Month: March 2015

Chances are that if you have ever looked at a hardwood floor, you likely decided whether you liked it or not by its appearance. In fact, there’s much more to a hardwood floor than how it looks on its surface.

The character in any wood flooring can be found in its knotholes, streaks and veins. Even if they are cut from the same tree, each board can have its own unique characteristics. All of these details can make it very difficult to choose the right kind of wood flooring in Bedford.

Real wood flooring has many benefits. However, the natural knots that exist in real hardwood floors can be difficult to protect with seals and finishes. This is where engineered flooring enters the picture.

The Beauty of Engineered Flooring

Just as with real hardwood, engineered flooring is available in various grades. These are natural, select, prime and rustic.

The type of engineered flooring you choose will depend on where in your home you wish to install it. Not only is engineered wood flooring easier to install than its traditional counterpart, but it is far less likely to shrink or expand with temperature and moisture fluctuations, which is why it’s often chosen for high traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Finished basements are also good locations for engineered flooring to be installed. Engineered wood flooring is also competitively priced.

Another benefit of engineered wood flooring is that depending on the type and application chosen, it can be installed without the need for glue. This can drastically reduce installation time.

Engineered Wood Flooring Construction

This type of flooring is made from layers of wood which have been glued together. These layers can be as few as three or as many as ten. This layering is what provides engineered wood with its unparalleled stability. Atop these layers is an attractive wood veneer.

Choosing the Right Colour

Today’s choices for engineered wood flooring are many, making it difficult to choose the best colour. Some flooring has been stained while others contain only a simple finish. You can find flooring in any colour from natural wood to white and even black.

Ultimately, the look you wish to create will determine the colour of engineered wood flooring you choose. For example, if there is a dark room in your home that you want to brighten, a light coloured floor may do the trick. A light floor may also do well where the goal is to inject some charm into a modern room.

Finding a Finish

Just as with colours, there are many options available for finishing when choosing a floor. Those who have chosen natural wood and want a natural, matte finish can opt for a brushed and oiled finish, which will protect the wood while keeping it in its natural state.

Engineered wood flooring is usually finished in a hard lacquer. This provides an attractive gloss but also offers added durability that can handle just about anything, from traffic to spills. Other finishing options available for engineered wood flooring include distressed, hand-scraped, wire brushed and smooth lacquer.

One finish that’s relatively new for engineered flooring is titanium finish. This particular finish is made from titanium oxide, and is an ingredient in the polyurethane coating which usually covers the wood’s top layer. The titanium option itself has several sub-options, including UV protection. However, titanium finish can be quite a bit more expensive than other, more commonly available finishes.

The best flooring option for your home will be the one that can withstand what you throw at it, and yet not break your budget.

You may have a good idea about the kind of flooring you want in your home. If you do, congratulations; this can be a daunting task all on its own. But sometimes, choosing the right flooring company can be equally difficult. There are many flooring companies out there selling a number of products and services. So how can you possibly choose between companies when they are all offering similar products? The trick is to understand a few basics.

Relationships

A flooring company that has exclusive relationships with several manufacturers may result in cost-effective and quality flooring. Any commercial or residential flooring job can be greatly improved when suppliers and vendors dealing in name-brand products have been chosen.

Level of Inspection

A company that carefully inspects each of its products for quality before making them available to you may be the company to work with. The more satisfied a flooring company is with its products, the higher the likelihood that its customers will be satisfied with the products they purchase.

Some of the things a flooring company may inspect their products for include product reliability, colour fastness and uniformity, cracks and surface marks. More detailed inspections may include plank size and quality of polish.

Finding out about whether or not a company inspects the products it sells can be as easy as speaking with the store manager, who should only be too happy to provide this information.

Accreditation

One thing that many who buy flooring tend to overlook is whether or not the company is registered with the Offices of Trading Standards. This alone can go a long way to increasing your trust of a flooring company. Unfortunately, there are too many companies that are involved with the illegal trade of endangered woods and other materials. However, being listed with the Offices of Trading Standards can eliminate most doubt.

Another beneficial aspect to being registered is that you can review any complaints a company has received about their products or customer service. However, you should be careful not to take every bad review to heart, as some can be biased and due to isolated incidents. The best thing to do is to read reviews, but remain as objective as possible when doing so.

Research

These days, the internet can be accessed to conduct virtually any type of research, including for flooring retailers. However, research can also be conducted in real time by speaking with those you know. Do you have a friend who recently purchased flooring from a retailer? If so, ask them about their experience, as this could go a long way to helping you make the right decision about from whom to purchase flooring.

Staff Evaluation

You can tell a lot about a flooring company by how they treat their customers. If you have some time and can get there, visit several retail flooring shops in your area. Evaluate how staff reacts when you ask them questions about their flooring. If they avoid your questions or become defensive, you may wish to reconsider dealing with them. The same is true if their demeanour seems apathetic.

A flooring retailer who shows they care both about their products and customers is a company that is much more likely deliver on the promises they make. As well, there is a higher likelihood that their installation staff will also take pride in the work they do, which can mean money that is well spent.

If you will be spending a significant amount of money on flooring for your home, choosing the right flooring company from the outset just makes sense.

Carpet may have a very bad reputation depending on who you talk to. But don’t believe everything you hear; carpet continues to be one of the most popular flooring options. And there are good reasons for this. Not only does carpet dampen sound, but it also provides warmth and softness.

Unfortunately, the misconceptions about carpeting continue to circulate. Some may even cause you to consider another flooring type. However, before you research other kinds of flooring, be sure you’re aware of these common carpeting myths.

1) High Maintenance

Another myth is that carpeting requires far more work to maintain and wears out more quickly than other types of flooring. But the truth is that a few simple steps are all it takes to ensure that your carpeting retains its new look over time.

For example, quickly removing soil particles as soon as possible after they’ve been deposited will prevent dirt from getting below the carpet’s surface where they are more difficult to remove. The same is true of stains; cleaning them before they’ve had the chance to set will ensure that the colour of your carpet remains even and vibrant.

2) Carpets and Allergies

Many people think that carpeting makes allergy symptoms worse and therefore should not be on the list of choices for homes having allergy sufferers. In fact, several studies have concluded the opposite. Carpet fibres actually trap and immobilise allergy-causing particulates. Of course, any trapped allergens can be released when the carpet is walked on. However, regular vacuuming with a high-efficiency HEPA filter can ensure that your carpet never triggers allergy symptoms.

3) Chemical Content

Many believe that carpet contains chemicals which can be hazardous, or even deadly. One popular myth is that carpets in Bedfordshire contain formaldehyde. The truth is that formaldehyde hasn’t been used in the carpet manufacturing process for almost 40 years.

Carpet is made from face yarn. Face yarn can be made from several materials, including wool, polyester, nylon or polypropylene. Backing material is made from jute or polypropylene. The glue used in carpet manufacturing is made from synthetic latex, which doesn’t cause allergic reactions.

4) Carpeting and the Environment

Carpeting used to get poor marks in the environmental department. But today, there are many environmentally-friendly options. Many companies including Mayfield carpets offer nylon-constructed products, which can actually be recycled and reformed into new carpet fibre. Some carpet types even include recycled content, such as plastic bottles.

5) Thicker Is Better

Is a thicker carpet really better? That depends on where it is placed. If carpet is going to be installed in a high traffic area, a denser carpet having more yarn per square inch is the better choice. A thick carpet with a longer yarn can also have a higher probability of matting, which can make a carpet look older and worn.

The same is true with carpet under padding; a thicker under pad will not necessarily mean a more durable one. As with carpet, it’s the density of the under pad that determines its durability.

6) Carpet Attracts Mould

This is likely one of the most popular myths about carpeting. In order to debunk this particular myth, it’s important to understand what mould requires in order to grow. These are moisture, the right temperature and a food source. Food can be anything from dirt to wall board. Chances are that if your walls or clothing don’t have mould on them, your carpet won’t have mould either.

The myths about carpeting can seem endless. However, when you conduct thorough research, you can make an informed decision about installing this product in your home.

www.fabflooringcarpetsandhomefurnishings.co.uk