Waterjet technology creates dramatic floor designs

Waterjet technology can be used to precisely cut designs in vinyl flooring to create unique floor styles.

Creative Edge is a USA pioneer of waterjet technology. The company’s executive vice president, Jim Thompson claims that:

“Whatever the customer can envision, we can create.”

One of Creative Edge’s projects is at Kalahari Resort where zebra images appear to rise from the floor in solid 3D. They also transform children’s hospital floors to make them vibrant and attractive for child patients. Creative Edge claim any type of intricate designs can be cut and designs are not limited by the type of flooring material.

Most floor materials, including vinyl or stone tile, can be cut by technology into any shape suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

A large range of vinyl and LVT flooring for Chester properties is available in many shades and patterns suitable for any room style. Commercial customers and households with large budgets can have their own bespoke designs on the flooring. You can also have custom designs printed on vinyl and laminate flooring using high-resolution digital printing technology.

To have a floor design that no-one else has is ideal for individuals and businesses in Chester who want the luxury of having a floor that is a one-off creative design, but most people are delighted with the vast range of designs available from their local floor covering supplier.

Laminate flooring - a go-to option in North Wales

Laminate flooring is popular in North Wales because of its looks, durability and ease of installation.

Quality and good prices

Like all floor coverings, laminates come in several grades. People in North Wales like to have a quality floor covering as long as it is a reasonable price.

Solid wood flooring is a luxury floor covering but does not suit every budget. Laminate flooring is a cheaper alternative to natural wood but can still look good. Modern printing techniques create realistic looking wood patterns. Better quality laminates have embossed patterns that resemble natural wood grains.

You can buy very inexpensive laminates, but these will be thin and are unlikely to last a long time. Most households and businesses in North Wales prefer a better quality laminate at a reasonable price that looks stylish and will last longer.

Durability

Laminate flooring has a hard topcoat of aluminium oxide that resists scratches, stains and fading. Laminate flooring is rated on a scale from AC1 to AC5. AC1 is less durable and only suitable for low-traffic areas. AC2 is rated for medium-traffic areas, and AC3 for rooms with a fair amount of footfall such as dining rooms and living areas. AC4 is a commercial grade suitable for offices and other high-traffic areas. The highest grade, AC5, is the most durable and is recommended for high-traffic commercial applications.

The durability of laminate depends on its AC grade and how many people regularly use the room. Most manufacturers will offer a warranty from one to over twenty years depending on the quality of the laminate.

Appearance

Laminate flooring is available in a wide variety of shades and textures. Most laminate looks like wood from light to dark varieties. Quality laminate will not fade even in areas that have lots of natural sunlight.

Practicality

Laminate flooring is very practical. It is easy to install, which makes installation costs by expert fitters low. Laminate is simple to maintain, and it can be vacuumed or brushed to remove dirt. Stains should be mopped up with a soft cloth or mop. There are specialised laminate cleaning solutions that keep laminate flooring in top condition. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time cleaning laminate floors, which saves cleaning labour costs for business.

It rains a lot in North Wales, so floors need to have water resistance, especially in rooms that have outside doors. Laminate is water resistant and specialised waterproof laminates can be installed in bathrooms and other high moisture areas.

Environmentally friendly

Laminate is made from wood layers and can be recycled at the end of its life. Many laminate manufacturers have introduced environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and some include recycled wood in their products. The wood used should come from sustainable forests.

Choosing the best laminate flooring in North Wales

A laminate flooring stockist in North Wales carries a large range of laminate flooring samples to help you choose the best type of laminate flooring for North Wales rooms. You will find practical laminate flooring that looks good and is suitable for the area in which it is installed.

Carpets in North Wales – still as popular as ever

There was a time when every North Wales home used carpets, but a few decades ago they because less popular after the introduction of better quality laminates and vinyl. Carpets sales in Wales have increased over the last few years, however, signifying something of a comeback.

Though some carpet manufacturers have closed, there are still over 100 UK carpet companies that have seen an annual growth of 1.8% from 2014 to 2019.

Many Welsh households and businesses have installed new carpets over the last year or two. Newly built commercial and residential properties are often fitted with carpets.

Why carpet?

There are many reasons why Welsh people choose carpets. Solid wood, tiles, laminates and vinyl are still preferred for kitchen and bathroom areas, but people love the feel of walking and sitting on a soft carpet. Even if they don’t have carpets in the downstairs area, carpets are usually chosen for the bedrooms.

A good quality carpet has insulating properties that keeps the home warmer and saves on electricity. Carpets have acoustic attributes, deadening sound and preventing echoes.

Carpets come in a variety of colours and patterns to suit all styles of décor. They trap allergens so that they don’t circulate in the air and affect people with allergies. This makes carpets suitable for hotels, offices and other busy areas where there may be a few allergy sufferers.

Additionally, carpets are recommended for rooms in which elderly people live, as the cushion-like texture can prevent serious injury from falls.

The love of wool

North Wales is known for its sheep and this has prompted the Welsh to love natural wool. The wool from most Welsh sheep is the wrong type for carpets, though you can purchase Welsh sheepskin rugs. Carpets need specialist breed sheep. There are some in Wales that are used to make rugs and small carpet, but most wool carpets sold by Welsh retailers are made from Asian or New Zealand wool, and sometimes blended with other fibres to improve durability and stain resistance.

Many carpets are made from synthetic fibres and can be long-lasting and suitable for commercial use. However, for a carpet that looks and feels like a luxury product, many people in North Wales prefer to go for top-quality wool.

Finding a quality carpet

Whether you want a wool or synthetic fibre carpet, it is better to pay a little extra for a quality carpet manufactured to last. If you bend a carpet sample and you can easily see the backing, it’s a low density grade and lower quality. A quality carpet will have a 34 to 40oz face weight which is a measure of the fibres per square yard. Look for a ‘twist’ of four or more – he twist is how many times the carpet tufts are twisted together.

If a carpet has a warranty of 10 years or more, this should indicate good quality.

Carpets in North Wales rooms are a good choice if you want a practical and stylish looking floor covering.

Choosing the best quality laminate flooring in Chester

Laminate flooring is a popular choice for Chester residential and commercial rooms.

Chester people love nature, whether walking along the River Dee or visiting the Cheshire Plain. They like to have a natural feel to their homes with solid wood floors. Hardwood floors are beyond the budget of many so good quality laminate flooring is a luxury floor covering that is an alternative to real wood.

Thickness and durability

The thickness of the laminate board can affect its durability. Laminates are available between 6mm and 12mm thick. The cheapest 6mm laminate is not recommended except for rooms that are not used a lot. Marginally better is 7mm, but most 7mm laminates are not that durable.

Popular laminates are 8mm and 10mm. Some 8mm boards are as strong as 10mm boards, but the 8mm laminate could become damaged if laid on an uneven floor.

Any laminate between 10mm and 12mm should be strong and have high performance. The thicker 12mm is forgiving if not installed perfectly, but ideally, use a professional installer to install any type of laminate.

Thickness is not the only criterion for judging the durability of laminate flooring. A thinner laminate can be manufactured to make it stronger than some thicker laminates.

Laminates have an AC rating which specifies where they should be used. AC1 laminates are for low-traffic areas, whereas the highest AC5 rating is recommended for high-traffic areas and commercial use.

Laminate flooring has a clicklock system that makes it easy to install, but professional installation is recommended as poorly fitted laminates can easily be damaged.

Cost

Like most floor coverings, when buying laminate flooring, you generally get what you pay for. Budget laminates are not that strong and their patterns do not look realistic. Cheap laminate planks can warp and stain more easily.

More expensive laminates have realistic wood grain patterns. Some have embossed patterns that look like real wood grain. Expect a good quality laminate to last longer, resist stains, and be moisture and scratch resistant.

A more expensive laminate should come with a long warranty as the manufacturers are confident it will last. The warranty may be for less time if the floor is installed in commercial premises.

Underfloor heating

If you need laminate flooring to cover underfloor heated areas, make sure that the manufacturer rates it as suitable. You will also need the right underlay.

Waterproof laminates

Cheap laminates are not suitable for high moisture areas like bathrooms. Waterproof laminates are required and these must be expertly installed as badly fitted laminates can let water seep into the subfloor.

Looks

As well as choosing a grade of laminate that is durable and easy to maintain, you need laminate flooring that looks good. Most laminate flooring is printed with a pattern that resembles solid wood, ranging from light woods to darker ones. Better quality laminates use embossed printing to create an extremely realistic textured grain effect that makes laminate flooring in Chester a good alternative to solid wood.

Solid wood flooring: an environmentally sound investment

Solid wood flooring remains a good investment in Chester homes despite strong competition from alternative and cheaper floor coverings such as LVT and laminates.

According to a recent report by AMA Research, the UK market for wood flooring had a small decline in 2018 following six years of growth. This is because the numbers of consumers buying non-essential high-priced items are fewer and there is strong competition from alternative floor coverings such as laminates and LVT. However, the report predicts a 2% growth in the wood flooring market in the period up to 2023, despite some uncertainty because of Brexit and how that may affect the economy.

Import tariffs could make wood flooring more expensive, but this is unlikely to dampen demand. More and more Chester residents are concerned about environmental issues and are attracted to wood floor timbers from FSC- and PEFC-certified sustainable sources. Unlike some floor coverings, wood floors are easily recycled at the end of their life. Reclaimed wood can be reused to form new wood floors.

Wood may be more expensive than other floor coverings, but a solid wood floor adds value to a Chester home. The cost of installation can often be recovered when the home is sold. Many Chester residents are turning away from high volume, low price items and are prepared to spend extra for a quality product that lasts. A good quality solid wood floor can still be in good condition in a hundred years' time.