few days.

One issue that Aectual Floors has is that currently the company only has four 3D printers. This restricts how many floor coverings they can print at any one time, so 3D printed floors are a niche small-scale product.