New project to develop sustainable wool carpets

Wool carpets are a sustainable floor covering. Their main component, wool, is a natural material, but some chemicals are still used in the manufacturing process. However, a new initiative backed by the New Zealand government is researching ways to eliminate all synthetic materials from wool carpets.

Wool is a 100% biodegradable material, making it ideal for use in creating environmentally friendly carpets. These carpets do, however, still contain some synthetic components, including dyes, backing and anti-stain treatments. The three-year programme is a $4.9 million project by carpet manufacturer Bremworth. The New Zealand government has contributed $1.9 million to the project, which aims to find green alternatives to all synthetic components of a wool carpet.

The research is a reaction to increasing consumer concern about the lifecycle of products, from sourcing raw materials and manufacturing processes to what happens at the end of a product’s useful life.

Wool is one of New Zealand’s major products and is vital to its economy. Manufacturers of wool carpets stress that they are better for the environment than synthetic ones.

Carpets made from the wool of British-reared sheep are also available. They are luxury carpets made from natural resources and are biodegradable. Undyed carpets backed by natural rubber latex are suitable for those who want a product that is as natural as possible.

Wool carpets in Chester and North Wales properties are chosen by consumers who like their natural luxury feel and warmth, as well as their eco-friendliness.

How do you look after hardwood floors?

Engineered to endure for a lifetime, solid wood floors are sometimes the last part of a building to deteriorate and can even live longer than the structures they are fitted in. Incredibly hardwearing, a real wood floor that is installed by professionals and cared for appropriately can give property owners an exceptional return on such an investment.

Although solid wood floors are not tricky in terms of maintenance, they do still need regular care to keep them on top form. In the next sections, we’ll explain how to get the best from your hardwood floor, the protective measures you should take and how often these methods should be applied.

Always use furniture pads

Wooden floors can be susceptible to scrapes and scratches. While many such marks may be entirely unavoidable, some can be sidestepped with a little planning. Placing furniture pads beneath your sofa’s castors and table and chair legs will make certain no unwanted scratches spoil your floor.

Mop up spills swiftly

Whether accidents are rare or a regular occurrence in your home, when they happen, acting fast is key to protect your hardwood floor. If vase of flowers overturns or a drink slips and spills, causing a pool of water on your planks, clean it up as fast as you can using either a totally dry or slightly damp cloth. It’s never wise to use a mop that’s wet, as this will exacerbate the issue and may inflict harm to your floor.

Real wood’s attributes make it react to moisture by shrinking or swelling, whether it has had liquid spilt upon it or moisture is simply in the air surrounding it. To avoid gaps, splits and bumps in your floor, it’s important to keep unwanted water from impacting it and home humidity levels to a minimum.

Sweep your wood floor every day

You might think a daily sweep is a bit over the top, but it’s a wise move for those with floors made of wood. Dust can collect in between wooden floorboards, along with pet hair, so sweeping daily is well worth the effort to stop them getting stuffed with unwanted debris. Use a brush with soft fibres for sweeping to avoid harming your floor.

Vacuum weekly

By vacuuming at least once a week, any small particles like grit, crumbs or dirt can be removed. While tiny, these particles can cause harmful scratches when they’re forced into wood by human traffic.

Use a wood floor cleaner monthly

Every month, use a dry mop and some cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors to give your flooring a high shine.

Sand your flooring

Over an extended period, even durable real wood floors can start to look dull. The good news is that they can easily be refreshed. Professionals floor experts can sand your floor at 10-year intervals and apply a fresh coat of finish to bring back their lustre.

If you follow these guidelines, you’ll ensure you floor keeps looking its best, allowing you to enjoy your investment.

What are fitting plates and carpet grippers?

Fitting plates and carpet grippers are designed to hold carpets in place, with thousands of different types and styles available to buy online or straight off the shelves in DIY stores. You might be replacing carpet after lifting it, or simply laying some luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) adjacent to a carpeted area, but whatever your circumstances, you’ll need to get to grips with these innovative options.

What is the difference between fitting plates and carpet grippers?

While it’s true there is some cross-over concerning these products, the key difference lies in where they are used around your rooms. Fitting plates, also known as threshold strips or door plates, are the narrow pieces of metal found within doorways. Their job is to hold the carpet down, ensuring it isn’t disturbed, while also making sure its edges remain protected from people stepping on it. Unlike fitting plates, carpet grippers are typically deployed around the edges of a room to hold the fitted carpet in the correct position.

How do carpet grippers work?

Dedicated carpet grippers are able to hold carpeting in place using rows of jagged metal teeth that are tilted slightly in a single direction and face upwards. A tip to remember if you need to replace carpet grippers is that to function effectively, their points must lean backwards and towards your walls. Once in position, your newly bought carpet can be stretched over the top of the grippers before being placed down. As the new carpet pulls back to take shape, the tilted angle of the grippers’ teeth ensures they push into the carpet’s backing and keep it firmly in place.

Selecting an appropriate fitting plate

The threshold strips or fitting plates designed for doorways that have carpet installed on either side will have not one, but two rows of sharp teeth, providing a set for each side. On top of these two rows, a cover made from metal or plastic is present for people to tread upon.

Don’t worry if you want to fit carpet in one room and another type of floor covering in the one next to it. Fitting plates are available to buy for every application you could require. In this specific circumstance, the correct kind of fitting plate will be one that has teeth on one side but is smooth on the other. A massive range of these door plates has been produced to cover an extensive range of eventualities, and this includes differences in height, which is a common issue when laminate floor is fitted. If the new floor is replacing vinyl or carpeting, it can often be half an inch taller than the floor’s original height.

Leave it to the professionals

If you choose to have your new carpets fitted by professional installers, you can sidestep the stress of deciding what the right solution is to keep your carpets in position. A professional installation will typically include carpet grippers, door plates and even underlay as part of the service.

Queen reveals Balmoral Castle carpets

Recent pictures of Balmoral Castle, the Queen's home in Scotland, have revealed that she has kept traditional interior design features, including the carpets.

Balmoral Castle was purchased by Prince Albert in 1852, who gifted it to Queen Victoria. Paintings from the time show that the decor had traditional tartan accents, with Prince Albert’s sitting room featuring tartan carpets he designed himself. A picture from 1972 shows the Queen in her study with the same tartan carpet.

Recent pictures of Balmoral Castle show that the red and grey tartan carpet design has been kept. The present carpet is not believed to be the original one from 1853, and it is likely that a new one has been made using the same tartan. Other recent images show that many of the rooms in the castle have a predominantly green colour scheme, which includes patterned carpets and curtains.

The Queen and her late husband Prince Phillip used Balmoral Castle as a summer holiday home. Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge often join the Queen there. Parts of the castle are open to the public until August. It's located in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, and is set amid mountains, glens and lochs.

If you want to copy the Queen's carpet style, you can buy tartan carpets for North Wales, Wrexham and Chester homes. For those homes with a less regal style of decor, there are plenty of patterned and non-pattern carpet choices available.

What type of flooring is best for quiet living?

From public buildings where people require peace for reading to care homes where residents may need less noise to get their rest, many buyers of floors may be looking for a quieter option that can effectively dampen sounds. This is also a concern for numerous property owners across the country. From ensuring they don’t annoy their neighbours below in apartments to muffling music and television noise so it won’t disturb others in busy family homes, selecting a suitable floor that can absorb noise is key.

In the next passages, we’ll explore some of the flooring solutions that can be ideal for keeping parts of your home or business premises quieter for the benefit of those who live and work within them, and for those who reside nearby.

Carpeted flooring

Wall-to-wall carpeting is renowned for acting as a heat insulator for homes, effectively blocking cold draughts that come up between floorboards, but they can also insulate spaces from unwanted sound. The higher the pile of carpet, the more sounds will be effectively mitigated, with footsteps also cushioned, reducing their acoustic impact. Carpet tiles can be an easier to care for option than wall-to-wall carpeting, and they can still deliver excellent noise absorbency.

Rubber flooring

Commercial flooring solutions made from rubber are favoured by gyms, hospitals, kitchens and schools. This hardwearing option is not only exceptional for reducing noise levels, but can also provide a non-slip surface that is resistant to both mould and mildew for enhanced hygiene levels demanded by health and safety regulations.

Luxury vinyl tile flooring

From homeowners to hoteliers, luxury vinyl tile – or LVT for short – is a commonly selected option to cut back on unwanted sounds when selecting new flooring. Low maintenance and prized for its longevity, LVT combined with appropriate underlayers can provide a solution to unwanted sounds.

One of LVT’s most sought-after qualities is its versatility. This high-end vinyl can come shaped like wooden boards or ceramic tiles, and it’s able to mimic authentic timber or natural stone at a fraction of the price. It’s also much quieter to walk on than a solid wood floor or one that’s been tiled with stone, making it an exceptional option when you’re looking for less noise.

The importance of underlay

If you’re looking to supress unwanted sounds around your enterprise or home property, a key factor when installing a new floor is to select a high-quality underlay to fit beneath. Along with making floors more comfortable to walk on, this additional layer can efficiently absorb more sound. Fitted upstairs, it can block unwanted noise from rooms below and stop them from being invaded by the sounds coming from up above.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that the type of flooring selected must always be chosen with the building’s use firmly in focus. For example, while carpet can be effective at reducing the impact of sound, it can be difficult to clean, making it unsuitable for hotels and hospitals that will see a heavier footfall.