European carpet market forecast to grow

A report based on research by Grand View Research Ltd has predicted that the European carpet market will be worth £46.22 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 3%.

Despite competition from hard floorings such as laminate, wood and vinyl, carpets remain a popular flooring choice. There are rising concerns about climate change linked to carbon emissions, which have led to carpet manufacturers developing carpets that are 100% recyclable, and some have reduced the energy required to manufacture carpets by 95%.

Carpets can be made from sustainable natural fibres, like wool, or synthetic fibres. Sales of nylon carpets are expected to grow considerably, particularly for commercial buildings, as nylon is hard wearing, cost effective and has a lesser impact on the environmental than other synthetic flooring. In response to government pressure, the European carpet industry is recycling more and more carpets every year.

In 2018, 734.7 million square metres of carpets were fitted in Europe, and this is expected to rise to 889 million square metres by 2025.

Carpet sales are forecast to rise in both the residential and commercial markets. Carpet is a great way to insulate retail stores and offices.

Sales of carpets in the Chester and North Wales regions are buoyant. People have been spending more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. They have saved money by not socialising or going on holiday abroad, which means that many households can afford to renovate their homes, including decorating and buying new carpets.

Five reasons to buy a new carpet

There are many reasons why people replace carpets in their Wrexham, North Wales and Cheshire homes. While reasoning varies from household to household, here are five main reasons why people opt to change up their carpets:

1. Water damage

Water that is absorbed in carpets can cause mould and mildew, which is a health hazard. Water-damaged carpets should be replaced.

2. Stains

Stains come from many sources, such as spills, leaking pipes, pet accidents and dropped food. Deep cleaning with a carpet cleaning machine will remove most stains, but stubborn ones may remain.

3. Odour

Professional carpet cleaning will get rid of most lingering odours, but smells caused by dog and cat messes, or rotten food, cannot always be removed.

4. Allergies

Some carpets don’t trap allergens, allowing them to float freely in the air. If a member of your household suffers from allergies, first try an allergen vacuum cleaner. If that is not sufficient, buying a wool carpet is a suitable option, as this has hypoallergenic properties and can trap airborne particles.

5. Outdated pattern

Some people begin to dislike the pattern of their carpets, feeling that is in an outdated style. A new home with carpets already fitted may save money, but if the colour or pattern is not to your taste, replace it, rather than living with it.

Expect a high-quality carpet to last for many years, provided it is cleaned regularly, but if you have any of the above issues, it's time to replace your carpets.

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.