The benefits of artificial grass in Chester gardens

Many houses in Chester have gardens. Homeowners love gardens, but they need a lot of upkeep. In busy households where residents have demanding jobs, it is not easy to find time for gardening. Artificial grass requires a lot less maintenance than a real lawn. This is one reason to install artificial grass, but there are other benefits.

Save water

It rains a lot in Chester, but in the summer months there are often long periods when it doesn’t rain and the sun shines most of the day. Grass suffer in hot dry weather and need frequent watering to keep the lawn from discolouring. Chester homes with metered watering pay to water their lawns. When there is a very hot summer, a hosepipe ban occurs, and it takes a long time to water the grass by hand using watering cans.

Artificial grass saves watering time and reduces water bills.

Save time

With artificial grass, you don’t need to spend time mowing the lawn. Get rid of your mower and relax on artificial grass. All you need to do with artificial grass is occasionally brush off leaves and give it a quick brush and spray.

Safe for children

Artificial grass is safe for children and the elderly. If they fall on artificial grass, its softness prevents injury.

Dogs

Dogs like artificial grass because it is soft on their paws. Choose a type of artificial grass which allows urine to flow through it. Solid waste is easy to clean up.

For landlords

There are many rented properties in the Chester area with gardens. Landlords cannot rely on tenants to regularly mow the lawns or water them in dry conditions. Artificial grass is the solution and means that there is one less concern for landlords to worry about.

No harmful pesticides

Keeping a lawn free of moss and weeds usually requires using pesticides. These do kill weeds and moss, but the chemicals seep into the soil and drain into waterways. This is a source of pollution that negatively affects the environment.

Looks great

There are lots of benefits to installing artificial grass in Cheshire homes. Another good reason for artificial grass is that it looks good. It creates the appearance of always having a well managed lawn. On warm days, relax in your garden, relieve the stress of a busy life, lying on a sun lounger enjoying your garden.

Statistics show growing popularity of artificial gardens

Sales of artificial grass and plants for outdoor use are increasing, according to a report by Jenny Wood for the Daily Mail.

She says that sales of Ikea faux foliage are growing by 30% a year, and artificial plant sales have risen by 15% at John Lewis. One major national retailer has said that sales of its artificial grass are up by 136%.

One reason for the popularity of artificial gardens is that technology developments have made plants and artificial grass more realistic. UV sun protection applied to plants and grass mean that they will not fade in sunlight. Additionally, artificial plants last a long time and do not perish in the winter.

Artificial gardens appeal to people who dislike gardening, or do not have time for it. Plants need an occasional wipe with a damp cloth and artificial grass needs regularly sweeping, but there is no watering or digging involved. For people that spend a lot of time away, they do not have to worry about coming back to an untidy unattended garden.

For many people, filling the garden with artificial plants is a step too far, but artificial grass is popular for busy people, who would rather not spend a lot of time maintaining their lawns. Schools and sports clubs like artificial grass because it does not get muddy and requires little maintenance.

There are many homes and business that have installed artificial grass in Chester because it looks realistic, is easy to look after, and is safe to use all year round.

Carpet range named after singer goes viral

A flooring shop in Leven, Fife has named its latest range of carpets after Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, and news of the carpets has gone viral on social media.

Stewart Wallace Flooring launched its Capaldi carpet range on Facebook and received hundreds of shares and likes. The firm increased interest in the carpets by offering a prize of two tickets for one of Capaldi’s shows and a two-night hotel stay.

Sales of the carpets to fans of the singer took off as publicity went viral on social media and the story was picked up by newspapers.

The owner of the shop has hinted that the success of the campaign could lead to more celebrity-themed carpets being made in the future. Stuart Wallace said about his Capaldi carpets:

“It’s just a bit of fun. We promoted it and people have grabbed the opportunity to have a bit of Capaldi in their homes. It’s taken off more than I thought it would. It’s madness. Who would have thought a Leven carpet shop would end up in the papers and all over the internet?”

A carpet named after a favourite celebrity is certainly a novelty, but the majority of people consider its look, quality and price before coming to a carpet decision based on a name. Retails of carpets in Chester and Wrexham stock a wide range of quality option that look good and are designed to last – reassuring if you tend to change your mind about who your favourite singer is!

New underlays can reduce noise levels in commercial buildings

The trend for hard floor surfaces in commercial buildings has created the unintended consequence of an increase in noise. Business owners are feeling pressure to reduce noise, and already in 2019, a number of manufacturers have produced acoustic underlays to tackle this issue.

Noisy environments can be stressful and distracting, reducing worker productivity. Open plan offices with hard floors, glass walls and windows cause sound to bounce around the area. Restaurants appear to have got noisier. Noisy school buildings are not conducive to focused learning. Hard floors such as laminates and LVT on upper floors can transmit noise to the floor below. There have been studies that have found a link between high sound levels in hospitals and patient low wellbeing.

Many organisations have recognised the noise issue and have taken steps to reduce sound levels. Acoustical ceilings and textured walls can lessen noise levels. Thick carpets reduce noise, but if a business still wants hard floors, there are a number of new acoustic underlays and pads available. Even the adhesives used in floor installations can have acoustic properties that help dampen noise.

Technology has also been developed to tackle the noise issue, with speakers emitting sound-masking noise resembling soft rushing air.

Businesses installing commercial flooring in North Wales should talk to their flooring contractor about the best type of flooring and acoustic underlays to reduce noise. If you want a quiet working environment, start with looking how the floors can lessen noise.

Do I need carpet underlay?

Whether you need underlay depends on the type of carpet, but even with carpets where underlay is not a necessity, there are reasons why underlay is a good idea.

Carpet finish

If the carpet has a textile or latex backing, it does need underlay. Carpets with felt or foam backing do not require an underlay, but there are benefits from having one.

Underfloor heating

If you have underfloor heating, standard underlay can prevent warmth from reaching the room. Use specialist underlay that conducts heat.

Energy saving

Underlay has an insulating effect that prevents heat loss through the floor. This can save energy and fuel bills. Wrexham, Chester and North Wales are no stranger to cold days, so anything that can help keep rooms warm is recommended. There are specialist high-thermal varieties of underlay worth considering if your home gets cold in winter.

Acoustics

A carpet underlay reduces the noise in the room. Noise bounces off hard floor surfaces but is absorbed by carpets with underlay. Underlay that reduces noise is important for commercial rooms where employees need to concentrate on their work without noise disturbance.

It is a good idea to install acoustic underlay in carpeted bedrooms so that sound is dampened for the people in the rooms below.

Looks and wear

Quality underlay prevents the carpet pile from flattening, making the carpet look newer for longer. The underlay absorbs shocks and pressure and this can reduce wear so that the carpet lasts longer.

The carpet pile is protected by underlay and will also be easier to clean, with dust removed more easily.

Feel

Walking on a carpet with a thick underlay feels softer and more relaxing.

Types of underlay

Foam underlay made from PU foam is a popular underlay that makes the carpet feel softer. It is generally made from recycled furniture foam making it friendly to the environment. After use, it can be further recycled.

PU foam underlay is available in various thicknesses. Thicker is better, but more expensive.

If soundproofing is your main concern, go for rubber underlay. Sponge rubber comes in a waffle shape or flat. Waffle underlay can flatten over time, but both types provide excellent noise reduction.

Crumb rubber contains recycled car tyres, making it environmentally friendly. It has good soundproofing qualities, but compared to sponge rubber, it is harder.

The traditional choice of underlay is felt made from a high proportion of wool. It has excellent thermal properties to save energy.

You can get specialist underlay for underfloor heating and high thermal types for energy conservation.

Carpet underlay is not a luxury, it has many practical benefits and can extend the life of a carpet.

If you are not sure about what type of carpet underlay to use, or whether you need an underlay at all, carpet retailers and installers provide advice to help you choose. They will discuss your priories concerning comfort, acoustics, heat conservation and budget to suggest the best type of underlay for your home or business.