New carpet tiles designed to improve wellbeing

The Covid-19 pandemic has led many people to focus on the importance of wellbeing. New ranges of carpet tiles have been developed for hotels and hospitality venues that look stunning, but are also practical in protecting the wellbeing of staff and visitors.

Floor tile ranges have been created that absorb sound and reduce echoes so that they contribute to the wellbeing of guests and staff. Guests resting or sleeping in their hotel rooms don’t hear the footsteps of people walking along the corridor outside.

Carpets tiles, unlike solid hard flooring, collect and trap dust in the carpet fibres, and this contributes to good, clean air quality. Carpet tiles are easy to clean by vacuuming and regular deep cleaning with a carpet cleaning machine that uses specially formulated cleaning solutions. Stains and damaged areas can easily be replaced with new carpet tiles. Cushion backing makes carpet tiles feel comfortable and extends their life.

Wellbeing is not only important in the hospitality industry. There are many rooms with carpet tiles in Chester and North Wales commercial buildings and residential properties. They are available in a wide range of colours and patterns to suit all decor styles.

As more manufacturers see wellbeing as an important consideration in carpet tile design, more carpet tile ranges with acoustic properties that are easy to clean will likely be launched.

Installing carpet tiles in produces less waste than carpet rolls, which can save money, especially on large-scale commercial flooring contracts.

A useful care guide for different kinds of flooring

While how long a floor choice will keep its looks and last for is dependent on the amount and type of use it sees, and whether it was professionally installed, the key factor impacting its ability to endure is care. Using the appropriate maintenance schedule, techniques, tools and products specific to your floor choice are paramount, and in the following sections, you’ll find all the information you need to look after your floors.

A word of caution to floor owners

It’s important to remember when maintaining any type of floor that you should always first consult the flooring manufacturer’s instructions for care and maintenance. The best cleaning method and product can vary greatly depending on the floor’s maker, so it’s imperative you follow any advice to the letter. Failing to heed these instructions can not only harm your floor, wasting the money you have paid for it, but can also void your warranty.

Hardwood flooring

Able to last for 100 years if properly cared for, hardwood, sometimes referred to as solid wood, offers one of the most durable flooring options money can buy. This being said, hardwood does have one weakness, and that is moisture – particularly, pools of liquid that are left to seep beneath its surface. This can cause wooden boards to expand, leading to warping and cupping, ruining their look and feel and leading to further damage.

Care tips

Any spillage must be immediately attended to, avoiding such incidents where possible. Additionally, avoid cleaning products that contain wax solvent, detergent, bleach, vinegar or ammonia, and never use steam cleaners, stiff brushes or steel wool on wood flooring.

Materials and method

Only use gentle, designed-for-purpose hardwood floor cleaners. Sweep your floor using a hardwood brush and vacuum it at least twice per week to remove surface debris that can damage its finish. Once every week, use a dedicated liquid cleaner approved by your manufacturer. Never use too much liquid, and dry your hardwood floor with fans.

Necessary repairs

Minor damage to hardwood can be repaired using touch-up kits for minor marks and scratches, but, when necessary, you can sand and refinish your floor, restoring it to its original glory.

Engineered wood

Property owners seeking the natural appearance of solid wood but with impressive tolerance to humidity often opt for engineered wood flooring. Unlike a solid hardwood board, each engineered floorboard is comprised of multiple layers of wood below a perfectly finished piece of hardwood, providing a stable and structurally sound surface.

Care tips

The same rules regarding hardwood floors and moisture apply to engineered boards, as do the warnings regarding detergents, wax and ammonia in cleaners, and the use of overly abrasive cleaning tools and steam cleaners.

Method and materials

Engineered boards also require a gentle floor cleaner dictated by the manufacturer and suited to engineered wood. Floors should be swept regularly, at least once a week, and vacuumed using a soft attachment designed for hard floor surfaces to avoid scratches. Once every two weeks, use a liquid floor cleaner designed specifically for wood flooring, and ensure it is dried thoroughly. Any excess cleaning fluid should be mopped up immediately.

Necessary repairs

For minor damage, wood repair products are available to smooth out any scratches and nicks. While they can’t be sanded down and refinished as many times as hardwood floors, this process can still be performed on engineered boards, depending on how thick their topmost layer is, to deal with severe damage.

Laminate floors

Laminated flooring resembles the look and feel of wood flooring, but it is much cheaper to buy. While it won’t last as long as a floor made with real wood, it is still exceptionally durable and resistant to fading. It is also an easy floor choice to maintain, providing you have the right equipment and a solid cleaning routine.

Care tips

Like the wooden floors it imitates, laminate’s nemesis is also moisture, so avoid using sopping wet mops and steam cleaners for maintenance. Chlorinated cleaners or those using ammonia should never be used, with polishing and buffing machines also being the wrong choices for caring for laminate flooring.

Method and materials

You’ll find many floor cleaners suited to hardwood will also double for laminate. This floor type should be both vacuumed and swept once a week, but can also be damp-mopped each week with a soft micro-fibre mop and a gentle cleaning solution that is pH neutral. If a spill or stain occurs, always address the issue immediately.

Necessary repairs

Laminate floor repair kits can be bought that help deal with a wide range of dents, nicks and scratches, but serious damage can be beyond repair. Luckily, when this happens, replacement laminate planks can be purchased to swap out the damaged product, restoring its appearance.

Vinyl flooring

Available in standard format and luxury versions (LVT or LVP) that resemble natural stone, and hardwood vinyl is extremely hardwearing and is the easiest floor type to clean.

Care tips

While vinyl can cope with moisture better than any other flooring mentioned, it can be susceptible to sunlight, causing it to fade or change colour. To avoid this, ensure it’s treated with a UV-resistant seal or coating. Other weaknesses of vinyl are rubber and chemicals, so avoid rubber-backed rugs, walking on it in rubber soled shoes and using acetone, varnish and harsh cleaners.

Method and materials

Vinyl can be vacuumed, dry mopped or damp mopped once or twice a week as necessary. It can cope with water-based cleaning, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens, which require high-hygiene levels.

Necessary repairs

Vinyl installed as a single piece is exceptionally difficult to repair and usually requires replacement, but luxury vinyl tiles are simpler to replace.

If you follow these guidelines regarding the flooring solutions you’ve selected for you home, you can maintain or even increase the accepted life expectancy of them. This ensures you enjoy a well-earned return on what is often a sizeable investment, and you can enjoy your floor for many years to come in the best condition possible.

Historic Halifax looms to manufacture carpets again

There are only three narrow loom carpet manufacturers in the UK, and one of them, based in Halifax, stopped production in 2020. However, a new company has purchased its looms, which date from the 1850s, with plans to start carpet production again in Halifax soon.

Speaking to the Halifax Courier, Richard Hughes, of carpet manufacturer Avena Carpets, which purchased the looms, said:

“We feel we’re now in charge of looking after the heritage of carpet weaving in Halifax.”

There are 10 looms located at Dean Clough in Halifax, five of which will start carpet production again, and the other five will be in storage.

Narrow looms make very fine pitch quality carpets, and there are few left in the world. The looms can create the much-sought-after three shot and 13 row per inch qualities, which make highly decorative carpets. Avena Carpets also bought original mid-19th-century carpet designs as part of the loom purchase, which the company are preserving as historic documents available to interior designers and curators.

The company is taking on eight new staff in Halifax and starting an apprenticeship scheme to pass on the skills of making quality carpets to the next generation.

People don't need to purchase expensive, luxury carpets made using narrow loom machines to enjoy the warmth and comfort of carpets in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales homes. There is a wide range of high-quality carpets available in traditional or more contemporary designs to suit all decor styles.

How to pick floor coverings for each room in your home

The residences people live in can vary greatly in terms of size and style. While some only need to serve one occupant, other properties are busy households with multiple family members. If you’re planning to refloor your home from top to bottom, we’ve put together a list of helpful hints for selecting an ideal option for each type of room.

While everyone has their own specific taste and personal requirements, the following points may be worth thinking about when you’re choosing floor coverings for these different areas around your home.

Entrance halls

The floors in areas that lead outdoors can often see the most wear compared to other parts of a property. Footfall in these spaces can be heavier, and snow, rainwater, mud, dirt, dead leaves and other debris will often get trampled inside. Homes with cats, dogs and kids will find this an even more common scenario.

For this reason, carpet that can become worn and stained and wood flooring that may warp are never wise choices. Luxury vinyl tile, or LVT for short, can be an excellent alternative. It can mimic real wood and offers a high-end appearance like carpet, but it is far more hardwearing and waterproof, making it a much better solution.

Bathrooms

Due to their functions, bathrooms and their flooring must be entirely waterproof and easy to clean by necessity. While tiles make an excellent floor choice for bathrooms, if you have a large floor space to cover, this can involve considerable expense and a lengthy installation. A cheaper alternative can be vinyl. LVT is able to look just like porcelain or natural stone, and it offers the same impermeable protection from water damage. Additionally, vinyl is incredibly easy to clean, keeping bathrooms and lavatories hygienic.

Living rooms

While some people prefer carpeting in their living spaces for comfort, this option does get worn over time due to how often such areas are used. Others enjoy the regal aesthetics of a solid or engineered wood floor, but this can be costly and typically involves a professional installation. If either of these solutions are selected, adding rugs and padding to the feet of furniture can protect the flooring from wear. Laminate can be a more affordable alternative. Crafted to look like real wood boards, it is durable and easier to care for than carpets, as it never requires a deep clean.

Dining rooms

Rooms where we dine must balance functionality and style when it comes to the flooring. A laminate floor can offer impressive aesthetics that resemble authentic timber or stone tile, and it is also very easy to clean when food and drink are spilled during dinner parties and sit-down meals. If you opt for a luxury real wood floor in your dining area, consider adding a washable mat below your table, as this will protect it from scratching when chairs are moved.

Bedrooms

The floors of the rooms we sleep in experience the least wear, making them ideal for carpeting. The luxury comfort of stepping out of bed and sinking your feet into an inch of plush, deep pile is one sought by many homeowners. For a room that is dedicated to rest and relaxation, wall-to-wall carpeting can be a perfect choice. However, if you enjoy the privilege of an en-suite bathroom, a more waterproof option may be wiser – you can always add thick fluffy rugs for extra comfort.

Kitchens

Like bathrooms, kitchens must contend with water spills, and as a room where cooking and eating takes place, the floor must also be easy to maintain. Those on a budget will find vinyl is cost effective and comes in a wide range of colours to suit any kitchen décor. High-quality LVT is a more expensive incarnation of vinyl, but it will last longer, ensuring a solid return on your investment. Laminate flooring may be suitable for kitchens that don’t see heavy use, but it is not as waterproof as vinyl, or as simple to clean. Laminate flooring requires specific cleaning products, while LVT can be washed with water without harm.

Home offices

The floor you fit in your home office must suit your office equipment. If you use a chair on castors for example, you’ll find this will scratch wooden boards and make indentations on carpeting, causing damage over time. Laminate and LVT can give you a harder wearing surface, so whether you’re pacing about on the floor or wheeling over to your files, you’ll have a floor that can take the strain.

To be productive, a home office should always feel comfortable to its user. LVT and laminate floors can both be installed with an underlay that ensures an extra layer of comfort, and thick rugs can always be added for extra warmth.

Playrooms

Homes with children sometimes benefit from a dedicated playroom. Picking a suitable floor for a playroom isn’t always easy, as coverings must be comfortable but able to cope with spills and stains when playtime gets messy. While vinyl is very easy to keep clean, you may find you need to use cushions or beanbags for comfortable seating options.

A better option worth considering is carpet tiles. Far softer and warmer to sit on then vinyl, carpet tiles are also easy to clean if an accident occurs. This modular design of carpeting allows owners to remove tiles for maintenance whenever required, and if they are damaged beyond repair, they can simply be replaced. Homeowners can either swap the stained tile with one hidden from sight beneath a bookshelf or toybox, or buy a spare in the same style instead.

Are you ready for new flooring?

As mentioned earlier, the perfect flooring will always depend on individual taste, how many people make up your household and whether kids and pets are part of your family. However, if you’re looking for solutions that supply satisfaction, will hold up well under use and will look great for years to come, these suggestions may be well worth considering.

First UK polypropylene carpet recycling facility under construction

The UK’s first facility for recycling polypropylene carpets is under construction in Northamptonshire’s Chelveston Renewable Energy Innovation Park.

Polypropylene is a popular material for making carpets, as it is less expensive than wool or other natural materials. Carpets made from this material are hardwearing, but, at the end of their life, many polypropylene carpets are thrown into landfill sites.

However, Innovate Recycle’s new facility will convert the polypropylene into pellets that can be sold to a number of industries. The pellets can be used to make a wide variety of products, such as watering cans, buckets, storage bins and 3D printing materials. The polypropylene used in these products can then be recycled as part of a circular manufacturing process.

Speaking to the East Midlands Business Link, the Chair of the Board at Innovate Recycle, Bob Woods, said:

“Carpets cannot continue to be sent to landfill, incinerated or repurposed into products that damage the environment which is why we are at the forefront of new technology and developing a new circular economy approach for the carpet industry.”

The carpet recycling plant will use renewable energy generated from wind, solar and hydrogen power sources at Innovation Park. Innovate Recycle is working with the UK carpet industry to make waste carpets more environmentally friendly.

Quality carpets in Wrexham and Chester homes are made to last a long time. As they will eventually wear out, it’s positive news that they can be recycled at the end of their life.