Carpet vs. laminate flooring for rental property

Carpets and laminate flooring are popular for use in rented property, but the better choice for a particular property depends on a number of factors.

Time to replace

There is no shortage of rented property in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales region, with many landlords providing quality properties for rent.

No matter what the type of floor covering there is in a rented property, no floor is permanent and there comes a time to replace it. A landlord can stick with the current floor type or change it.

When converting older property for rental use, the floor covering usually needs replacing. There are many choices of floor covering, including wood, LVT, and vinyl. The most popular floor coverings are carpets and laminate.

Durability

Generally, good quality laminate flooring is more durable than carpets, especially in multi-occupancy homes where many people use a room. A carpet will show wear and tear long before laminate looks worn.

However, unless carpet tiles are used, if a carpet is damaged, you cannot replace a section of it, so the whole carpet needs replacing. Planks can be replaced on damaged areas of laminate floors, on the other hand.

Durability is not the only consideration when choosing between carpets and laminates. A student house where many parties are held is often now the best place for a carpet, as it is likely to get damaged. A carpet in a property with one or two careful tenants will last a long time, as long as the tenants keep the carpet clean.

Look

Most laminates are made to look like different wood varieties. Carpets come in various colours and patterns to match the decor of the room.

Feel

Laminate is a hard floor covering whereas carpet varies from short pile harder ones to soft long pile wool carpets that feel warm and cosy. To make a laminate floor warmer, rugs can be added, either by the landlord or the tenants.

Maintenance

Laminate flooring is easy to clean and is stain resistant. Loose dirt can be vacuumed and a regular clean with a mop and laminate cleaning solution will keep the floor clean.

Carpets need regular vacuuming and a deep clean at least once a year, or between tenancies. Some carpets are stain-resistant.

Water resistance

The Chester, Wrexham and North Wales region has a large annual rainfall. Any area next to an outside door can expect to wet regularly from people coming in from heavy rain, so carpet may not be the best choice for these locations.

Laminate is water-resistant if fitted correctly. Special waterproof laminates are suitable for bathrooms and kitchens.

Which is best?

Laminate is cost-effective, and is easy to maintain, while carpeted rooms feel warmer and cosier and are better for bare feet. There is no best choice – both floor coverings are good, so it depends largely on circumstance and personal choice. Some landlords use both, favouring carpets in bedrooms and laminates in the rest of the property.

Although you can buy a cheap carpet that costs much less than laminate flooring, a quality stain-resistant carpet will last longer.

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.