Rug designer on mission to save Irish wool

Irish rug designer Claire McGovern wants to rescue Irish wool, the price of which has crashed, threatening the livelihood of Irish sheep farmers.

Wool carpets and rugs are luxury floor coverings that are chosen for their stylish looks and soft, warm feel. Wool is a sustainable, natural product that is environmentally friendly. McGovern sources the wool for her rugs from Galway farms. Killarney’s Kerry Woollen Mills processes the wool, which is then hand dyed in Kilkenny, at Cushendale Mills. The preparation of the wool is finished in a Wicklow farmhouse studio, which hand-tufts the wool ready for turning it into carpets and rugs.

McGovern’s rugs are works of art, and two of them are in the private collection of the Irish Ambassador for the United Nations in New York.

Speaking to the Irish Times, McGovern said:

“I want to salvage this precious resource which is incredibly hardy, durable and sustainable and turn it into heirloom carpets to give new life to a renewable and carbon-friendly fibre.”

Millions of tons of synthetic carpets are sent to landfills each year, whereas wool is recyclable. McGovern has declared that 5% from the sales at Rhyme Studios in New York will be used to purchase wool from Irish sheep. In April 2020, the Irish government announced a £1.27 million support package for the sheep industry after wool prices fell.

McGovern’s rugs cost between €4,000 and €20,000. However, luxury wool carpets for North Wales homes can be sourced at much cheaper prices.

New start-up turns banana waste into carpets

Banana growing involves a lot of waste, as only 12% of the banana plant is used, and the rest goes to landfill. However, a Ugandan start-up is turning banana waste into products, including carpets textiles and hair extensions.

The process developed by TexFad first splits banana tree trunks in half using machetes, before the trunks are fed through a cutting machine, which turns them into long fibres that feel similar to leather. The fibres are then hung to dry and processed into eco-friendly products.

TexFad is experimenting with various items made from waste banana trees, including quality carpets and biodegradable hair extensions. It is also looking at ways to soften the fibres to make clothing textiles.

The company aims to make 2,400 carpets by the end of 2021, some of which it plans to export to the UK, US and Canada. The quality carpets are woven from the banana tree fibres using hand-operated wood weaving looms.

TexFad is not the only organisation to recycle banana plants. Australian researchers have found a way to make biodegradable packaging from banana waste.

Carpets in North Wales, Chester and Wrexham residential and commercial buildings are a popular choice of floor covering. Consumers in the region are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of carpet manufacturing. This is why many prefer wool carpets, as wool is a natural product that is durable, feels luxurious and is environmentally friendly. Carpets made from bananas trees could be a future eco-friendly alternative to wool.

How can laminate flooring benefit homeowners?

With the diverse range of options available today, selecting home flooring isn’t always easy. Finding an option that suits your usage, budget and taste can be difficult, and all solutions have their own advantages. However, property owners are increasingly looking at laminate floors as a suitable choice for their homes, as it can offer the appearance of a natural floor at more affordable prices, with many practical benefits.

In the following passages, we’ll take a closer look at laminate flooring and discuss some of the key advantages it can offer homeowners who install it in their living spaces.

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is comprised of multiple layers. An exceptionally strong, moisture-proof panel made from HDF provides the base layer. A backing plate below ensures that its core won’t warp over time. On top of this layer, a decorative panel is added that features high-resolution images of real wood planks or stone tiles, perfectly simulated in minute detail. This decorative layer is then finished with a dedicated resin and a topped with a wear-resistant and transparent layer providing powerful protection.

This innovative construction means that laminate flooring can easily pass as natural stone or real wood while offering some exceptional advantages.

Ideal for all rooms

Laminate flooring can be installed in any room of the house. Thanks to its waterproof properties, this includes bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens. Its seamless click-in-place system and anti-static attributes stop dirt and dust collecting between or on top of planks, making it perfect for rooms where children play on the floor and for those who suffer from allergies. Staircases can even be covered in laminate flooring.

Incredibly durable

When professionally installed and properly cared for, laminate flooring can last for 20 years or more, providing homeowners with an excellent return on their purchase. This robust flooring is so hardwearing that it can take the brunt of heavy objects, stiletto heels and heavy foot traffic, leading many public buildings and even some airports to employ it onsite.

Laminate floors can also cope with liquid spills. As long as they are tackled swiftly, fluids will not penetrate the water-resistant seals and can be easily mopped up, causing no damage, such as warping, to your floor.

Simple maintenance

The protective surface layers of laminate floors make them exceptionally easy to care for and keep them looking their best. As dirt can’t penetrate the boards, using a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth will keep them in peak condition. This makes them a far easier option than other floors that require sanding, scrubbing and oiling.

Easy installation

Compared to other types of flooring, a laminate floor is very quick and simple to fit, which means it may be a job you can tackle yourself to cut costs. If you do opt for a professional fitting, however, you’ll find the installation causes far less disruption to your day compared to having other kinds of flooring fitted.

Those searching for a low-maintenance, natural-looking floor at a considerably lower cost will find laminate floors ideal, as they can mimic authentic stone and wood perfectly, but feature a far smaller price tag.

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.