Flooring designed to encourage networking and collaboration

Floor coverings that have been used in a building refit are part of a vision to anchorage networking and collaboration, by the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.

The Trust recently refit its You Space building in London. The brief for the designers was to create an open space that creates the feeling of flexibility, collaboration and networking.

One of the lead designers, Chris Crawford, said:

“We wanted to create a bright and positive interior that reflected the Trust’s mission whilst being sensitive to anything related to Stephen’s memorial and retaining the spatial purity created in the original design.”

Orange was Stephen Lawrence’s favourite colour and this inspired the use of the colour, which spreads from the ceiling, down the walls and in the floors.

The top floor of the building has stone design LVT flooring which is loosely laid to form an attractive comfortable floor. The grey stone contrasts with the brightly coloured seat cushions and stools. High quality LVT with multiple layers was chosen for its strength and durability.

The entrance has specialised Coral Classic floor coverings that absorb 95% of the dirt and moisture from the outside to prevent them from being carried to the interior floors.

You Space is being used by organisations, schools, and projects that benefit young people and the building is designed to inspire them

LVT flooring, for North Wales workplaces where businesses want highly practical and good looking floors, is ideal. The You Space refit has also shown that careful design choices and LVT flooring can improve the atmosphere of a workplace.

No link between artificial grass and sports injuries

Many homes and schools around the UK have installed artificial grass, and North Wales is no exception. Fears have been raised over whether artificial grass causes more injuries, but research does not back this up.

Leading names in football, such as Belgium manager Roberto Martinez and former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp, believe that artificial grass is more dangerous. Robin Bairner, writing for the website Goal, looked at the evidence for artificial grass being more dangerous and found it inconclusive.

He quoted a study from 2013 that found that footballers in Portugal had a greater rate of friction injuries on artificial grass, but this was contradicted by a study the same year in the USA concluding that footballers had a lower number of injuries on artificial turf.

The British Journal of Sports Medicine studied the Swedish Premier League in 2003-04 and found that there were no statistically significant differences between injury levels on grass or artificial turf.

A 2017 study for the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports medicine discovered that there were more injuries on artificial pitches that had not been looked after, compared to good condition ones.

Experts say that the key to preventing injuries by athletes either on real or artifice grass is to wear footwear that increases traction and prevents slipping.

Studies certainly suggest that fear of injury is no reason not to invest in artificial grass, and that people playing sports on artificial grass in North Wales will be safe provided they have the right clothing and the grass is well maintained.

The benefits of laminate flooring in Wrexham property

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales, with many houses and commercial premises. If you live here, you’ll know that it rains a lot in the area, so floors have to withstand dripping water and muddy shoes. There are therefore many benefits of installing laminate flooring in Wrexham rooms.

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate consists of a number of layers of composite wood bonded together to form a strong long-lasting flooring. A photo image of a wood pattern is printed on the laminate. Modern printing techniques make the images lifelike so that, unless examined closely, laminates are indistinguishable from real wood.

Cost of laminate flooring in Wrexham

Compared to solid wood, laminates are a cheaper alternative. They have a click system to join the laminate planks together, which makes them quick to install. You can install them yourself but flooring services in Wrexham will not charge a lot for installation.

Water and scratch resistance

The top layer of laminate flooring makes them water and scratch resistant. They are ideal for busy homes with children and pets or commercial premises that a large number of people use.

Though scratch resistant, it is recommended that heavy furniture has felt pads on them to protect the floor.

Laminates can withstand liquids spilt on them and dripping clothes after coming in from the stormy Wrexham weather but may be damaged if the building is flooded.

Laminates can be installed in kitchen areas, and some laminates grades are suitable for bathrooms. If you want to install laminate in high moisture areas consult your flooring service in Wrexham to make sure that you order a laminate with high water resistance.

Cleaning and maintenance

Laminates are easy to clean. Regular sweeping with a brush and mopping with mild detergent keep the floors clean and hygienic.

If an area of the floor gets damaged, it is not easy to repair, but if a few extra laminate planks are purchased, they can be used to replace damaged sections.

Laminate floors have UV ray protection, which means that they will not fade in areas that catch the sun.

Looks

Laminates are available to look like various types of wood. Planks come in varying patterns to make the grain effect look like the random grains of real wood.

How long do laminate floors last?

Laminate floors are strong and can last between 15 and 30 years. A lot depends on the grade of laminates - high-quality ones should last longer. In commercial premises with lots of footfall, laminate flooring may only last ten years.

Hardwood flooring can last around 75 years and is recommended if the cost of buying it and installing it can be afforded. Laminates are a good low-cost alternative.

Flooring services in Wrexham

To find out more about the benefits of laminate flooring, talk to local flooring services in Wrexham. They have samples of the various types of laminate flooring they stock, and will provide a reasonable quote for installing laminate flooring in small or large rooms.

Wood look laminate vs. LVT flooring in North Wales

Many people love the look of a natural hardwood floor, but the high cost of wood flooring puts them off. LVT and laminate flooring in North Wales, especially when it looks like real wood, is a good alternative.

Cost

Hardwood is expensive which puts it beyond the budget of many people. The cost of purchasing and installing hardwood flooring is more costly than LVT and laminate. Viewed long term though, it is not that expensive, as wood lasts a long time. When it gets worn, it can be sanded to make it look like new again.

Good quality luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) and laminates are roughly the same in price. You can buy very cheap laminates but these will not last long and are not suitable for commercial premises with high footfalls.

Installation costs are similar for vinyl and laminates and both are cheaper to install than wood planks.

Appearance

A few years ago, it was easy to tell wood look vinyl or laminates from real wood. Today though, advances in printing technology mean that very realistic wood images can be printed on laminates and LVT to make them indistinguishable from the look of real wood unless the floor is examined very closely.

There is a wide variety of wood looks available that mimic oak, pine, mahogany and other hardwoods.

Water resistance

The disadvantage of real wood is that it has limited water resistance, so is not suitable for high moisture areas like bathrooms. Nowhere in North Wales is far from the sea, and if your property gets flooded, this will tend to cause wood to warp. Laminates and vinyl are more water resistant but may not survive a flood.

LVT is more water resistant than laminates, so can be laid in bathrooms.

Laminate flooring has water resistance, but if water is left standing for a while, it could seep through to the subfloor. It is recommended that if liquids are spilt on laminate or LVT floors, they should be mopped up quickly.

Comfort, acoustics and maintenance

Good-quality LVT tiles feel comfortable when walking on them compared to laminates. If you drop fragile objects on LVT floors, they are less likely to break than with laminates.

Laminate floors tend to transmit sound more than LVT. This means that if installed in bedrooms, noise could be heard by the people in the room underneath.

Both LVT and laminate are easy to clean with a brush and a mop.

When to install laminate flooring in North Wales

Wood-look laminate flooring is a good alternative to a wood floor for people with a limited budget. Though it is harder than LVT, a few rugs on laminate floors add extra comfort.

When to install LVT flooring in North Wales

Install LVT flooring in your North Wales home if you want a natural wood look without paying the high price of wood. It’s a particularly good choice in high-moisture areas.

Top-quality LVT flooring can be more expensive than laminate but will generally last longer, which makes it suitable for commercial premises as well as homes.

Is engineered wood flooring or solid wood flooring better?

Many people love the look of natural wood in their Chester homes. Engineered wood flooring and solid wood flooring in Chester rooms look similar, but which is best? To answer that question, you need to know the differences between engineered wood and solid wood flooring.

What is engineered flooring?

Engineered flooring is made from layers. The top layer is a thin layer of solid hardwood, which is bonded to a plywood base.

Like all floor coverings, there are different grades. The top hardwood layers can be from 2mm to 6mm thick. Thicker top layers are stronger and will last longer.

Top-quality engineered wood flooring looks the same as solid wood flooring when installed.

What is solid wood flooring?

Solid wood flooring is made from solid wood planks of around 18mm in thickness. They can be made from a number of wood types. They usually have a varnish or other top layer to help protect them. People like wood floors for their natural colour, but they can be stained. Grey stained wood planks are suitable for a modern style room design.

Installing solid wood and engineered wood flooring in Chester buildings

Both wood and engineered wood planks have to be carefully laid out and attached to the subfloor. This is best done by a professional floor installer. There is not a lot of difference in the time it takes to install both types of flooring. Compared to other flooring such as laminates, wood floors take time to install so installation costs are not cheap.

Engineered wood is easier to install on uneven floors than solid wood. Engineered wood can be used with underfloor heating, but solid wood cannot.

Environment concerns

Wood is water resistant, but engineered wood is better at coping with extreme moisture. If your Chester property is flooded, wood will probably warp. Engineered wood has a better chance of surviving a flood, but survival cannot be guaranteed.

Engineered wood can be used in kitchens or work areas, where liquids are liable to be spilt.

There is an argument that engineered wood is better for the environment as it is made from less wood than solid wood. Chester consumers concerned about the environment should check that the wood used for either type of flooring comes from sustainable forests.

At the end of its life, both engineered wood and solid wood flooring can be recycled.

Cost

Most sold wood flooring is more expensive to buy and install than engineered wood. However, long term costs can be different. A solid wood floor will last longer than engineered flooring. Both types can be sanded to extend their life, but because the wood layer is thin on engineered floors, there is a limited number of times that they can be sanded.

Both engineered wood and solid wood can add value to the home.

Which to buy

Engineered wood flooring in Chester homes and businesses is a good choice, and so is solid wood flooring. Chester home and business owners should buy engineered wood if they want to save money on the initial installation or the floor is unsuitable. Solid hardwood may be preferred for its long-term value.