What flooring is best for Wrexham rental properties?

Landlords need the best type of flooring for their properties and there is plenty of help in their floor buying decisions.

There is a wide variety of properties to rent in Wrexham including shared student houses, luxury flats suitable for professionals, and family homes. There is no one type of flooring that is best for all rented properties; it depends on the type of property and who the tenants are.

The ideal flooring

Choosing floor coverings for rental properties is not the same as buying flooring for owner-occupied properties. In multi-occupancy houses, floors often have more wear and tear than the average home. Landlords need to make a return on their investment and usually will want to spend money on a luxury floor covering unless the property is at the high rent end of the rental market.

Landlords cannot guarantee that the tenants will look after the floor and clean them regularly.

The ideal floor covering is affordable, does not need a lot of maintenance, is durable and looks good. If elderly tenants or families occupy the property then the floor covering needs to be non-slip.

Affordable

Floor coverings come in many grades. The cheapest grades tend to be thin and will not last. It is a false economy to buy the bottom end of cheap flooring to save money, as in the long term it can work out more expensive when cheap floor coverings have to be replaced more often.

Choose a good quality carpet, LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) or laminate floor covering. Many come with a good guarantee so you know they will last a long time. All these types of flooring are quick to install. Ask your flooring supplier to quote for both the cost of the floor covering and fitting it.

Nylon and polyester carpets will tend to last longer than natural fibre ones.

Wood is an excellent floor covering either in solid wood or engineered wood. Solid wood is expensive but will last for decades. If your budget can afford solid wood, it is worth investing in, especially as wood floors can add to the value of properties. Hardwood and luxury wool carpets are more expensive than other floor coverings but are worth looking at for luxury apartments and houses.

Maintenance

Landlords expect tenants to look after the property and should clean floors regularly. Carpets are easy to maintain as they can be vacuumed quickly. Between tenancies, carpets can be refreshed by professional carpet cleaning. Laminates and vinyl can be vacuumed and regularly cleaned with a mop and specialised cleaning solutions.

Looks

LVT and laminates can be printed with patterns to resemble wood or stone which are aesthetically pleasing to most tenants as they look natural and very realistic. Carpets come in a wide range of colours and patterns. Avoid bold patterns that some tenants may not like. Neutral colours work best.

A landlord needs to look at their rental property style and find the floor covering that makes the most sense for each property they own and the tenants that live there.

New carpets planned for Theatr Clwyd development

Theatre Clwyd in Mold has launched a public consultation about a new development of the building which will cost a few million pounds. New carpets in the performance auditorium are part of these plans.

Theatre Clwyd is 42 years old and in need of redevelopment. Architects Haworth Tompkins have created design images for the public to look at and comment on. The consultation period runs until September 23rd 2019, and the theatre plans can be viewed on its website.

The new improved building will be more energy efficient, saving on electricity, water and gas costs. Photovoltaic roof panels will generate heat and electricity. Toilets will be flushed using rainwater.

The plans for the theatre also include a new health and well-being suite, a sensory garden, a youth hub and a first-floor restaurant.

New seating and carpets will be installed in the performance space. Though solid flooring may be easier to clean and maintain, carpets are chosen for their acoustic properties that make music and speech sound much better. Solid flooring such as wood, vinyl and laminates reflect sound making it harsher. Carpets half the sound reverberations for better acoustics.

Audiophiles also like the acoustic properties of carpets which the install in the rooms where there expensive HiFi equipment is located. You don’t have to be an audiophile to enjoy the acoustic qualities of carpets in Wrexham homes. They also help dampen the sounds for people below carpeted bedrooms with noisy children or the explosions from computer gaming teenagers.

The best type of carpet for Wrexham landlords

Many landlords in Wrexham need to buy carpets for their flats or houses. There is a wide range of carpets available, but it can be confusing to find the best type of carpet to buy.

The economy in Wrexham is in good health with a low unemployment rate and good wages. Whilst many people own their own homes in Wrexham, there is a healthy buy to let property market. Many people here rent whilst they save up for a deposit to buy a home. Students attending Wrexham Glyndwr University need temporary rented accommodation.

Why carpet?

Before choosing a carpet, a landlord needs to be certain that they want carpet rather than alternative floor coverings like laminates, vinyl or wood.

The first consideration is cost, and this includes both the cost of buying the floor covering and installing it. Carpet comes in many grades from inexpensive nylon carpets to luxury top price wool ones. Carpets are easy and quick to install so the total cost of a reasonable quality carpet is cost effective for landlords.

Laminate and vinyl floors are easier to clean, but if tenants have a decent vacuum it will remove dirt and debris. Carpets should be deep cleaned periodically to remove dirt that has penetrated deep into the pile. Carpet cleaners can be hired or a professional carpet cleaning service can do the job.

If you have elderly tenants, carpets have another advantage. Unlike solid floors, a soft pile carpet will help prevent injuries if an old person falls.

The best carpet

The best carpets for rented properties are value for money and hard wearing. If you choose the cheapest quality carpets, then this can be false economy as the carpet will need replacing more often and will soon look worn.

Light colour carpets will show up dirt more than darker ones. The colour should be neutral so it will appeal to tenants. A black carpet may not show dirt but it makes a room look dark and gloomy.

If a property is at the high end of the market, tenants expect quality fittings for the high rents they pay. Wool carpets add luxury to a home. The more durable carpets are not soft, so if you want a room to feel cosy and the floors feel soft for bare feet, consider sacrificing some durability for a carpet that feels better underfoot.

Generally, short pile carpets are easier for tenants to keep clean. If a house is rented to multiple student tenants expect more than average wear, so consider installing a more durable carpet.

Polypropylene fibre is the most durable type of carpet. Next for durability, choose nylon. Polyester carpets may be bought cheaply but they are not very long lasting. Wool is very durable but can be expensive.

A decent underlay, either separate or attached to the carpet, will make it last longer.

Talk to your carpet supplier to see samples of all the carpets suitable for landlords in Wrexham.

How good is artificial grass?

Artificial grass has improved considerably since it was introduced in the 1960s and is now increasingly popular.

Launched in the 1960s by biotechnology company Monsanto, artificial grass was first known as Astro Turf. Modern artificial grass is considerably better than the original Astro Turf, which was long lasting but hard. Many sportspeople did not like playing on it. Second generation artificial grass was then made to have longer fibres and was padded to protect players from injury.

The third generation of artificial grass was launched in 2011. This looks more real with tufted fibres that resemble natural strands of grass. The previous generations of artificial grass had been used mainly for sports fields, but modern artificial grass, because it looks so realistic, is often used to replace lawns in residential properties.

Architectural Digest promoted the use of artificial grass in drought areas as the grass does not need watering.

In the earlier versions, some concern was expressed about the safety of artificial grass but this is unfounded. A 2018 study at Fukuoka University in Japan concluded that there is no measurable difference in injury risk between artificial and real grass. Recycled rubber is used in the artificial grass infill and over 90 studies and reports by leading universities and government agencies found no link between recycled rubber and health risks.

If you want to install artificial grass in North Wales gardens, schools and sports fields, it is important to buy high quality artificial grass and have it installed by experts. This will ensure it is fitted correctly and will last.

Carpets chosen for new school performance auditorium

Most school floors are covered in solid floor covering such as LVT and laminates, but Sherborne Girls School in Dorset decided to use carpets for its performance auditorium, which is located in its new arts centre.

The reasons for using carpet is mainly for its acoustic properties, which is important in a performance area where music and theatrical performances take place. Sound bounces off hard surfaces but is absorbed by carpets. Carpets have also been installed in the nearby music practice rooms.

The carpet chosen by interior designer Sarah Lyall of Sarah Lyall Interiors for the project is Danefloor Classic XL, a loop pile nylon carpet with a class 33 wear classification, suitable for heavy commercial use. The carpets are designed to withstand heavy footfall and intense commercial cleaning and should last a long time in this busy area of the school. The carpets are easy to clean and the nylon fibre is designed to retain its appearance for a long time.

The carpets have the Eurofins Gold Certificate in recognition that they contribute to indoor air quality and a healthier indoor environment, which is beneficial for staff, students and audience members.

When it comes to solid floors such as wood, laminate and LVT flooring, Chester commercial properties tend to favour them to carpets, but the Sherborne School initiative shows that carpets are a viable alternative to solid floors, especially where acoustic properties are a concern. Commercial grade carpets are manufactured to be durable and easy to clean.