Has the Queen’s carpet been ruined by Peter Andre?

Singer Peter Andre admits he may have ruined the Queen’s carpet at Buckingham Palace after spilling coffee.

The ‘Mysterious Girl’ singer was invited as a guest a Buckingham Palace event for the Duke of Edinburgh award. In his column in New! Magazine he said:

"I was in this beautiful room, which had the best carpet I've ever seen and, me being me, I tipped a cup of black coffee all over it.”

He begged the palace staff not to tell the Queen because he thought that she would ask him to pay for a new carpet which, judging by its quality, could have resulted in a bill for many thousands of pounds. He said that the incident had been praying on his mind and it was time to confess.

If you have carpets in your Chester home, coffee stains can easily be removed. The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends blotting up as much coffee as possible using a cloth with a mixture of liquid soap, a teaspoon of white vinegar and warm water to remove the stains. After the stain has been cleaned, sponge the carpet area with cold water then blot dry.

Andre told a member of staff about the spill, which means they probably made sure that the coffee stains were discreetly cleaned without the Queen noticing.

The Royal Household uses top quality Axminster carpets that can withstand the odd spill, so it is unlikely that Andre’s confession will result in a damage claim from the Queen.

Soya makes artificial grass more sustainable

A new artificial turf with a soya backing has been developed to makes artificial grass more environmentally friendly.

Installing artificial grass in North Wales homes and businesses is popular, but to ease environmental concerns, Universal Textile Technologies in the United States has developed BioCel and EnviroCell backing for synthetic grass made from soy-based polyol. This backing replaces the petroleum-based polyurethane equivalent usually used. Manufacturing soya-based backing creates lower carbon emissions and improves air quality.

The largest artificial grass manufacture in the USA, SYNLawn, is replacing all its petroleum-based backed artificial grass with soy-based ones. It claims that the new soya backed range of artificial grass is 100% recyclable and lasts at least as long as petroleum-based backing grass. Non-soya based artificial grass can be recycled to some extent – for example, some manufacturers have turned the materials in artificial grass into other products, including bags and dog bowls.

A major advantage of artificial grass is that it does not need watering. North Wales has high annual rainfall, but summers can be dry and areas run low on water supplies, which makes it important to save water,

Soya farmers in America are looking for new ways to use soya and see soy-based artificial grass backing as an innovative use for their crops. After Kyle Bridegforth of Bridgeworth Farms in Alabama was shown SYNLawn, he said:

“SYNLawn turf has the natural qualities of real grass in appearance and feel. The product is as innovative as it is beautiful and functional.”

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.