Carpet buyers favour in-person shopping

A new report has revealed that while many homebuyers make their decisions on prospective properties based on online floor plans and 3D visualisations, when it comes to carpeting, they prefer to see and feel the carpets before making a purchase.

Some builders are now providing online 3D views of homes that have not yet been built. They allow viewers to change the design of the rooms to see how different fittings and fixtures will look. When it comes to carpets, however, a digital image gives a limited impression of how the carpet suits a room.

According to The Mercury News, Jennifer Kamenca of design studio Residential Design Services (RDS) sees the future of home design as a mix of virtual and in-person experiences. Virtual design applications give a good initial introduction to interior design options and save people having to travel to a retailer to get a first impression of different designs. However, before a buyer commits, they want to see and feel samples of the materials used in their preferred designs.

During the coronavirus pandemic, most RDS design meetings were held online, but after lockdown restrictions eased, many customers preferred to visit the studio to handle material samples. All participants must wear masks and gloves, and the studio is disinfected before each meeting.

When it comes to choosing a quality carpet for a North Wales home that will be in a room for many years, there is no online substitute for seeing and feeling a carpet.

Old carpets help reduce horse injuries

An initiative by Angus Council in Scotland is recycling old carpets into horse riding surfaces to help prevent equestrian injuries.

Many worn carpets end up in landfill sites, but there are several initiatives now being launched aimed at finding ways to recycle carpets.

Angus Council launched its new carpet recycling service on November 23. Skips at the Carnoustie and Arbroath recycling centres are accepting carpets and underlay, which are shredded and baled. The material is then used to provide a surface for horses in arenas and training facilities. These surfaces help prevent strain and reduce injury risks.

This is a pilot project, which, if successful, will be operated in other Scottish areas.

Angus is not the only area in the UK to recycle carpets for horses. The Potter Group, based in Wales, owns a waste management company, as well as a team of National Hunt racehorses. Its “Canter Carpet” is made from recycled carpets for use by equestrian centres.

There are also numerous other carpet recycling schemes that work with businesses and individuals to accept used carpets, which are recycled for use in a number different of products.

Many households and businesses choose carpets or carpet tiles in the North Wales, Wrexham and Chester areas. Carpets are suitable for vulnerable people as they prevent slips and falls, they make rooms feel cosier and their acoustic properties reduce noise by absorbing sound. Their insulating qualities also save energy.

At the end of a carpet’s life, it should be recycled rather than thrown away as waste.

Appeal to buy artificial grass for boy with rare disorder

A mother of a seven-year-old boy with a rare genetic disorder has launched an appeal to raise funds for an artificial lawn.

Thomas Bryant is a seven-year-old boy who suffers from Idic15, a rare genetic disorder. He has severe behaviour and learning difficulties.

Thomas hates wearing shoes and, according to Sarah Bryant, his mother, he “comes alive” in the garden, where he can feel the air and enjoy the feel of the grass on his bare feet. However, Sarah says that this is not possible every day because, after rain, the lawn is too muddy.

His mother has come up with a solution, however – replacing the grass with an artificial grass lawn for her son to use in all weathers. She told the Plymouth Herald:

“He needs the sensory input of just feeling the air and just feeling the difference in temperature, you know, feeling sort of the texture under his feet.”

Sarah has opened a GoFundMe account at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tomtoms-garden

This is appealing for money for her garden, and has raised over £1,000 towards her target of £2,800.

Many primary schools have installed artificial grass in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas, so that muddy grass does not prevent pupils from playing outside. During the coronavirus pandemic, many families are spending much of their time at home. Exercise and fresh air are important to maintain good health. Alike local schools and the Bryant family, residents can install artificial grass for a low maintenance, all-weather lawn that can be enjoyed all year round.

What is the best way to care for solid wood floors?

Designed to last a lifetime, hardwood floors have sometimes been known to outlive the buildings they are installed in. Exceptionally durable, a wood floor that has been professionally installed and properly cared for can offer homeowners and enterprises an excellent return on their investment.

While wooden flooring is not high maintenance in terms of care, it does require regular attention to keep it looking its finest. In the following passages, we’ll explore how to get the most from your wood floor, what protective methods should be taken and how often you should employ them.

Cleaning up spills instantly

Accidents can often happen around the home, and when they do, you must react fast to care for your solid wood floor. If a drink spills or a vase of flowers tips over, making a puddle on your planks, attend to it quickly without delay. Employing either a damp or entirely dry cloth, immediately wipe up the spillage. Never use a wet mop, as this will only add to the problem and cause damage to your flooring.

The properties of wood make it shrink or swell in reaction to moisture – whether it’s contained in the air around it or directly on it. In order to avoid gapping, splitting and cupping of the wood, it’s essential to keep water away from your floor and the levels of humidity to a minimum. It’s a wise idea to ban wet shoes being worn indoors and tackle spills swiftly.

Employing furniture pads

Scratches are among the few weaknesses of wooden floors. Although many scratches may be unavoidable, others can be prevented with a little consideration. Adding built-for-purpose furniture pads to the bottom of sofa castors and chair and table legs will ensure no unnecessary marking occurs and will keep your wooden floor scratch-free.

Sweeping up on a daily basis

While sweeping every day may feel excessive, it can be a sensible practice for those with wood floors. Dust builds up everywhere and will collect between floorboards over time, and hair from households with pets can add to this as they shed, so a daily sweep is worth considering to keep boards from becoming clogged. Only use a soft fibre brush for sweeping, so you never harm your floor.

Hoovering once a week

A weekly hoover will catch anything you missed on your daily sweeps, such as food crumbs, dirt, grit and other small particles. Tiny pieces of debris can easily cause scratching to wood floors if they are trampled into them by household members.

Using a floor cleaner once a month

Each month, use a dedicated floor cleaner designed for solid wood floors and a dry mop to clean your flooring from top to bottom to make it shine.

Re-finishing and sanding flooring

Over extended use, wood flooring can begin to dull, but it can be easily renewed. At least every 10 years, expert professionals should be relied upon to sand wood flooring and to give it a new coat of wood finish, providing a robust restoration.

By following these tips, your wood flooring should remain in great condition, lasting for years to come.

How do you get dog hair out of carpets?

After investing in sumptuous new wall to wall carpeting, most homeowners are keen to keep it in perfect shape for as long as they can. However, households where a dog is part of the family may find this a tricky task to manage. Although short-haired breeds shed less, those with longer hair can cause thick luxury carpets to become choked with hair, even when they are hoovered regularly. For houseproud homeowners keen to keep their living spaces spick and span, this can be a serious problem.

Fortunately for dog owners, there are many reliable ways to keep carpets free from their four-legged friend’s loose hair. In the following passages, we’ll explore some effective methods you might find useful for solving the problem of canines and carpets.

Cost-effective answers

Prior to trying costly options to deal with dog hair, a simple lint roller is worth considering. Inexpensive to purchase, lint rollers can be efficient at removing hair from small areas that have become clogged with fur, such as favourite sleeping spots around the house. Although time-consuming, the sticky surface of a lint roller can be a suitable way to collect loose hair.

Another affordable answer is a pair of rubber gloves. Running dampened gloves over impacted areas can also prove effective at separating animal hair from carpets.

Simple solutions

When hoovering has failed to remove all the dog hair from your carpeting, a trick that might work is a spray solution made from water and fabric softener. After application, let your carpet dry and give it another hoover. You should find that the solution has loosened the hair, making it easier for the hoover to remove it.

Household baking soda can also obtain the same results. Sprinkle after hoovering and leave to settle before using the hoover once more to remove all the hair that has been loosened by the soda. An added benefit is that baking soda is also great at removing lingering odours, leaving your carpet smelling fresh and clean.

Pet shop products

Pet suppliers sell rubber brooms developed specifically to gather loose pet hair. Built for purpose, these brooms are comfortable to use and can be operated while standing, meaning you don’t need to bend down and experience back ache while you remove unwanted hair.

Another option worth trying from pet retailers is a pair of grooming gloves. While designed to groom animals themselves and remove loose hair before it sheds, these special gloves have a dimpled, tacky surface that can just as easily collect hair from floors.

Leave it to the professionals

If you find you’re still not managing to remove unwanted dog hair, or are simply looking for a less labour-intensive option, professional carpet cleaners may be the answer to your problem. A team of experienced operators offering such a service will be able to effectively remove dog hair that has become deeply embedded in your carpeting. A quick and dependable solution, professional carpet cleaners will typically take around 20 minutes to complete each room of your house, and your carpets will be hair-free by the time they leave.