Expert recommends wool carpets with underfloor heating

A carpet expert advises consumers who use underfloor heating that wool carpets work well with this type of heating.

Carpets are popular across Chester and North Wales, but homeowners often ask whether they can be used with underfloor heating. Jon Flannigan, product manager of Kersaint Cobb carpet manufacturers, recommends wool carpets. He says:

“Sustainable, hard-wearing, and super-soft, this material is likely to be near the top of your carpet wish list.“

Wool has natural insulating properties, which means that underfloor heating may take a little longer to heat up but, once hot, wool retains heat in the room for longer to increase energy efficiency. Wool carpets are suitable for use over electric or water underfloor heating systems.

If the budget does not stretch to wool carpets, wool blends, nylon and propylene carpets are fine, as long as they have jute or hessian backing, Felt and rubber backings and underlays absorb heat, preventing the radiant heat from warming the whole room evenly. Flannigan says that consumers should avoid heavy or thick yarn carpets as they prevent the spread of radiant heat from underfloor heating.

Wool carpets in Wrexham, Chester and North Wales homes are popular as they add luxury to interiors. Wool is a naturally sustainable material. Wool carpets combined with underfloor heating in a well-insulated home could save households money on their energy bills. Before buying a carpet for use with underfloor heating, seek advice from a carpet retailer or underfloor heating supplier.

Top 10 carpet trends to watch for in 2022

Home design trends are moving away from sleek, minimalist interiors to more plush and cosy rooms, and wall-to-wall carpets in Chester and North Wales are making a comeback. According to a report by Livingetc, the top 10 carpet trends of 2022 are:

1. Natural

Carpets made from natural materials, including seagrass, sisal and wool featuring simple neutral colours that are soft and soothing, are set to be on trend this year. To add a touch of brightness, rugs can be layered on top.

2. Bold

The opposite to neutral shades are bold, bright colours and patterns, which are also a predicted trend. If wall-to-wall bold carpets are too much, start by adding vibrant colours to small areas.

3. Mixed finishes

A carpet with natural colours and simple patterns can be more interesting with mixed finishes, including areas with different pile lengths and textures.

4. Carpets that set room colours

Some homes will allow their carpet to set the dominant colour for the rest of the room this year.

5. Colour blocks

Carpet tiles are ideal for creating blocks of colours on the floor, and one predicted trend is having vivid colours contrasting with more neutral ones.

6. Tartan

Tartan pattern carpets are set to bring traditional country classic style into the home.

7. Plush

Soft, plush long pile carpets will make rooms feel warm and cosy this year.

8. Wool

A thick, deep-pile wool pile carpets will add luxury to rooms this year, dampening sound and keeping rooms warm thanks to their insinuating properties.

9. Earthy tones

Colour consultant Lynn Llewellyn-Jones says that earthy colours make people feel energetic, optimistic, secure and grounded, and earthy-toned carpets are set to be on trend.

10. Match carpets to the wall

People will also match their carpets to their wall colours, creating a feeling of being cocooned and safe.

While these are the predicted trends, homeowners can choose whatever style of carpet fits their personality and home best.

Should a garden rake be used to clean carpets?

A woman on the social media platform TikTok has claimed that people have been cleaning carpets wrong – instead of a vacuum cleaner, she recommends using a garden rake.

The woman, who is known on TikTok as cleanhappyco, says that she is a professional cleaner. In her short video on TikTok, the woman is seen raking the carpet. Afterwards, she reveals that the rake is full of hair. The clip has impressed many, as it has been viewed 6.7 million times, with over half a million likes and thousands of comments.

Many viewers said that the rake solves the problem of hairs clogging up their vacuum. One commentator wrote:

“I think I'd rather do this than disassemble my vacuum and remove a horrifying amount of my own hair from the brush roll once a month.”

Another said that they used a rake normally used for pet hairs, saying it also works well for human hair.

The video and comments focused on the problem of removing hair from carpets. A rake is not perhaps the best solution for keeping carpets clean, however, as it does not pick up dust and small debris. Owners of carpets in the Wrexham, North Wales and Chester region should continue to use a vacuum as their main carpet leaning tool. It is recommended that carpets are professionally cleaned at least once a year.

For removing pet or human hairs, a garden rake could be useful, but people shouldn’t use a dirty one that has recently been used in the garden.

How do you take care of artificial grass in the winter?

Winter in the UK is well underway, with frosty mornings and dark nights the norm. While most homeowners spend more time indoors during these chilly months, the coldest season can take its toll on gardens. While owners of a real lawn can be in for a difficult time during winter, those who have invested in artificial grass will enjoy many benefits.

If you are new to synthetic lawns and are now experiencing your first winter with one installed, read on for the answers to some commonly asked questions regarding these lawns during December, January and February.

How do you clear snow from synthetic grass?

While a light covering of snow on man-made grass is suitable for playing or walking on, avoid letting build-up occur. Heavy snowfall left to sit can become compacted and form ice, and this can lead to fibres becoming broken. Salt is not recommended as a measure for thawing snow, as it can clog up the elements designed for drainage in an artificial lawn. For the best results, employ a plastic shovel and remove as much of the snow as you can. Never use a metal shovel, as this can cause harm to your lawn. Remember that as the snow melts, your grass may become slippery, so be careful when you’re working to avoid losing your footing.

Can frost or snow damage artificial lawns?

Crafted from man-made materials, artificial grass is far more hardwearing than a natural turf lawn and has been cleverly designed to stand up well to the more extreme weather experienced in winter. Naturally, the grass blades of a synthetic lawn may still get frosty in a heavy freeze, but to avoid any damage you might cause, wait until any snowfall melts and drains away before stepping on it.

How do you fix artificial grass that has been flattened by snow?

Most high-quality synthetic grass products will typically bounce back after snow has melted away. However, if you feel your lawn is looking a little flat, simply help it to stand up by using a stiff-bristle yard brush to carefully comb it back into position.

What regular maintenance is required over winter?

While synthetic grass will not require the same level of maintenance as a real turf lawn, simple routine maintenance is necessary to make sure your artificial grass stays in great shape over harsher weather.

It’s vital to keep removing any windblown debris like dried leaves and twigs from your artificial grass lawn. If left untended and allowed to build up, this debris can potentially clog up the essential drainage holes in the lawn and lead to water collecting on the lawn’s surface.

The impact of this can involve weeds ensnaring artificial grass and, in worst cases, the growth of mould and moss. Never use a metal rake to remove any unwanted debris or risk harm to your grass. Instead, use a soft brush or broom or consider investing in a leaf blower.

By following these tips over the winter, your artificial grass will be in top form and ready to serve you well in the spring and summer months.

Are carpet tiles good for soundproofing?

Floor coverings are purchased with a number of factors often considered. These typically involve aesthetic appeal, durability, the usage of the room they’ll be installed in and, of course, cost. However, another important attribute of flooring can be its ability offer sound proofing.

A poor floor choice can lead to unwanted reverberation and noise. For example, flooring without sufficient underlay on a multi-floored or semi-detached home or apartment can cause significant disruption to different residents and their neighbours when sound bleeds through walls and floors. From noise from media equipment like sound systems and home cinemas to children running around playing, unwanted sounds can cause considerable discomfort.

Those selecting carpet tiles, sometimes called carpet squares, will find that along with supplying a versatile, economic and easy-to-care for covering for floors, they can also offer exceptional soundproofing qualities.

The power of carpet tiles

Long favoured by schools for their reduced noise levels and improved acoustics, carpet tiles are equally useful in office or home environments. Research suggests that carpeting is able to absorb 10 times as much airborne noise as other floor coverings. This is because softer materials substantially reduce sound, creating a far quieter environment. While a hardback carpet is capable of absorbing three times more noise than hard flooring choices, such as engineered wood or laminate, the latest carpet tiling products can now absorb as much as 50 per cent more sound than carpet that is hard backed. This makes it a superior solution to other flooring, where soundproofing is necessary.

The science of wool

Sound waves are transmitted by air molecules vibrating. As a result, rooms filled with hard surfaces will reflect any sound that occurs back into the room. Due to the soft tufts, fibres and backing involved in carpet tiles, unwanted noise is absorbed, rather than reflected, dampening sounds within a space. Wool carpeting has been identified as being extremely effective in this regard. Wool fibres in a single piece of carpeting can have a wide variety of crimps, lengths and diameters, helping them absorb an extensive range of different frequencies.

New technology

Advanced carpet tile designs are now developed with cushion backing and acoustic dampening that not only provide enhanced comfort, but reduce noise levels. This has led carpet tiles to be a favoured choice for many leading interior designers. Whether they are trying to create a productive office space or a healthy living environment, designers understand that achieving optimal sound absorption and insulation is crucial.

Along with their other many virtues for homeowners and enterprise owners, the ability of the latest carpet tiles to suppress unwanted noise should never be underestimated. With our ever-expanding population, requiring people to live closer to one another than ever before, being considerate of others and reducing our personal noise pollution is extremely important. By softening how much sound we make within our homes and workplaces with such innovative options, ourselves and those around us can enjoy much more peaceful and productive lives.