Artificial grass recycling scheme launches in 2020

In Spring 2020, artificial grass on an industrial site near Amsterdam will be recycled to make new artificial grass. It is expected that when artificial grass becomes known as a recyclable product, demand will grow.

Most artificial lawns will last between 20 and 25 years. At the end of its life, until now, there has been limited recycling available. Dutch company GBN-AGR is changing this by converting end-of-life artificial grass into new grass and other products. The company claims that its process will recycle 100% of the materials.

GBN-AGR is being transparent about its program and has promised to publish an annual impact report detailing how much artificial turf the firm has recycled, and a list of products that have used the newly recycled turf. The company is already accepting end-of-life artificial turf at its storage facility in the Netherlands, ready for when the recycling plant opens next year.

Recycling helps the environment by reducing pollution. Many governments have regulations to reduce the harmful impact of some manufacturing processes have on the environment. If artificial grass recycling is widely adopted, however, there will be no need for regulations that affect the artificial grass industry.

If the recycling process goes to plan, the way GBN-AGR recycles artificial turf could become standard practice worldwide within a year or two. Households installing artificial turf in their Chester gardens should expect that the turf will be recycled at the end of its life in two decades’ time.

Why would you install artificial grass in North Wales?

Natural grass is great and it looks good, but there are drawbacks to grass that drive people to consider the alternative.

Looking after real grass can be a pain

Real grass grows a lot in spring and summer and needs cutting regularly. Modern lawn mowers do not take long to cut the grass, but the lawn needs to be dry. This is a problem in North Wales as it often rains for many consecutive days.

If you lead a busy life and the only time available to cut the lawn is at weekends, it could be a few weeks before the lawn is dry enough to cut. It is impractical to cut the lawn early morning before work, as lawn mowers tend to be noisy and liable to disturb the neighbours.

Grass is fragile and can look worn, and needs micro-nutrient chemicals and fertilizers to keep in good shape. Weeds often grow on lawns and have to be removed with weedkiller. The chemicals in them can seep through the lawn and end up polluting waterways.

A lawn on hot summer days may need watering at the very time that water companies have a hosepipe ban that prevents the easy watering of lawns by hose sprinklers.

Yes, grass looks great, but you need time an effort to look after it, which is something that many busy households do not have. An artificial lawn needs no watering, cutting or chemicals. If the dog uses the lawn, urine can be washed off with water and solid waste quickly picked up.

Modern artificial grass allows water to drain off, so it’s fine for a typical North Wales downpour. Unlike real grass, artificial grass will not get muddy so can be played on by children during any weather.

Lawns where grass doesn’t grow

There are some places that are not suitable for natural grass. For example, if a building has a flat roof, it is great to have a roof garden. Creating a real lawn on a roof is complicated, whereas artificial grass can be simply laid onto the roof surface.

Artificial grass can be laid inside and looks good in conservatories. It is ideal for companies that sell sports or outdoor products for their trade show stands.

Purchasing artificial grass and installing it professionally may work out more expensive than a new grass lawn, but for many people in North Wales, the extra investment is worth it for the benefits of artificial grass.

Which is best – solid wood or laminate flooring in Chester rooms?

Wood or laminate flooring are good choices for Chester room, but which is better? The answer is dependent on a number of factors.

Cost

Laminate flooring costs a lot less than solid wood and is a viable alternative for budgets that do not extend to real wood. Laminate is made from composite wood, which is pressed together at high temperatures. An image of wood is printed on top of the planks.

Laminate planks have a click-together system that makes them easy and quick to install. The cost of installing laminate flooring is less than solid wood flooring installation.

If cost is not an issue, go for hardwood or engineered wood flooring for the natural beauty of wood, but choose laminates for a less expensive alternative

Durability and damage

Laminate is durable and resists scratches. Most laminates are water resistant and some grades are waterproof. Chester has many rainy days when people arrive in a building with muddy soles and wet dripping clothes. Provided that spills are wiped up promptly, laminate floors behind a door leading to the outside will last.

When installing laminate flooring, it’s wise to buy a few spare planks and keep them in a safe place. If an area of the floor is damaged, the spare planks can be used to repair the floor.

Hardwood will last for decades, compared to between 10 and 30 years for laminates. Wood is not scratch resistant, but can easily be repaired. When hardwood floors show signs of wear they can be sanded to make them look like new again. Wood can warp with excessive moisture so is not suitable for high-moisture areas such as bathrooms.

Solid wood is a worthwhile investment as it will not need replacing as soon as laminate and adds value to a home.

Looks

In the early days of laminate flooring, it was easy to tell the difference between laminate and solid wood. Printing technology has improved so that the wood pattern images are very realistic and mimic all wood types.

Chester people love real wood, which is why Chester parks and the nearby Delamere forest are so popular. A solid wood floor brings a piece of nature into the home.

Laminates and wood flooring are popular in Chester. Your local flooring service will discuss the pros and cons of both if you are undecided on which one to choose.

What to expect from the best flooring services in Chester

Deciding on a new floor covering is an important decision for householders and businesses in Chester. Consumers need a covering that is practical, will last a long time and is value for money. A flooring service in Chester matches the needs of its clients with the best type of floor covering.

Serving the customer

The best flooring services in Chester serve their customers. The want to meet, and ideally exceed the expectations of their customers. They build long-term relationships with the customers so that they are the first choice every time a new floor covering is needed.

A salesperson for a floor covering service should understand their customer, be prompt for appointments, be courteous at all times, and quickly deal with any problems. Salespeople need to have a rapport with the customers. They should have a good knowledge of the Chester area and relate to the concerns of the Chester residents.

A flooring service needs to make a profit after paying its staff and expenses, but profit should not be the only motive. They should be more concerned with matching their customer’s requirements with the best floor covering solutions than selling the floor covering that makes them the most money.

Customer service

A good floor covering company makes customer service a priority. A representative will come to the home or business premises to measure the floor area and provide an accurate quote for new floors. They will discuss how the room is used, whether it has a high footfall or is rarely used. In residential rooms, they will find out if there are any pets or children to be considered.

Chester has high annual rainfall, so the representative is sure to discuss water-resistant floor coverings that can cope with muddy shoes and dripping wet clothes.

Chester people want quality products at value for money prices, so the flooring service will make sure that they provide a competitive quote for good quality and strong floor coverings.

Expect the fitters to arrive on time and complete the job within the quoted time frame. A good fitting service will offer an overnight fitting service for businesses that want the minimum disruption to their operations.

The best flooring services have a wide range of floor coverings, have excellent customer service, and expert fitters who fit great-looking and long-lasting floors at prices that represent value for money.

Making the most of eco-friendly flooring options

Many homeowners and businesses in Chester are concerned about the impact they have on the environment and want to install eco-friendly flooring in their homes and workplaces.

Tara King, writing for Home and Garden magazine, has defined what eco-friendly flooring is:

“The primary consideration is sustainability. In other words, do the materials come from a renewable source? For example, a carpet that’s made entirely of wool is sustainable – sheep annually regrow their fluffy coats with zero impact on the environment, so it’s a resource that’s easily replenished.”

Another factor is whether the floor covering can be recycled when its usage comes to an end, and made into new flooring or other products.

For wood floors, King recommends buying from a manufacturer that sources its wood from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainable forests. These managed forests replace all timber harvested with new trees.

Many makes of LVT flooring are manufactured in factories powered by solar energy, with water used in the manufacturing process recycled back into production. LVT can be recycled into other products such as car mats. LVT itself often contains recycled materials.

Cork is another eco-friendly material that also reduces noise and feels soft underfoot. It is biodegradable and can be recycled.

In kitchens and dining areas, floor coverings made from plant fibres are eco-friendly, practical and provide a rustic look.

At Home Style, we welcome queries about all your environmentally friendly floor covering options for domestic and commercial flooring in Chester.