Wood flooring in wetrooms possible with new technology

Up until recently, it has not been advisable to install wood flooring in wetrooms, but new waterproof membrane technology is changing this.

Wetrooms are shower rooms that do not need shower screens or trays, as the water can freely flow in the room. The main concern when installing wetrooms is to make sure that the floor covering is weatherproof and any water can drain off. This has ruled out using wood floors, as wood is not fully waterproof. However, advances in water drainage and waterproof membrane technoplogy means that wood floors are now a practical option for wetrooms.

Before installing flooring in wetrooms, there needs to be a drainage system. A screed can produce a gradient floor that guides water to a drainage outlet. New advanced waterproof membranes must first be laid before the wood floor covering is installed. Wood flooring will last a long time, so it helps to install a membrane that is guaranteed to stay waterproof throughout the floors lifetime.

For more environmentally friendly membranes, homeowners can choose a butyl-based membrane that is environmentally sustainable.

Natural solid wood flooring by itself is not waterproof, and prolonged exposure to water can cause timber to warp. To make wood water resistant, a polyurethane or resin-based solution needs to be applied. A good drainage system makes sure that the water is quickly dispersed and does not damage the flooring.

Solid wood flooring is popular in Chester, and perhaps it need not be restricted to dry rooms.

How to find the best flooring company in North Wales

If you need new flooring and you have not used a flooring company in North Wales before, how do you find the best one?

Length in business

The best flooring companies have been in business for many years and have built a reputation for supplying quality floor coverings at good prices. Look for testimonials from satisfied customers, or if you know someone who has dealt with the company, talk to them about their experiences.

Growing a successful business is difficult and many fail after a year or two. If a flooring business is a few decades old, it must be doing something right.

Cost

Finding the cheapest quote should not be the only reason for choosing a flooring company, but you should expect value for money. Many flooring companies have large showrooms, which are expensive to run and staff. There are flooring companies that do not have shops with expensive overheads. The money they save is passed on to their customers in reduced prices.

When comparing quotes, make sure that you are comparing like with like. Some quotes include free fitting and underlay. Does the quote cover plates and grippers, or are they extra?

Availability

Many people live busy lives, which restricts the time they have available to shop for floor coverings. If you are not available during normal business hours, look for a flooring company open at weekends or in the evening.

It saves time if a representative of the flooring company visits your home or business premises. They will measure the area to be covered and provide accurate quotes for various types of floor covering. Some locations in North Wales are remote and off the main roads. Expect the floor covering company to cover all areas of North Wales.

Many North Wales businesses want flooring for busy areas and need a flooring company to work overnight to minimise business disruption.

Customer service

You need a flooring company to provide first-class customer service. Representatives and fitters should be punctual for appointments. If the company tells you how long fitting takes, they should not significantly exceed that time without good reason. Unexpected issues can crop up along the way, but the company should address them efficiently and promptly.

There are many good flooring companies in North Wales. Knowing what to expect from a flooring company, plus doing your research, will enable you to find the best.

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.