Is waterproof laminate flooring worth buying?

There are many types of laminate flooring available that are claimed to be waterproof, but are they worth buying?

When laminate flooring was launched in the 1990s, its click and lock system made it easy to install and it became an attractive, less costly alternative to wood. However, it was not waterproof and not recommended for wet areas like bathrooms.

There are new laminates that claim to be waterproof. Good quality grades have guarantees that no water will be absorbed if liquids are cleaned up within 24 hours. This makes them suitable for bathrooms. As long as any water is wiped up within a few hours, the floor will remain dry.

Laminate flooring in Chester is a good choice, but property near a major river such as the Dee, where laminate flooring is liable to be submerged in floodwater for several hours, will probably be damaged. However, this is also the case for wood, LVT, carpets and most other types of floor covering.

Waterproof laminate flooring has a top waterproof layer and close-fitting seams where the planks join. This resists water seeping into the subfloor and prevents the laminate from swelling at the joints. It is recommended that water or other liquids are mopped up rather than left wet.

If you want a floor covering that looks like wood but is a lot cheaper and resistant to water, laminate flooring is good for Chester residential and commercial properties. It is not as cheap as many carpets, but will last a lot longer than the average carpet.

Finding the best commercial flooring quote for a Wrexham-based business

With so many floor covering types, grades and colours available, it is difficult to find the best commercial flooring quote for a Wrexham-based business.

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales with many companies based in the area. The town’s retail sector is the largest in North Wales and many tech and professional services companies are based in the Wrexham region. There is a large volume of commercial property in the area with a huge number of floors that need covering.

Modern floor coverings are durable, but no floor lasts forever. When it comes times to install a new floor covering, there is a wide range of floor coverings to choose from, and many floor companies that will provide quotes. How do you know that you have found the best quote?

Most commercial floors will have high-traffic, especially retail and reception areas where the public has access. This needs a quote for a surface that is durable and can last for many years with high footfall at a cost within budget.

What is included?

If you get several quotes for the same type of flooring, don’t necessarily go for the cheapest quote. You need to know exactly what is included in that quote.

In busy areas, businesses do not want their operations interrupted by the floor installation. A flooring installer can do the job in stages so that only a small area is closed to workers and visitors at a time. Alternately, a floor installation can be completed overnight or at weekends when the business is closed. A commercial flooring quote should include when the installation will take place.

Though a quote may seem to be for similar floor covering grades, if it is not for covering from the same manufacturer and the same product code, then you are not comparing like with like. To accurately access quotes, you need to be sure the floor quote is for the same type of floor covering or equivalent quality.

How knowledgeable is the flooring supplier?

A quote may seem reasonable, but if the flooring supplier is unfamiliar with your business sector it could be for the wrong type of flooring. For example, if the area is one where food is prepared, it needs to be non-slip and easily cleaned to keep the area hygienic. In care homes and other places with a number of older or vulnerable people, the floor needs to be non-slip to prevent slips and soft to cushion falls.

A flooring quote should be for a floor that is an exact fit for the type of area where it is installed.

Experience

Though many floor coverings are easy to install, you need a company that employs installers that are quick and experienced. A badly laid floor will not last long.

To get the best commercial flooring quote, find a well-established Wrexham company that you can rely on for a top class job.

New flooring ranges at Harrogate Flooring Show

All the major manufacturers of floor coverings from the UK and overseas will be showing off their new ranges at the Harrogate Flooring Show.

The 57th annual Flooring Show at Harrogate is from September 15th to 17th. It is not open to the public, but is attended by members of the flooring industry, flooring retailers, architects and interior designers. The new flooring ranges exhibited at the show will be seen in flooring retailers soon.

On show will be the latest trends in carpets, LVT, wood flooring and artificial grass suitable for both residential use and for contract flooring.

There is also a demo area at the show sponsored by the Flooring Industry Training Association FITA where the latest tools and adhesives used in fitting floor coverings are demonstrated. Floor suppliers will be here looking for better, more efficient and quicker ways to install flooring. A part of the cost of a new floor installation is the time taken and materials used to fit the floor. If this can be reduced, it could save the customer money.

After the show, Wirral and Cheshire flooring fitters and suppliers will be stocking new colours, patterns and flooring types. When customers want a new laminate, LVT or wood flooring in Cheshire or Wirral rooms, they have a wide choice of flooring types and grades. Whether choosing traditional colours and patterns or more trendy floor coverings, the manufacturers exhibiting at the Harrogate Flooring Show will make sure that there is a wide range of floor coverings available.

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.