Investigating the advantages of LVT flooring

Luxury Vinyl Tile, or LVT for short, is fast becoming a popular option for property owners looking for a flooring solution that is durable, easy to maintain and can resemble natural elements like stone and wood without costing the earth.

A heavy-duty vinyl floor covering, LVT is manufactured as individual pieces that take the form of planks or tiles. In the following passages, we’ll look at some of the key advantages of selecting this type of flooring for your home or place of business.

A hardwearing option at affordable prices

LVT products are typically made from virgin vinyl or PVC, which is exceptionally resistant to moisture. Its composition, which involves multiple thin layers, enables it to offer floors that are both durable and flexible. If you are looking for a sound return on your investment, LVT may fit the bill. A highly affordable option at the best of times, LVT, if installed professionally and cared for properly, can last for up to 20 years, often exceeding guarantees boasted by its manufacturers.

Extensive variety

LVT is incredibly versatile when it comes to style. Property owners will find it is readily available in a myriad of designs and hues that can present the appearance of natural wood planks or tiles designed to look like smooth ceramics or textured stone. These styles are then 3D printed onto planks and tiles, offering a depth of grain that enhances their authentic look. LVT tiles are available in many different sizes to suit individual taste, and when installed in wet rooms to create a classic ceramic style, an effect resembling grouting can even be included between them to finish the effect.

Ease of installation

Supremely easy to fit, LVT products can be installed using simple adhesives or using self-locking edges like laminate flooring, depending on the design. If correctly installed and looked after, they provide durable floors that have excellent waterproofing properties. This makes LVT a favoured choice in areas where water spills sometimes occur, from laundry and bathrooms to kitchens and toilets.

Couldn’t be easier to care for

While they can be crafted to resemble them, LVT flooring far simpler to look after than engineered and solid wood floors, which can warp from water damage or need expensive sanding and refinishing to restore them periodically. Unlike the real deal, an LVT floor made to look like natural wood can easily be mopped when water and other liquids are spilled. Quality LVT is highly water resistant, so no expensive speciality floor cleaners or cleaning services are ever required.

Created with consideration

Forward thinking homeowners looking to consider the environment when selecting products will find LVT a suitable solution. Today, there are multiple LVT flooring types available for purchase that have been considerately created using recycled materials for an eco-friendlier approach.

Whether you’re looking to help the planet, shave costs, cut back on cleaning or to simply install a durable product that looks stylish, you’ll find LVT an option well worth considering when you next update your flooring.

Coleen Nolan reveals dramatic difference from carpet cleaning

Celebrity Coleen Nolan has posted a video on social media that reveals the difference carpet cleaning has made to her living room. She also posted before and after photographs on Instagram.

Nolan announced in the television program “Loose Women” that she moved into her new home during the first coronavirus lockdown in May. Her home is only 20 minutes from her previous one, but because of COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing rules, the move took 12 and a half hours.

The video showed the living room carpet being transformed from a darker shade of beige to a brighter and lighter looking colour. The beige colour goes well with the exposed brick wall and wooden awning of her living room.

Light coloured carpets become darker as they get dirtier. This is not always noticed by the household, as the change is gradual. Nolan was surprised at how noticeable the difference in colour was after the carpet had been cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning company. She added a caption to the video that praised the service:

“I thought my carpets were clean until you turned up! Such lovely and professional guys.”

According to Hello! Magazine, fans of Nolan were impressed. “That’s magic,” one commented, whilst another said “Wow! Heaven.”

It's important to keep carpets in North Wales homes clean for protection against the COVID-19 virus. Regular vacuuming is required, along with periodic deep cleaning with a carpet cleaning machine. Machines can be hired, or for a more thorough clean, a professional carpet cleaning company can be used.

How long can an engineered wood floor last for?

You might be seeking a floor for a school gym, an office or a room in your home – whatever the purpose, before making a purchase, it’s worth investigating the potential properties and advantages of the solution you select.

While many property owners love the possibility of a solid hardwood floor, it may not be the ideal flooring to suit certain requirements, leading people to consider installing engineered flooring instead.

Caring correctly for engineered wood flooring

Those looking to ensure their engineered wood installation lasts will be happy to hear that this type of flooring is simple to maintain and keep clean. Using a brush or a hoover daily, dirt can be easily removed, making sure an engineered floor stays looking in great shape. However, as with any other flooring choice, heavy furniture around your rooms should remain on rugs, and matts must be placed at entrances to minimise unnecessary wear.

The power to handle high volumes of traffic

It’s a common misconception that engineered wood isn’t as resistant as solid hardwood floors – in actual fact, its clever construction enables it to cope with considerable footfall without a problem. Engineered floors also hold up well in locations where moisture and temperature levels tend to fluctuate, as they can handle heat and damp. This makes them suitable for systems offering luxury comfort to homeowners, like underfloor heating.

Does the finish added to engineered wood flooring add to its longevity?

There are commonly three different options chosen to complete engineered wooden flooring: no finish at all, lacquered or oiled.

The benefits of a lacquered finish to engineered flooring is that it can protect the boards from everyday scrapes and scratches. Visually, they can offer a slightly shiny appearance, however lacquered wood floors tend to wear down slightly easier than those where homeowners have chosen an oiled finish.

Oiled finishes for engineered wood floors work by soaking into the topmost layer of wood on each board. While this technique provides less protection from day-to-day damage like spills, it is renowned for delivering deeper protection overall.

What can you do if you engineered flooring suffers a scratch?

While robust, engineered floorboards can sometimes still get scratched. Fortunately, this isn’t impossible to solve. High-quality engineered wood can be sanded down and refinished more than once in its lifetime. Engineered flooring that encompasses a four-millimetre thick wear layer can allow you to complete this process around four to five times after installation.

A flooring solution for the duration

While engineered options can’t quite match solid wood floors, which sometimes outlive the buildings they are fitted in, they can still provide a sound return in years of service. Exceptionally hardy, if an engineered wood floor is installed by professionals and is appropriately cared for, it can endure for decades. Engineered wood flooring’s composition features several core pieces of either softwood, High Density Fibreboard (HDF) or plywood, which is topped with a hardwood layer, allowing to easily last for around 30 years.

Ideal areas that benefit from artificial grass

Artificial lawns can prove advantageous to households for many reasons. Entirely non-toxic, they are ideal for families with kids and pets and a symptom-free solution for those with allergies. Exceptionally low maintenance, many property owners are opting for artificial grass, however, there is more than one place it may suit around the house. In the following passages, we’ll explore some areas around your property that might benefit from artificial grass.

Home gyms

When you want a durable flooring option for your gym at home, artificial grass might not be the first idea that springs to mind. However, this man-made solution is robust enough to take the strain from stationary gym equipment and free weights, and is suitable for sidestepping unwanted scuff marks on your floors. Soft and springy, it makes a sound surface for floor exercises and it looks great too. If you have larger pieces of equipment, like exercise bikes, treadmills or cross trainers, just remember to rotate their location periodically to avoid excessive wear.

By the poolside

Instead of ceramic tiles and concrete slabs that heat up in the sun and soon become uncomfortable underfoot, consider artificial grass to surround your swimming pool. You’ll find it far cooler and more comfortable on your feet before you take a dip or complete some laps. Synthetic grass will also keep your pool area looking green, without unsightly lawn and leaves floating on the surface of the water.

On the balcony

Small areas like bedroom balconies can be a perfect place for artificial grass when you want them to feel a little more spacious. An expanse of man-made lawn can also add an outdoor feel that is easy to keep clean when you step back indoors.

Kids play areas

Soft to play on and safe if they take a tumble, there’s no doubt that any dedicated room reserved for kids to play in can benefit from artificial grass. Easy to clean, simple rinsing will tidy up any mess they make during play. Equally ideal in outdoor play areas, you won’t have to worry about muddy footprints tramping through the house with artificial grass. Synthetic lawns are manufactured to high safety standards, making them well-suited for both kids and their pets to play on.

In the garden

Last but not least, don’t forget the back garden. In today’s busy world, many homeowners struggle to keep on top of their outdoor areas, and while decking and patios look great, they are no substitute for lying out on a stretch of soft grass. Far easier to maintain then their natural counterparts, artificial grass lawns are supremely easy to care for. This can save you time and money when you need to hire a professional gardener to tame the jungle out back.

When professionally fitted and looked after correctly, artificial grass can last for up to 20 years, providing a sound return on your investment. Even with installation assistance, synthetic grass can be far more affordable than laying real turf and is a far simpler process to complete.

Sky blue named as colour trend for 2021

According to the e-commerce site Etsy, sky blue is the 2020 colour trend that is predicted to last into 2021.

Etsy’s trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, says sky blue represents people looking ahead to bluer skies after the difficult period of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Real Homes, she explained that:

"While there are still so many hurdles to overcome, hope is on the horizon and there is a renewed sense of gratitude and connection to our communities. Etsy’s colour of the year perfectly represents this.”

Johnson added that sky blue is a tranquil colour that connects people to nature. There are many ways to add this pastel colour to a room, and a sky blue carpet is an excellent place to start. Many carpet manufacturers include sky blue in their range of plain coloured carpets, and patterned carpets featuring sky blue are also an option. Walls can be painted sky blue to lighten the room, and a contrasting coloured carpet can be added.

In the dining area, a sky blue tablecloth adds a soft touch, while a living room can benefit from sky blue throws draped on sofas and chairs.

Many colour trends come and go quickly, but Brittany Romano, writing for Real Homes, believes that sky blue is one colour trend that will stay around for a long time.

People are spending more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, and this has focused attention on home improvements. Bright new carpets in North Wales homes are ideal for revitalising rooms.