Carpets made from old fishing nets save marine life

Carpet maker Sedna has developed a new range of carpets that use recycled fishing nets, claiming that they are as kind on the environment as they are effective on a floor.

Thanks largely to media attention on the problems of plastics that pollute the oceans, changes have been prompted such as the charge for carrier bags, and some catering chains have stopped issuing plastic straws. However, up to half of all marine plastic pollution is discarded fishing nets.

Sedna is dedicated to doing something about the problem of plastic fishing nets dumped into the sea. It carpets use yarn made from old carpets and abandoned fishing nets. Sedna says:

“Sedna® carpet is soft, luxurious and durable. It is made with ECONYL® regenerated nylon, a yarn made from recycled waste material such as old carpets and abandoned fishing nets collected from the bottom of the sea. Sedna® thus helps to save thousands of beautiful sea creatures like sea turtles, dolphins and seals will no longer get stuck in this life-threatening waste. “

Their carpet backing also contains marine waste in the form of abandoned PET plastic bottles.

For people concerned about the environment, there are several environmentally friendly floor coverings available from flooring services in Chester. Cork is harvested from trees that are not cut down, while wool carpets are made from natural materials and do not contain harmful chemicals. Solid wood flooring can be made from reclaimed wood, and LVT floors can be recycled at the end of their life.

Do I need to use underlay for laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is a cost effective and strong floor covering that will last for many years. Though, for some subfloors, underlay is not strictly necessary, it is recommended. Underlay helps laminate planks to be evenly distributed across the subfloor, and supports the locking system between planks to make sure that the floor is sturdy.

Laminate flooring with pre-attached underlay

Some laminate planks come with underlay attached to them, so don’t need extra underlay. If you are installing these planks on a cement concrete or wood surface, a vapour barrier is necessary to prevent moisture reaching the surface.

Laminated flooring without underlay attached

If your planks come without underlay attached, then it is recommended that underlay is used. You can get away without using it, but the floor will not last as long.

Choosing underlay based on subfloor type

Wood subfloors

For wood subfloors, you can use a standard underlay, but should consider ones that reduce noise or add extra cushioning. A vapour layer under the underlay will prevent moisture damage.

Cement or concrete

Laminate laid on concrete floors should have a vapour layer beneath the underlay. In the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales regions, there is a lot of annual rainfall and the possibility of flooding. Laminate flooring withstands moisture and minor flood damage, as long as a vapour layer is installed under the underlay.

Floor covered in vinyl

If the floor has vinyl on it, you can lay laminate flooring without the need for an underlay, but underlay can add extra cushioning.

Can you lay laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor?

The subfloor on which the laminate is laid needs to be even. If it isn’t, a thick underlay should cover the flaws and create an even surface. If underlay is not used, there is the danger of the laminate being damaged when many people walk on it. You should also consider a vapour layer under the underlay if the floor is in a high-moisture room.

Can underlay help reduce noise?

If laminates are installed in bedrooms, people in the room below are likely to hear noises from the bedroom. A noise-resistant acoustic underlay will stop the sound waves travelling to other rooms. This is useful for children’s bedrooms where noisy kids live. Don’t be tempted to add two layers of ordinary underlay as this could actually weaken the floor.

Is underlay for laminate flooring expensive?

Using underlay does add extra costs to installing laminate flooring, but in the long term, underlay adds extra life to laminate flooring, not to mention its performance, so is cost effective.

Make sure that you buy enough underlay to cover the room. Some people believe that, if they have not bought enough, it’s not a major problem if the underlay leaves gaps along the edges of the room, but this can decrease the life of the flooring.

Laminate flooring is a good choice for homes and commercial buildings in Chester, North Wales and Wrexham. You can cut your initial expense by not having underlay, but the benefits of using underlay justify the cost of using it. This is especially important for businesses with high everyday footfall.

Floor manufacturer aims to make closed-loop system vinyl

Swedish vinyl floor manufacturer Tarkett is developing what it calls a ‘closed-loop’ system of vinyl floor covering.

The vinyl is made from recycled materials with a minimum of new raw materials. When a floor reaches the end of its life, it can be returned to Tarkett, which will recycle the old floor to make new vinyl flooring.

Currently, their IQ Surface vinyl range uses 25% recycled materials, but Tarkett hopes to increase the amount of recycled materials in its floor coverings to near 100%.

During Milan Fashion Week in 2019, Tarkett partnered with Note Design Studio to erect totem poles and other 3D shapes that were covered with IQ Surface to demonstrate the flexible qualities of this vinyl flooring, which can be laid around curved surfaces. Note Design Studio designed the colours and patterns of the vinyl to show off its versatility.

There are a number of vinyl floor manufacturers that, like Tarkett, use recycled materials in their floor coverings, but they are not all developing closed-loop system vinyl floor coverings. The closed-loop system is also known as the circular economy which uses the minimum amount of virgin materials to manufacture items then recycles the materials at the end of a product’s life to make new items.

For people concerned about the environment and their carbon footprint, installing vinyl flooring in Chester rooms that are made with recycled materials is one step that addresses their concerns. Organisations like Recovinyl collect old vinyl floor coverings for recycling.

Artificial grass transforms rooftops

Many business buildings have flat roofs that are never used, and in such cases, artificial grass can transform them into attractive gardens spaces.

Artificial grass can be part of an attractive rooftop garden for staff to use as a relaxation area. The Ikea store in Greenwich has artificial grass on its roof, which customers and staff can enjoy. Regular rooftop yoga classes are held there.

The Royal Exchange building in Manchester has a roof garden with an artificial grass lawn, decking and plants. Karen Monks from the Royal Exchange said:

"Most people I've shown around here have been quite surprised. It's lovely in summer and has been used a lot for barbecues this year with the lovely weather we've had."

Rooftop gardens are not new, the Midland Hotel in Manchester had one in 1903 where guests enjoyed afternoon tea. Fruit and herbs were grown for use in dishes served in the hotel restaurant. The hotel management hope to open the roof again one day, but without the soot that used to fall on the roof from the nearby steam trains.

To install artificial grass on roof spaces it must be secured so that it stays firm in high winds. The grass also needs to be fire resistant. Unlike artificial grass in a garden, rooftop grass needs very little surface preparation. The grass can be laid on an insulating layer that prevents heat escaping from the building for better energy efficiency.

Many businesses have artificial grass in Chester, but these are at ground level. Companies that have buildings with flat roofs should consider adding an attractive roof garden using artificial grass.

Buy-to-let carpeting advice

Carpets should be a good choice for buy-to-let properties, but there is some advice you should follow to ensure this.

Firstly, it’s not a good idea to lay the cheapest carpet you can find, as they will not last long and may need replacing between lets. Cheap carpets can last between three and five years, whereas a better quality one can last between eight and ten years. When making business plans for buy-to-let properties, factor in the cost of replacing carpets at the end of their life.

Avoid light coloured carpets that easily show stains. Wool carpets look good and have a luxury feel, but can easily stain. Stain-resistant carpeting is a better choice.

Carpets are not suitable for high-moisture areas such as bathrooms. They can be installed in kitchens, but it is better to use laminates or vinyl, which are easier to clean.

If carpets are in rooms that have doors leading to the outside, put a moisture-absorbent mat at the doorway to soak up mud and water drips from people coming in from rainy weather.

If underfloor heating is installed in the rented property, be sure to buy a carpet that is rated for underfloor heating use.

When tenants leave, expect normal wear and tear. Have the carpets professionally cleaned ready for new tenants. If the carpet has been damaged or has had excessive wear, you can charge the leaving tenants for the damage.

Carpet tiles are worth considering. If you buy a few extra tiles, they can be used to replace any damaged or stained areas without needing to replace the whole carpet.

Carpets are good for bedrooms, but many landlords prefer laminates or vinyl for living areas because they are easy to clean and do not stain. Tenants can always add rugs if they wish to make rooms feel homely.