Surface wear tests reveal the toughest floor coverings

The Consumer Reports organisation has performed surface wear tests on a variety of floors using an abrasion machine. Laminate and porcelain tile flooring came top, with vinyl in third place.

Every floor covering has a wear layer. Laminate flooring has a very tough clear plastic top layer. Vinyl flooring has a strong resistance to foot traffic, dents, stains and sunlight.

Though wood did not rate high for surface wear in the tests, it is still a good choice of floor covering. If it becomes worn or scratched, the floor can be sanded and re-coated protective top layer to make it look like new again. Laminate and vinyl flooring will need replacing after a few years, but wood that is periodically sanded can have a greater lifetime.

Joan Muratore, a floor tester for Consumer Reports says:

"If you love wood and are handy and can refinish it or are willing to pay a professional to do it, it's not a bad choice.”

Wood flooring in North Wales is a popular choice because of its aesthetics and suitability for many room styles, traditional or contemporary. It may not stand up to dragged furniture, dropped pots and dogs with sharp claws, but it looks beautiful, is environmentally friendly and can add up to 10% to the value of a North Wales home.

Many North Wales businesses choose natural wood to impress visitors, but if surface wear is an issue in high-traffic areas, vinyl or laminate may be a better choice, or they could opt for carpets or carpet tiles.

Dirt-trapping entrances keep carpets cleaner

Many commercial buildings have installed luxury carpets, but in busy areas that have a high footfall, it can be an effort to keep the carpet clean and looking attractive. Special entrance carpets trap dirt before it is trodden into the rest of the room and this saves the expense of frequent cleaning.

People coming into a building from the outside tread in dirt, as well as moisture on wet days. Solid floor coverings such as vinyl and laminates are easy to clean, with dirt and debris easily removed with a brush or mopping. In many locations, such as hotels and reception areas, business owners prefer the luxury of a wool carpet, but need to employ cleaners to regularly clean the carpets otherwise they will soon look dirty.

A solution to keeping carpets clean is to have specialized dirt-absorbing materials installed in entrance areas. An example of this is Coral Marine FR, which has been developed for cruise ships and other boats that that carry high numbers of passengers. Coral Marine FR is a mixture of 60% wool and 40% nylon. It is claimed that the system traps 95% of walked-in dirt.

Entrance carpets and carpet tiles in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales can benefit from floor coverings that trap dirt and moisture. Small entrances with light to medium footfall can simply have dirt absorbing mats, but other entrances will require carpets cut to size that are designed to absorb dirt from shoes before it has a chance to be trodden in the whole room.

Architect lines walls with carpets

A new bar in Warsaw has carpets hung on the walls as part of its luxury style.

When architect Kacper Gronkiewicz was asked to design the new Aura cocktail bar in Warsaw, he decided to use Morcooan carpets in an unusual way. Instead of placing them on the floor, he hung them on the walls.

The bar is in a 19th-century house and the design brief was to create a luxury space. In order to create the illusion of expensive gold, several polished brass fixtures were installed, including brass shelves, tables and light fittings, with the top of the bar also being made from brass.

Gronkiewicz loves traditional Moroccan design, so purchased several traditional Moroccan carpets in red hues. The hard surface floor is also red to complement the carpets. The decor of the bar is a luxury style that reflects traditional design values. There is a trend in Warsaw for bars that feature bold and vibrant designs.

Another unusual feature of the bar is the round tables which are supported with a single leg that is slotted into the floor and can be placed at various heights. During the day, the bar is a cafe with low tables, and in the evening the tables are high with people sitting on bar stools.

Many people in Chester like carpets with bold patterns. A well as covering the floor, a rug or carpet hung on the wall is a design idea if you want something different without the need for regular vacuuming.

Carpet tiles or vinyl flooring which is better for me?

Carpet tiles and vinyl flooring are both good choices for floor coverings for business premises and in the home. Which one is better depends very much on the type of room, the budget and the style that appeals to you. Each type of floor coverings has its pros and its cons.

The pros of vinyl

Vinyl is inexpensive flooring that is quick to install. It is suitable for both commercial and domestic flooring. The two main grades of tiles are the more affordable vinyl composite tiles (VCT) and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).

Easy to install, vinyl can be laid down in tiles or strips which are usually glued, but loose lay vinyl is available.

Vinyl is easy to keep clean and maintain, In busy areas, it will get dirty but can easily be mopped clean.

It’s a durable floor covering too. In high-footfall areas use tiles, with PUR coating that provides extra scuff and scratch resistance.

Hygiene is a consideration too, and vinyl will not trap dirt. This makes it suitable for food preparation areas and health centres. There are many vulnerable elderly residents in Chester, North Wales and Wrexham who need floors that can easily be kept clean and hygienic.

Reassuringly for people living in wet or flood-prone areas, vinyl is more water-resistant than carpets but, like all floor coverings, it may get damaged if immersed in water for prolonged periods. It is fine in bathrooms and entrances where people come in from rainy North Wales and Chester days.

Vinyl cons

A sticking point for some is that vinyl does not feel as warm as carpet tiles and feels harder underfoot. Although vinyl does not absorb noise like carpets, an insulating underlay can be used for some sound insulation.

Vinyl can look like stone or wood but is not available in as many colours and patterns as carpet tiles.

Carpet tile pros

Carpet tiles are popular in offices as they feel warmer and look and feel like carpet. They are suitable for rooms where some areas have more footfall than others. When an area becomes worn, you can simply replace it with new carpet tiles.

Tiles have insulating qualities that improve room acoustics and can contribute to lower heating bills.

A big plus for many is that carpet tiles are available in a wide range of colours and patterns. Rooms can feature one colour, or contrasting colour tiles can create bold patterns.

Carpet tile cons

Carpet tiles are not as easy to clean as vinyl. Regular vacuuming is required along with an occasional deep clean. Some carpet tiles will stain if liquids like coffee or wine are spilt, but you can purchase stain-resistant carpet tiles.

Tiles need to be laid expertly otherwise seams will be more visible. Cheaper carpet tiles will not last as long as vinyl, but commercial grade tiles will last significantly longer.

Which is better?

Carpet tiles and vinyl both have drawbacks and benefits. Which one is better depends on your personal taste and what type of activity takes place in the room. You can use both in a commercial space, perhaps plumping for vinyl for active areas and carpet tiles for more relaxed zones.

Carpet Recycling UK defends its recycling achievements

Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) has disputed claims made by UKWIN, Changing Markets and Zero Waste Europe that the carpet industry has a poor record on carpet recycling.

CRUK responded by quoting statistics showing that 98% of carpets used to be dumped in landfills, but the percentage is now 56%, with over 35% of carpets being recycled. Although these statistics mean that the carpet industry has a way to go before all carpets are recycled, CRUK says that it is proud of the progress it has made. It is stepping up its efforts to divert more used carpets from landfill sites.

Carpet recycling is voluntary, as there is no legislation that makes it compulsory. Some carpets are manufactured in ways that make them difficult to recycle, but CRUK is working with carpet manufacturers to make carpets easier to recycle. CRUK admits it does not yet have the ideal solution for recycling all carpets and ways to deal with the waste they produce. It is advising all sections of the carpet trade about the best ways to recycle used carpets.

Many carpets are made from synthetic materials like nylon, polypropylene and polyester. Some carpet manufacturers are making carpets from recycled plastic. At the end of the carpet's life, the plastic can be extracted for use in manufacturing new carpets. They can also be recycled to form part of composite lumber used in building construction.

Carpets are a popular form of floor covering for Wrexham, Chester and North Wales homes. CRUK and carpet manufacturers are developing ways to make carpets more environmentally friendly.