Carpet or laminate flooring in a living room

Carpet and laminate flooring are both suitable for living rooms in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas. One is not better than the other, as such, but when making the choice between the two floor coverings, there are a number of things to consider.

Looks

There are many outstanding areas of natural beauty to enjoy in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales, so it is not surprising that people want to bring a touch of nature into their living room. This is why solid wood floors are popular, but the expense of buying and fitting wood floors is beyond some budgets. Laminate is a less costly alternative.

Laminate floors are made from wood materials, but the wood grain designs are printed. Printing technology has developed since the first laminates were made so that modern laminate planks look remarkably like real wood. Some types use embossed techniques to make the grain stand out like natural wood.

If you are not particular about bringing a wood look to your living room, carpets come in a wide variety of shades and patterns. The interior design of a room can revolve around the carpet colour and pattern, with furniture and wall colours coordinated with the carpet design.

Feel

Laminate flooring is hard, but some varieties are cushioned to give them a spongy feel. The feel or a carpet depends on the pile type. A luxury wool long pile carpet feels extremely warm and cosy, especially in bare feet. For the best of both materials, use laminate flooring with wool rugs to provide cosiness.

Warmth

Carpets have insulating properties that make rooms warmer and can marginally save on energy bills. Some people believe that carpets, unlike laminates, cannot be used with underfloor heating systems. The reality is that they may reduce the heat from existing underfloor heating systems, but new installations with carpeted rooms can be adjusted to make them work well with carpets.

Pets

Dogs and cats should be fine with laminate floors. Good quality laminates have a protective top layer that is scratch resistant.

An untrained puppy that goes into the living room could have accidents. Spills and other dirt are easily wiped up from laminate floors, but carpets are not as easy to deal with. Stain-resistant carpets are recommended for pets, but any carpet can be cleaned with the right cleaning solution and some effort.

Cost

Both laminates and carpets come in a wide variety of grades and prices, which makes direct cost comparisons difficult. As a rule, laminates will last longer than carpets. A cheap carpet will need replacing several years before a good grade laminate reaches the end of its life. This can make the lifetime cost of laminate flooring cheaper. Expect all but the cheaper quality, thin laminates to last longer than a good carpet.

Carpets and laminates are easy to fit, but laminates take a bit longer, so fitting could be more expensive.

Choose a carpet for its look and feel, or laminate for an easier to maintain, long-lasting and stylish looking floor in your living room.

Carpet vs. laminate flooring – pros and cons

Good quality laminates and carpets are excellent choices for commercial and residential properties in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales region. When it comes to deciding which is best for your rooms, consider these pros and cons:

Cost

Laminates and carpets are available in a number of grades. Cheap carpets and laminates are only suitable for rooms with light footfall and not commercial use, as they are not manufactured to last a long time.

There is not a lot of difference in price for a good grade laminate and a premium quality carpet. Both are easy and quick to fit, though laminate floors generally take longer to install so fitting could be more expensive than carpets.

Unlike solid wood floors, neither laminates or carpets add much to the value of a home when it comes to selling.

Durability

Expect a quality carpet to last between 8 to 15 years, whereas laminate floors can last between 15 and 25 years. The lifetime of flooring is obviously dependent on footfall. Flooring in a single-occupancy home where slippers are always worn will last a lot longer than in a commercial building with many staff and customers walking on the floor every day.

Maintenance

Laminates are easier to clean than carpets and do not trap dirt. A brush or vacuum removes loose dirt and a weekly mop is recommended. Carpets, on the other hand, need regularly vacuuming and should receive a deep steam clean at least once a year,

Laminates are resistant to most stains as long as anything spilt is promptly mopped up. Carpets are more prone to staining unless you buy one that is stain-resistant, though most stains can be removed from carpets with the right cleaning solution.

Looks

Most laminates are printed with a realistic looking wood grain pattern. There are also stone pattern laminates. Carpets come in a wide variety of colours and patterns to suit personal preference.

Feel

Carpets, especially long pile ones, feel more comfortable than laminates, though soft rugs can be put on laminate floors. If you like to go barefoot at home, carpets feel more cosier.

Sound and insulation

Laminate floors don’t absorb sounds like carpets. This can be an issue for upstairs bedrooms as noise can be heard in the rooms below. If sound absorption is important, use carpets for bedrooms.

Carpets have insulating qualities that could reduce heating bills, though probably only by a small amount.

Water resistance

The Wrexham, North Wales and Chester region has a high annual rainfall. Carpets don’t like moisture and are not suitable for bathrooms and other high moisture rooms. They can be used in halls that have outside doors, but if people regularly come inside on a wet day with muddy shoes and dripping wet clothes, laminate may be a better choice as it is more water and stain-resistant. High water resistance grades of laminates are fine for bathrooms.

As you can see, there are pros and cons when choosing which flooring to use. Talk to your local carpet and laminate supplier for more information to help you make an informed choice.

Can new floors save high street shops?

According to an article in Furniture News, updating a retail shop with contemporary design trends can transform customer experience and result in more sales.

Many high street retailers are facing financial challenges, and in some cases are struggling to keep in profit because of fewer shoppers, high rents and rates. A traditional retail shop business model is about completing transactions with customers as quickly as possible, but Furniture News says that this is outdated, and that customers should be encouraged to browse and take their time. If the interior of the shop is transformed by modern creative designs, it is more inviting.

Apple’s retail shops have pioneered this approach. Customers are invited to take their time with hands-on use of the tech company’s products. No salesperson tries to sell anything, and stores are well designed and encourage people to stay for a while.

New LVT, laminate or solid wood flooring is a key element to make stores brighter and more appealing. Many stores have environmental concerns and use wood flooring from sustainable forests that can easily be recycled at the end of its life. Wood provides a natural look that can be enhanced with using natural light sources from windows and skylights.

Retail trading in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales face the challenge of attracting more customers. Upgrading shops with modern decor and new flooring can make them more appealing. Installing solid wood flooring in Chester and North Wales shops could revitalize a business.

Carpet vs. laminate flooring in bedrooms

Carpets and laminates are both suitable floor coverings for bedrooms, but which is best?

Durability and cost

Most people living in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas are concerned about value for money. Laminates and carpets come in various qualities, and of course the better the quality, the more you are likely to pay. The cost of floor coverings is not just the price per centimetre, you may have to pay fitting costs. Laminate flooring and carpets are easy and quick to fit, but laminate fitting charges can be a bit more expensive.

The other factor to consider is the lifespan of the floor covering. Carpets won’t last as long as laminates so will need replacing more often. A cheap carpet may cost less but will need replacing a lot sooner than laminate flooring, which makes the total lifetime cost of carpets more expensive.

A carpet can last from three to five years, or for between 10 and 25 years for top-quality carpet. Laminates last from 15 to 25 years, though very cheap laminates will not last that long. Bedrooms are not high-traffic areas, so expect any good quality flooring to last for 10 years or more.

Warmth and feel

Bedrooms are places where people are often barefoot, so a carpet feels warmer and more cosy. If there is laminate flooring in the bedroom, a few rugs are recommended, especially next to the bed.

Carpets have insulating properties thath can keep the bedroom warmer and save heating energy.

Acoustics

Sound from laminate floored bedrooms can often be heard by the people below. Carpets dampen sound so that it is either not heard in a room below, or is muffled.

This could be useful in family homes, where sound can be an issue. People in the lounge don’t want to hear the sounds of their teenage children playing noisy video games!

Moisture

Chester, North Wales and Wrexham have high annual rainfall. For this reason, it may not be advisable to have carpeted areas next to outside doors, as carpets don’t like too much water. Bedrooms are not high-moisture areas so carpets are fine. If the bedroom has en suite bathroom facilities, people should dry off before entering the carpet area.

Laminate flooring is water-resistant but cannot stand prolonged immersion in water. This could be a problem if your home is in a flood risk area, but floodwaters should not reach a first-floor bedroom.

Maintenance

For good bedroom hygiene, laminates and carpets need regular cleaning. Sweep laminates to remove loose dirt and mop using a laminate cleaning solution. Carpets need vacuuming and deep cleaning at least annually.

Stains are easily removed from laminates but can be more difficult to remove from carpets unless you buy a stain-resistant carpet.

Looks

Laminates usually come printed with realistic-looking wood grain designs. There is more variety of shades and patterns available for carpets,

Laminates and carpets are both fine for bedrooms. When deciding which to buy, consider all the above factors or talk to your local flooring supplier for further information.

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.