Technology makes artificial grass more realistic

New developments in the manufacturing of artificial grass have made this grass substitute look even more like the real thing.

One way that artificial grass can look different to natural grass is the way that the fibres fall, which can be too uniform. New technology has developed a way to make artificial grass fibres position themselves in a random way like natural grass.

The Portuguese developer of this grass, Léon Geerkings says:

“It looks incredibly realistic. We get so many positive reactions from clients, who say that nobody notices that they have artificial turf. People often have to feel the turf to believe it’s artificial.”

This grass is made from polyethene and its colourfast fibres are soft and certified to EN71-3 standard, which is usually used as a guarantee for children’s toy safety.

The first artificial grass, known as AstroTurf, was patented in 1965. It was practical for creating all-weather sports pitches but looked unreal. Over 50 years later, there have been great improvements in making artificial grass look more like real grass. Sports grounds may not be too concerned about how their pitches look, but households want artificial grass in their gardens to look as realistic as possible.

Many homeowners, schools and commercial properties replace their lawns with artificial grass in the Wrexham, Chester and North Wales area. Often, the main reason for this is to save maintenance time and have a child and pet-friendly lawn that does not need watering on dry summer days.

New technology recycles old carpet tiles

Innovative technology has been developed that separates the yarn in old carpet tiles from their backing, so that all the materials can be used again.

When carpet tiles become worn out, many end up in landfills or are incinerated. Tarkett, a French company, has developed its EcoBase carpet tiles, which are 100% recyclable. The two main components of these tiles are the polyamide yarn and the backing.

Tarkett has developed the EcoBase tiles so that the backing and the yarn can be easily separated. The firm claims that 95% of the yarn quality is maintained, and has invested €15m (£12.8m) in the project.

The main innovation of this system us that the carpet tiles can be recycled without any significant loss of quality. The separated yarn is used to make new carpet tiles, and the backing is turned into new backing. It is estimated that this recycling process saves about 84% CO2 emissions compared to incinerating carpet tiles.

Fabrice Barthélemy, the CEO of Tarkett, says:

“This is a fundamental step forward in maximising the value of materials and preventing carpet tiles from being incinerated or sent to landfill.”

Many residential and commercial consumers in the Chester area prefer carpets to other types of floor coverings. There are initiatives such as carpetrecylinguk.com that are making the carpet industry more sustainable by reducing the number of going to landfills. Another scheme burns old carpets to provide heating.

Tarkett has demonstrated that carpets in Chester could one day be 100% recycled.

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.