Visualisers take the stress out of choosing floor coverings

It can be stressful choosing the right design of LVT flooring for Chester homes, and difficult to visualise how the tiles seen in the flooring services showroom will look in a room. Taking a single sample tile home and placing it on the floor still does not always provide an accurate impression of how the new floor will look.

A number of LVT tile manufacturers have created a visualiser application that can be accessed from a website. The user takes a photo with their phone or tablet of their room, which is uploaded to the application either by the portable device or a computer.

After the application has the room photo, the user selects a tile from the LVT range and the photograph is changed so that the room looks as if the floor is covered in LVT tiles. The orientation of the tile can be changed to see how different tile arrangements look. Various tile designs can be selected to compare how they look.

Commercial flooring customers can also use the visualiser tool to see how different designs will look on their floors.

Virtualiser systems are also available for carpets and solid wood floors. Virtual Reality (VR) applications have been developed for people to design a complete room with floor coverings, wall colours, furniture, and fittings. Using a VR headset, users can walk around the room for an immersive experience that seems as if they are in the actual newly designed room.

New high-end luxury rugs complement wood floors

The rug trends for spring and summer 2019 feature rich embroidery, opulent brocades and silks.

Speaking to BoatInternational.com, Becky Metcalfe of the Design Centre in London commented:

“There is nothing homespun about this trend; the textiles are decidedly high-end.”

High-end rugs are ideal for adding to the luxury looks of solid wood floors.

London-based Riviere Rugs produces its Raku rugs with oversized borders, a subtle graded fade-out effect, and is made from seven hand-dyed colours. The Camilla rug is inspired by the crumbling plaster walls of a Roman townhouse in Rome and has a complex weave of 14 colours. Riviere rugs uses Tibetan wool, which is soft and durable, and also add fine Chinese silk to enhance the design and feel of their rugs.

Luke Irwin’s Rug-In-Rug collection uses organic textiles washed in water with no chemicals. They combine luxury designs with environmental care.

Italian design house Chi Design makes rugs that feature geometric shapes but also makes plain coloured rugs. They are hand-crafted using the best quality materials, including silk and New Zealand wool.

Solid wood flooring in Wrexham homes and businesses is a luxury floor covering that looks beautiful on its own. Add one of this year’s luxury handcrafted designer rugs to create a lavish floor that is the perfect combination of style and practicality. Both wood flooring and handcrafted rugs are built to top standards and designed to last for a long time. Wood floors with luxury rugs enhance any room in a home or office.

Seven reasons to install laminate flooring in Wrexham

Flooring deicisions are not to be taken lightly, and here are seven reasons to install laminate flooring in Wrexham rooms.

1. Durable

Wrexham people want flooring that is value for money but is made to last. They want to live with their floors for many years.

In 2017, Wrexham was ranked as one of the UK’s best university towns for its social life. All that partying isn’t easy on the floors, but good quality laminates have a protective top layer that prevents scratches and stains, and make wiping up spillages easy. Laminates are suitable for residential and light commercial use.

2. Easy installation

Laminate planks click-lock together and can be laid on most floor surfaces without adhesives, nor is there a need for nails. Though laminates can be installed by a do-it-yourself enthusiast, they are not expensive to fit by professional installers.

3. Cost

You can get the look of natural wood without going to the expense of buying solid wood flooring. Like most floors coverings, there is a variety of laminate grades. The top grades are thicker and more expensive but they are a good investment if you want a premium quality floor covering.

4. Can be installed on most subfloors

Most subfloors are suitable for laminate flooring with little preparation required. They can easily be laid over concrete or on the top of vinyl flooring.

5. Looks

Vinyl flooring comes in a variety of finishes that look like wood, stone, or tiles. Modern printing technology creates lifelike images.

6. Easy maintenance

Laminate flooring is stain and scratch resistant. Spills can easily be wiped up. Daily sweeping is recommended and regular cleaning with cleaning products formulated for laminates.

7. Hygienic

Smooth laminate flooring has no grains and rough surfaces to trap dust and particles that can cause reactions in allergy sufferers. The bottom layer of the laminate is water resistant and events mould which is a health hazard.

Laminate flooring is suitable for most rooms in the home, but waterproof grades are required for bathrooms, kitchen and other high-moisture areas. Standard laminate is fine for areas where people enter a building dripping water from a rainy Wrexham day or shaking out umbrellas, provided spills are mopped up right away.

Laminate is suitable for light commercial use, but in busy locations such as bars, shops and restaurants, only use the highest strength laminates or use an alternative floor covering that is rated for heavy commercial use.

To see samples of laminates, visit your Wrexham or North Wales floor supplier and installer. They may let you take a few laminate planks away with you to see how they look in any room.

Where to use artificial grass in Wrexham

Artificial grass is a versatile material that has a number of uses.

Residential gardens

A popular use for artificial grass in Wrexham is in residential gardens to replace the lawn. One of its major appeals is low maintenance when compared to real grass. Artificial grass does not have to be mowed or watered in hot weather. It’s not maintenance free, but maintenance is minimal. A quick brush will do, and in autumn a leaf blower can help you keep it tidy.

Artificial grass is safe for households with children and pets. Artificial grass is ideal for busy households who do not have time for lots of gardening and the elderly who find it difficult to cut the lawn.

Balconies and rooftops

Artificial grass brightens up rooftop gardens and balconies. Concrete or paved roof or balcony area looks dull until it is covered in artificial grass.

Professionally installing artificial grass on concrete floors is not expensive as the ground preparation is quick and easy.

Exhibitions and events

Artificial grass looks great at exhibitions stands and its warm looks attract people. It is easy to mount artificial grass on display stands to show off products. After use, the grass can simply be rolled up and used for further events.

Schools and nurseries

Many Wrexham schools and nurseries have installed artificial grass. It is hardwearing to withstand hundreds of young feet running over the grass. There is no mud to deal with after heavy rains. Schools and nurseries need to spend less time and money on maintenance compared to real grass.

Artificial grass is ideal to turn concrete areas into play areas. In places with climbing frames and other play equipment, foam underlay can be installed beneath artificial grass to prevent injuries from falls.

Sports

Artificial grass was first used for sports pitches because ground maintenance staff found it difficult to keep the pitch at its best at all times. Amateur sports clubs had limited budgets for ground maintenance.

Artificial grass sports fields are often called all-weather pitches as they can be used all year round because they do not get muddy or waterlogged. They are safe for players and many football, tennis , hockey and cricket organisations prefer artificial grass pitches.

Artificial grass has a wide range of uses. It is important to purchase good quality grass. Suppliers in or near Wrexham have samples of various artificial grass grades for you to examine.

Top questions about laminate flooring in North Wales

Laminate flooring is a wood look flooring that is a strong and cost-effective floor covering for both domestic and commercial premises.

What is laminate?

Laminate floor planks have at least four distinct layers. The first layer is the wear layer, a clear topcoat that protects the floor from damage. The second layer is the design layer on which a pattern is printed. This is usually made to look like hardwood. Modern printing technology creates a realistic wood look.

The next layer is the inner core, which is made from natural wood pulp. This is the thickest layer and keeps the plank flat and stable. The fourth layer is the backing, which is water resistant and prevents the plank from warping.

Some vinyl planks have a fifth layer, a padded backing. If you purchase laminate without padding, an underlay can be purchased separately.

Is laminate eco-friendly?

Yes, laminates are kind on the environment. Manufacturers use wood materials that are recycled or use wood from sustainably managed forests, and keep emissions to the minimum at their factories.

Up to 85% of the materials in laminate flooring can be recycled at the end of its life.

Is laminate flooring expensive?

Like most flooring materials, there are various grades of laminate. You could pay a little over £10 a square metre for laminate planks, or over £40. If your laminate planks do not have attached underlay it is recommended that underlay is installed, but this is not expensive.

Laminate flooring is easy to install, so installation costs are not high.

Is laminate flooring waterproof?

Standard laminate flooring is water resistant, but you can get waterproof grades suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and high moisture areas.

Laminates are suitable for hallways that have outside doors. This will be sufficient to cope with people coming in soaking wet from a North Wales rainy day, or perhaps a waterfall-drenched walk through Wepre Park. It is advisable that any wetness on the floor is wiped up.

How do I clean laminate floors?

Use a damp cloth to blot liquids as soon as they are spilt. Tough stains from substances like oil, paint, markers, lipsticks, and tar can be removed with nail polish remover and a clean cloth

Don't wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water or detergent, use cleaning products formulated for laminates.

Laminates can be brushed and vacuumed to remove dirt and debris.

If you have any questions about laminate flooring, consult your North Wales flooring service.