Five benefits of carpet tiles for your home or business

Carpet can add warmth to both living and working environments, but there’s no doubt installing it can sometimes be a cumbersome task to complete. For those hunting for an option that’s not only less hassle, but less expensive too, carpet tiles may be just the solution. The following are five advantages of this versatile flooring option worth considering:

1. Stress-free installation

Perhaps one of the most useful qualities of carpet tiles as a flooring solution is just how convenient they can be. With a modular design, carpet tiles are easy to buy in smaller units, making them simple to store away, handle and transfer from place to place. Arguably, when it comes to fitting carpet tiles, an installer will have little trouble putting them in position, as they are incredibly simple to assemble. This means that an installation will take less time to complete and those working or living in the rooms where fitting takes place will suffer a minimal amount of disruption.

2. A versatile choice

Simple to handle when working in a small space, carpet tiles are also a swift and easy solution to install over a larger area, making them an exceptionally versatile flooring option. Available in a wide range of shapes, designs and materials, these varied products offer carpeting to suit a diverse selection of areas in homes and commercial properties, from offices to living rooms.

Today’s offices often require cables to be concealed beneath floors while remaining accessible. When this is the case, carpet tiles can be an excellent answer. Simple to cut to any size, areas can be accessed with ease without needing to damage the flooring in place.

3. Hardwearing

Well-known for possessing a long lifespan, carpet tiles can cope with heavy footfall in busy areas. This high performing option typically features low pile, which is looped tight for durability. However, this adaptable flooring is also produced for different purposes and is readily available in a wide selection of pile weights and yarn fibres to vary its feel and look.

4. Cost-efficient

Low on wastage and needing little storage space due to their modular and stackable nature, carpet tiles are easy to transport, making them a cost-effective choice. Significant savings can also be made on installation costs, as a professional installer will take far less time to fit carpet tiles than a roll of wall-to-wall carpet. For enterprises carpeting their workspaces, carpet tiles can be installed far faster than ordinary carpet, leading to less downtime from disruption, adding up to far lower associated costs as well.

5. Easy to care for

Simple to both clean and, if necessary, replace, caring for carpet tiles laid in a property is a smooth and easy process. Floors tiled with carpet are extremely low maintenance as this low-pile solution generally collects less debris and dirt and responds well to routine vacuuming. If a particular problem occurs, such as a stain from a spill or water damage from a leak, individual carpet tiles can simply be removed and replaced.

With a whole host of benefits, carpet tiles are worth considering in any home or workplace.

Carbon neutral vinyl flooring options now available

Today, many people are concerned with choosing products that have fewer carbon emissions, and a US flooring manufacturer has now ensured all its flooring is carbon neutral.

Many people considering installing vinyl flooring in Cheshire homes are concerned about its environmental effects. Vinyl flooring is an environmentally friendly flooring option, and many manufacturers have sustainable processes and often include recyclable materials in their tiles. Vinyl is also recyclable after use and lasts a long time.

However, Interface, a flooring manufacturer based in Atlanta, USA, now claims that all its products, including vinyl tile, are carbon neutral. To achieve this, the company is using more recycled materials and has ensured it is implementing manufacturing efficiencies. It also takes part in a carbon credits scheme that funds carbon-reducing projects, including tree planting and biogas plants. Interface says that its carbon neutral range is no more expensive than normal flooring.

Interface claims that by using environmentally friendly flooring, a homeowner is taking:

“One bold step to reduce your carbon footprint. You’re choosing to reduce the carbon footprint of your space and help improve the health of the planet.”

Other manufacturers are also producing more eco-friendly vinyl flooring, and they are doing this without compromising on looks and quality. Eco-friendly vinyl is stylish and durable, and is suitable for both domestic and commercial use.

There are many eco-friendly options available for flooring nowadays, including wood flooring made with timber sourced from sustainable forests, and vinyl or laminates with high recycled material content.

What’s the difference between solid and engineered wood floors?

A timeless flooring solution that offers an attractive yet exceptionally durable option for homeowners and enterprise operators alike, wood has much to offer. While providing an excellent return on the sizeable investment that a new floor entails, wood’s natural look and feel can add warmth to interiors and suits almost every décor.

Those looking to install a wood floor will have heard of two types readily available from flooring specialists – solid wood and engineered wood floors – and may be curious about the differences. In the following sections, we’ll explore the differences between these flooring options to help property owners select which product may be most suitable for their specific requirements.

The main difference

Solid wood floors are made from just wood. Typically produced from a hardwood genus of trees such as Walnut, Maple or Oak, solid wood floors offer the longest lasting floor choice as they can be sanded down and refinished to restore their natural beauty several times.

While on first inspection after fitting, engineered wood flooring may appear extremely similar to solid wood, it is constructed quite differently. Instead of a solid board comprising of one type of wood, engineered wood is created by taking a fairly thin layer of expensive hardwood and bonding it onto a less expensive, albeit high-quality, piece of plywood.

Longevity and cost

As a solid wood floor can be restored two or three times, it has the advantage of a longer lifespan than engineered flooring, which can typically be sanded down and refinished only once due to its thin solid wood layer. Whereas a solid wood floor will commonly last between 30 to 100 years depending on how it is used and cared for, an engineered floor has a much shorter life of between 20 to 30 years.

For those seeking a wood floor appearance where cost is a concern, an engineered option may be more suitable than solid wood, as due to the way it is constructed, it is the more affordable of the two solutions.

Appearance and choice of wood

Solid hardwood floorboards generally tend to be narrower than engineered wood alternatives, which are far broader by comparison. Solid wood flooring usually offers a wider range of colours and a choice between a finished or unfinished look and feel, whereas engineered options are nearly always pre-finished.

Installation of wood floors

Solid wood floors are fashioned from boards milled to feature a tongue and groove so they can interlock with one another. Solid wood flooring must be nailed to the subfloor, a process best tackled by a professional. Engineered wood flooring, on the other hand, is typically easier and far quicker to fit.

Whether you select a solid wood or engineered wood, unless you are DIY expert, enlisting the assistance of a professional floor fitter can be advantageous. Highly convenient, skilled installers can fit flooring options faster, causing you less disruption, and their extensive experience can ensure your floor is installed correctly, enhancing its appearance and adding to its longevity.

Solid wood flooring recommended for health

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many families to spend much more time at home. According to the Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB), many households do not realise how flooring affects health, and it has recommended wood flooring.

Clean floors are essential for keeping a family healthy and protecting them from viruses, and QWEB have recommended hardwood flooring as it reduces pollutants and allergens in the home. The smooth surface of wood means that it’s easy to sweep, scrub or vacuum to remove particles. Stains on the flooring can be removed with a microfibre mop, and quality wood flooring will have a polish or oil that prevents bacteria and moisture penetrating the wood.

QWEB’s mission is to develop overseas markets for wood products from the Quebec region. Its advice on wood flooring is designed to promote the sale of more wood flooring, but its claim that wood is hygienic is backed up by research. Sofa company SCS studied various floor coverings and concluded that wood is a healthy flooring as its solid surface doesn’t absorb dust and dirt.

There are cheaper floor coverings available, but they are not as long-lasting as solid wood. High-quality solid wood flooring can last over one hundred years. It is an eco-friendly material, recyclable and adds a natural look to any room.

Many people spending more time in their homes are thinking of installing new flooring. Solid wood flooring in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales homes is a great choice to protect household health.

Welsh nursery uses grant for mixed grass garden

The Learning Tree Nursery in Cardiff has opened a landscaped garden that was financed with a Government Capital Grant. The garden features both natural lawn and artificial grass areas.

The garden allows young children and babies to safely explore outdoors. The large garden is suitable for the “Bubble System” the nursery has adopted to keep children safe during the coronavirus crisis.

The work on the garden started in March 2020, but its completion was delayed by the coronavirus lockdown. Now that it has been completed, there has been an enthusiastic response to the garden from parents, staff and the more than 50 children who attend The Learning Tree. One parent said that it is important for her child to be able to play outside, and her daughter has enjoyed planting seeds, watering them and taking part in outdoor activities.

Chris Baker, the founder of the nursery, told Wales 247:

“The garden now has a mixture of real grass and artificial grass areas to allow different textural experiences. It gives us all year round use when combined with our separate covered outdoor area.”

Areas of artificial grass in Wrexham, Chester and North Wales nurseries and primary schools are suitable for children to play on all year round. The Learning Tree Nursery demonstrates that a mixture of artificial grass, natural grass and flower beds provides young children with a rich, multi-texture environment that is suitable for playing on whether the ground is wet or dry.