Tag: flooring

Tips on choosing a new carpet

Tips on choosing a new carpet

At some point in time, many of us will face the daunting task of choosing a new carpet for the home. And although other flooring materials such as wood and luxury vinyl are growing in popularity, nothing beats the soft warmth of a carpet underfoot – especially in the bedroom. Of course, carpets differ in quality and price. So, it’s worth taking a bit of time over your decision. But what considerations do you need to think about? And why are they important?

Close up of brown & cream carpet pile

Choose the right pile

Different techniques are used to make carpets, and this offers us a range of styles from which to choose. But more than just looking good, the pile can determine how hard-wearing and comfortable your carpet is.

Carpet can be made with looped fibres such as Berber or level loop carpets. Or they can have cut fibres such as Saxony or twist pile carpets. Loop pile carpets are generally considered to be better for high traffic areas as they’re more resistant to crushing. However, these can develop pulls from pet claws and other things catching in them. Plain Saxony pile carpets often show up vacuum and foot marks as the fibres move easily but other cut piles such as Frieze-style carpets have dense, short fibres that hide traffic marks well.

A third option to consider is a woven carpet such as Axminster. These can provide a highly textured or smooth finish. They’re often very durable; however, they can be much more expensive to buy.

Cat lying on a natural woven carpet

Think about materials and cleanability

Material is also very important in your carpet choice. It can be made from natural materials such as wool or sisal or from synthetic materials such as polyester and polypropylene. Along with the type of pile, this can affect the durability of your carpet. It’s also worth considering materials based on cleanability, cost, the environment and vulnerability to pests.

It’s a good idea to decide what your needs are first and match these to the material options. If you have a busy household with pets and young children, then cleanability and durability are a priority. And although wool is naturally stain-resistant and quite hard-wearing, cleaning chemicals are not suitable for this type of carpet. So, a synthetic carpet made of nylon could be a better choice. However, if sustainability is your priority, then wool or other natural and hard-wearing materials such as sisal or jute could be appealing to you. Alternatively, a carpet made from recycled polyester could give you a balance of eco-friendliness, durability and cleanability.

Carpet on a bedroom floor

Choose a style

The style of your carpet isn’t simply down to material and pile though. Colour and pattern play a large part too.

If you like to redecorate frequently, then a neutral-toned carpet will blend in with changing colour schemes. And small or dark rooms will benefit from light colours. On the other hand, in high traffic areas, this may soon become discoloured. You also need to think about how colour can date your décor. Grey carpets have been very popular over the last few years. Yet now, as trends begin to change, home-owners face the dilemma of whether or not to renew their carpet even though it’s still in good condition.

Coins spilling from a jar on to the floor

Avoid costly mistakes

Fitting a new carpet is a big investment that takes time and money. Thus, prior to buying any carpet, it’s worth seeing it ‘in the flesh’. This could mean a trip to your local showroom or ordering a selection of samples. Nonetheless, it’s essential that you do one or the other. Simply looking online won’t tell you the exact colour of the carpet or how it feels.

Don’t forget to factor the underlay and other accessories into your costs. It’s tempting to think you can reuse the existing underlay, but this may be worn or lack the right thickness to give you a satisfactory result.

If you choose to buy your carpet online from a national or international retailer, they may offer to arrange the fitting for you. Don’t automatically think this is the best option. Finding your own carpet fitter means you can choose a local trades-person that you trust.

[disclosure*]

6 common problems to look out for with wood flooring

6 common problems to look out for with wood flooringcredit

Wood flooring is a lovely choice to make a part of your home. It not only looks really good, but when installed right, it can last for a long time. There are some key problems you need to look out for to maintain your wood flooring properly. With the necessary tools and techniques, you’ll be able to have these issues resolved. Here are some common problems you need to look out for with wood flooring.

Cupped wooden flooring

1. Cupping

If the bottom of a board becomes wetter than the top, the edges of the board cup. Wide plank floors tend to be the most prone to cupping, but it can also happen to strip flooring. The cause of cupping is usually when the flooring has been installed over a wet basement or crawlspace. The solution to slowing moisture migration is having a vapour retarder installed between the floorboards and the sub-floor.

In some cases, after the moisture issues are resolved, the cupped floors will end up lying flat again. In other cases, the floor may be permanently deformed. The floor will have to be sanded after the moisture content of the bottom and top of the board is within 1%. You can check the bottoms of the boards by placing a moisture meter through the sub-floor.

Gaps in wooden floor boards

2. Abnormal gaps

Gaps that are big and irregular can take away from the look of your wood flooring. This type of flooring can be more prone to this problem. These gaps tend to be more evident during drier times. One cause of abnormal gaps is flooring that’s too wet when installed. Another cause is installing flooring in areas that are excessively dry, such as when wooden floors are installed on heating ducts, homes heated with wood stoves or areas that receive a lot of direct sunlight.

The best time to have gaps in your floors repaired is during the most humid time of the year when they hold tight to one another. Repairing them when the wooden floor gaps are widest might lead to a floor that buckles when it expands. When repairing the floors, never use wood filler. Instead, glue slithers of wood to the edge of the floorboards. Be sure to apply the glue on only one side of the slither to avoid gluing any boards together.

Peeling paint on wooden floorboardscredit

3. Peeling floor finishes

A wood floor finish can peel if the floor is improperly prepped or contaminated when the finish is applied. Any chemicals or dirt embedded in the finish or on top of the floor will cause the coats of a finish to flake. Other times, excessive sanding with high-grit paper causes the surface to be too smooth for the finish to adhere. Perhaps the most common cause of peeling is stain residue that’s not cleaned before the finish is applied. You can prevent any build-up of stain residue by removing excess stain no later than three minutes after it’s been applied.

The floor should dry thoroughly before any finish is applied. Don’t make the mistake of letting stain sit or applying multiple coats of stain to darken the wood. One of the best ways to fix a peeling floor is sanding it down to bare wood and restarting the process of applying the finish. Having the floor abraded and getting a new topcoat applied probably won’t fix the problem. If resanding isn’t done, furniture polishes and waxes used to clean wood floors will seep in the pores of the finish and potentially prevent the finish from successfully bonding.

Wet wooden floor boards

4. Buckling

When boards can’t expand, they end up buckling. A wood floor can buckle because of a flood, a damp basement, or if it was too dry when the floor was installed. Additionally, improper fastening aggravates the condition. Sometimes, buckled floors can be refastened, while other times, they have to be removed. If the grooves and tongues are torn apart, or the boards have been cracked, they have to be replaced. The moisture issues in the home have to be fixed, and the moisture content of the sub-floor and floorboards needs to be the appropriate level before the buckled floors can be repaired.

Stained wooden floor

5. Stains

When a floor finish builds up with stain, it can typically be removed with a wood floor cleaner. If the stain is within the actual finish, it has to be sanded out. If a floorboard has been deeply stained, it’s best to have it replaced. In particular, pet urine can go deep into the wood fibres and be very difficult to remove. Two-part wood bleach can sometimes remove stains, though it does have disadvantages. Bleach can break down the wood fibres, causing the wood to be more susceptible to denting. If you use wood bleach, make sure to apply it to the entire floor, so the floor can remain consistent in sheen and colour. Once dry, sand and refinish the wood.

Fractured wooden floor

6. Fractures

Factory-finished floors tend to have more cracks than other types of flooring. Flooring nailers damage the finish on the boards. More manufacturers are making an adapter for their nailers to keep the force of the nailer from concentrating on the floorboard’s surface. Ideally, boards with badly damaged edges should be replaced. Cracks can be common on the face of regular and factory-finished floorboards. It happens because different wood types tend to crack more than others.

A factory-finished board can be fixed through using a manufacturer repair kit, which has a coloured marker, a bottle of finish and wood filler. If you’re unable to get a kit, the next best option is to either fill the crack with wood filler and apply finish over the entire floor to keep the colours matching, or replace the board.

Being aware of common wood flooring problems can keep you prepared with the tools you need to maintain your floors. Be sure to fix any problems that you notice with your wooden floors as soon as possible to keep it preserved. You can learn more about hardwood floors at this link: HomesPure.com.

[disclosure*]

Handy tips for artificial grass maintenance

Handy tips for artificial grass maintenancecredit

It’s a fact that laying artificial grass in your outdoor areas ensures that upkeep will be minimal. Still, you’ll need to carry out a modicum of maintenance if you want your artificial grass to be durable and look attractive for years to come.

Below, we’re going to go through some handy tips for both preparatory and post-installation maintenance.

Hire professionals to install the carpet

Dynamic companies like Perth Artificial Grass provide you with not only a range of choices but also high quality installation. They have an expert team that can advise about quantity needed, layout and fitting.

Although it may not seem a difficult task to lay artificial turf, it can often prove to be a tricky job. Engage a reputable retailer to avoid unnecessary pitfalls. If you choose to do-it-yourself and make a mistake, it can turn out to be an expensive or time-consuming decision.

3D render of artificial grass with a path running through

Prepare the ground for installation

Before you have the artificial grass laid, ensure there are no leaves, small stones or other loose material on the ground. Once this has been done, smooth and level the area building up a soft and humid base. Creating a sub-layer using a soil and limestone mixture will deter weeds and also discourage insects.

Have maintenance equipment

An artificial grass carpet doesn’t require costly cleaning tools to keep it looking good. It just needs a sweep and a wash. So you need to have some basic equipment such as a broom, scrubbing brush and bucket at the ready.

Chairs on artificial grass

Brush frequently

The ‘blades’ of synthetic grass can become flattened after being constantly walked and played upon. This means that you’ll need to brush them on a regular basis to get the surface to stand high and look fresh again. For best results, use a broom with soft, synthetic bristles.

Clean regularly

Debris such as particles of food, sticky drink spills, animal mess etc are to be expected and will need to be cleaned up. If they’re not, they will decay and begin to smell. Cleaning can be done simply & easily using a sponge & warm water with soap, mild detergent or disinfectant.

Bright green artificial turf

Avoid fire, heavy and sharp items

Discarded matches and cigarette butts will likely melt and burn your artificial grass, leaving unattractive black spots. Heavy objects such as vehicles or can press your grass down and damage it permanently. Additionally, sharp items such as stiletto heels and some garden tools can pierce, cut, slash and damage your carpet for good.

Remove leaves and other garden material

Fallen leaves, especially in the autumn months, can accumulate on the ground in no time. Once it rains, they get soggy, turn to mush and will quickly rot on the surface of your artificial grass. Avoid this happening by clearing them up frequently.

Pull up weeds

Weeds can establish themselves on even the thinnest layer of soil that may settle on the surface of your artificial grass. Be vigilant, inspect your turf regularly and remove any unwanted shoots as soon as you see them emerge.

[disclosure*]

4 mistakes people make when having carpet fitted

4 mistakes people make when having carpet fittedcredit

Contrary to what some people will tell you, carpet has never gone out of style, and many will prefer the soft feel of a warm carpet under their feet over hardwood any day. A carpet is also a great option for children’s rooms thanks to its shock and sound-absorbing qualities. However, to get the most out of your new carpet, you have to make sure that you have all bases covered and don’t commit serious mistakes that you could end up regretting later on. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when having carpet fitted.

Brown carpet with shadows across

Not choosing the right underlay

One of the most important things that you should do when having carpets fitted is to consider installing underlay. The only situation where we would advise against this is if you have underfloor heating. In this case, the underlay could prevent heat from seeping through, though you can find underlay with low thermal resistance.

Underlay is essential to making a carpet more comfortable. If you want to learn more about underlay, its benefits, and which one to pick, you should check out ColourBank Flooring and Beds. They have a useful page on how this can make carpet more comfortable by improving the carpet’s shock-absorbing qualities. They explain which type of underlay you should be using for a room with heavy traffic, for instance, or when would be the best time to have it upgraded.

5 different coloured carpetscredit

Going with the cheapest quote

This is one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make. Going with the absolute cheapest quote will only guarantee two things: either you’ll get the cheapest result, or end up paying much more in the end. You want to look at multiple quotes and you want to know if those quotes are fixed so that there will not be any unpleasant surprises. You want something near the middle unless you’re getting specialised service. If that’s the case, you can pay a little more for quality, but only if the contractor is a certified expert with verifiable experience and work.

Small dog laying on a carpet

Not looking at insurance

Insurance is very important when working with any contractor and you must ask for the contractor’s proof of insurance before you start. You also want to follow up and call the insurance company to see if their coverage is real and active. Insurance will protect your property in case they cause damage, it will protect you if someone gets injured as a result of their actions, and it will also protect you in case they quit the job in the middle for any reason.

Layered carpet samples

Not considering professional installation

But the worst mistake is not having the carpets fitted by a professional in the first place. While you may feel like this is an easy job, a pro will get you better results. Not only that, but mistakes can be a headache to fix and you might have to call a pro anyway to come and fix everything. If a contractor makes a mistake, you’ll hopefully be able to evoke some clause in the contract that obligates them to fix it.

These are some of the mistakes you should avoid at all costs when it comes to carpets. In all cases, always make sure that you thoroughly vet the people you’re going to work with and know as much about the process before the project starts.

[disclosure*]