Expert advice on choosing the right carpet

Interior design experts have announced that carpets have made a comeback. If you visit a flooring retailer in North Wales or Cheshire, you may be overwhelmed by the wide choice of carpet materials, colours and patterns. Interior designers have advised consumers on how to choose a carpet that is right for them.

The main carpet decision to make is to choose the material. Should you go for man-made or natural materials? Synthetic materials are good for high footfall areas as they are stain-resistant, and the colours won’t fade. They are also more affordable.

Designer Ann Marie Cousins says that, for those concerned about the environment, wool is a good choice as it is a natural sustainable material that has the feel of luxury.

The next option is the pile, deep or short. Interior designer Laura Short says that a deep-pile carpet is luxurious, but more difficult to clean. Busy households with children, pets or messy teenagers may prefer a short pile carpet.

Pile options include loop or cut. Designer Kelly Collins says that loop pile carpets are better for high-traffic areas. Cut pile carpets are plusher and can create a textured look.

Ann Marie Cousins says that when visiting a carpet retailer, remember that the carpets displayed there will probably look different in the home as the lighting, wall colours, and furnishings affect the appearance of the carpet. Ideally, borrow a few samples and live with them for a few days before choosing the right one for you.

Can you install luxury vinyl over hardwood?

Hardwood floors are a popular choice within the home for their appealing aesthetic. A polished floor made of hardwood planks has an appealing quality, especially in a room such as the kitchen. However, for all that visual appeal, it is not always the most practical choice.

Hardwood can very easily be scratched or scuffed if it has been fitted in rooms that experience a lot of footfall. It can also be harsh to walk on, especially if you live in a northern area like Chester where the weather is colder. That is why homeowners sometimes look to put a second floor surface on top of it.

Luxury vinyl is another popular choice for the floors of a home, but is it one that will work well on top of hardwood? Read on to find out.

Why put another surface over hardwood?

As mentioned above, the attractive look of a hardwood floor has to be weighed against its impractical aspects. If it has been laid in a room where people will not often be walking on it in shoes or boots, it can retain its visual appeal, but in busy rooms it can very quickly become worn and covered in scratches – especially if you also have pets with claws.

Even in a room such as a bedroom, hardwood can have disadvantages. It is cold to walk on with bare feet and does not do much to retain room warmth. Therefore, you may still wish to put another surface over the top of it.

Why not just lift the hardwood floors?

It might seem like simply removing the existing hardwood floor would be easier, but that is not really the case. Hardwood planks vary in length and are awkward and time consuming to lift. Plus, they add value to the home as an investment, so leaving them underneath can be a smart move in case you decide to move in the future.

Will luxury vinyl work on top of them?

The simple answer to that question is: yes, there is no reason why you cannot put luxury vinyl over hardwood. Vinyl is among the most varied and flexible floor surfaces in existence and will work well in most situations. That said, it is best installed on top of an existing surface that is flat, so either you or a professional flooring company may have to sand down any parts of the hardwood that are not even before putting it in place.

Opting for a loose lay installation minus glue or nails will be the best way to avoid any damage to the hardwood underneath. In some cases, if you hire a professional to fit the vinyl, they will opt to put plywood boards over the hardwood first.

Why should you put luxury vinyl over hardwood?

There are a number of advantages to putting luxury vinyl over your hardwood floor. These are just some of them.

It is durable

Luxury vinyl is considered to be one of the most durable flooring surfaces in existence. It is thicker than standard vinyl, which makes it much less likely to degrade, and has a special wear layer added during manufacture that further helps to protect it. It is a floor choice that should survive for decades.

It can cope with water

One of the biggest problems with hardwood flooring is that it can be badly damaged by excess water. This can lead to the planks becoming warped and going out of shape. In the worst cases, it can even lead to serious damage like rotting that will force you to replace the floor. By contrast, luxury vinyl is resistant to water damage so it will work in any room of your home.

It can look like wood

If the prospect of covering up your lovely hardwood floor is painful, do not worry: luxury vinyl planks can be manufactured and designed to closely replicate the appearance of solid wood ones. That way you get the look without the problems.

What else do you need to know?

Check the condition of the wood

Before attempting to install the vinyl, check that the hardwood planks are not damaged in any way. That means cupping, warping or unevenness. It also means making sure no planks are loose and that the floor as a whole is sound structurally. Seek guidance from qualified flooring professionals if you are unsure.

Choose the right vinyl

Whether you opt for a thinner or thicker grade of luxury vinyl will depend on your budget and how often it is likely to be walked on. If in doubt, go with a thicker grade though as it is not particularly expensive.

You can put luxury vinyl over hardwood, and it often makes sense to do so. Talk to a professional firm with experience in installation if you need help.

Recycled nappies make laminate flooring insulation

A pilot scheme is currently trialling how to recycle nappies to save them from being dumped in landfills. The Pura NappiCycle project collects nappies and other hygiene products from Bristol and takes them to South Wales to be processed into fibre materials used for panelling, notice boards and under-laminate-flooring insulation.

The scheme is a partnership between nappy maker Pura and NappiCycle. Guy Fennell, the founder of Para, explains that the number of disposable nappies which end up in UK landfills every year is around three billion; these can take centuries to break down. He wants the government and businesses to invest in the expansion of NappiCycle. Fennell says:

"The success of this phase of the trial is just the start – we want to bring this nappy recycling service to households throughout the UK."

NappiCycle and Pura have agreed on a five-year plan to launch more large-scale trials in the hope of developing the recycling technology to break down all absorbent hygiene products.

Households that install laminate flooring in North Wales could soon be using insulation materials made from recycled nappies. High-quality laminate flooring insulation helps keep the floor warm and adds an extra layer of cushioning that feels comfortable underfoot. Laminate flooring insulation is available from various reliable providers.

Although laminate flooring insulation often contains recycled materials, only a few types of them currently incorporate this new technology. However, that could soon change as nappy recycling schemes are expanded.

Modern manufacturing technologies have made up to 85% of the materials in modern laminate flooring recyclable.

How to choose an easy-to-clean carpet

Carpets can make a room feel warm and cosy, but households considering installing them in their Chester or North Wales home may be concerned about keeping them clean. Interior style expert and journalist Rhiannon Faith Ireland has advised on the best type of carpets that are low maintenance and easy to clean.

Carpets are typically made from synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene, or natural materials like wool, silk, jute, cotton, and seagrass. With care, all carpets can be cleaned effectively.

Nylon carpets are often treated with solutions that help prevent stains and fading, making them very easy to keep clean.

Polyester provides a wool-like feel at a lower cost, and can be textured to resemble wool. Polyester carpets are also resistant to stains and low maintenance.

Although there is a view that natural fibre carpets are difficult to clean, Rhiannon states that some natural fibre carpets are extremely easy to keep clean. Coir carpets, for example, are low maintenance and won't show stains or dirt, but may feel hard underfoot.

Wool carpets have many benefits, including heat insulation, noise reduction and durability. Rhiannon notes that they are not as low maintenance as synthetic carpets, although the British Wool Organization states that wool evolved to protect sheep from harsh weather and is naturally stain-resistant. Dirt, spills and stains can be removed from wool carpets, provided care is taken and the right tools and solutions are used.

While all carpets require regular vacuuming, professional deep cleaning is recommended at least once a year.

How to deal with water damaged laminate flooring

Damage can occur when water penetrates the gaps between laminate planks. Signs of water damage include swelling and bubbling of the top layer. Laminate is a layered material, and excess water can cause the layers to separate.

Repair minor water damage

If the water damage is not too severe, remove the damaged planks and allow them to dry completely. Then, treat the exposed edges with wood glue so that it penetrates the layers. Clamp the planks tightly so that the layers are solidly glued together, and then place the laminate flooring planks back in place.

Replace severely damaged planks

If there are several planks beyond repair, remove them and replace them with matching new planks. If matching planks cannot be found, try swapping the damaged planks with good condition planks from an unseen part of the floor, such as under furniture or a rug. It’s a good idea to purchase extra planks when fitting a new laminate floor, as these can be used to replace damaged ones.

Prevent water damage

Of course, it is even better to prevent water damage in the first place. If the laminate flooring is in a North Wales location that is commonly at risk of flooding, install flood prevention barriers.

Protect laminate in high moisture areas

In high moisture areas such as bathrooms, install special water-resistant laminate flooring or apply a polyurethane coating to existing laminate flooring to repel water.

Avoid using too much water when mopping laminate flooring, and dry with a cloth after wet mopping. If liquid spills on the floor or a pet has an accident, promptly clean it up.

Here are just a few tips that you can try in your home. If you have any of your own, feel free to comment and share them below.