Choosing your flooring
Choosing your flooring
GUIDE TO BUYING CARPET
The main factors to consider when selecting your carpet are the style (cut or loop), fibre (wool, nylon, polyester or triexta) and colour. Your budget will also dictate your selection so our pricing guide will help narrow down the choices.
STYLE
CUT PILE
'Cut Pile Plush' has a shorter yard which is slightly twisted gives a softer feel underfoot and more velor look but is more prone to tracking so best used in lower foot traffic areas.
'Cut Pile Twist' has a tighter twist making it more hard wearing and less likely to track, whilst still giving a luxrious look.
STYLE
LOOP PILE
Loop pile is made by threading the fibre through the carpet backing and back through the front again to form a series of loops. It has a more casual look, hides footprints and is well suited to high traffic areas.
There are different varieties including level loop (uniform height loops), multi level loop (loops are different heights) and sisal (runs in rows).
FIBRE
WOOL
Wool is naturally stain resistant, hard wearing, renewable and warm. Being a higher quality fibre, it is typically a higher priced option.
SOLUTION DYED NYLON
Solution Dyed Nylon is a great options for families given it's stain resistance and hard wearing nature. They won't fade and very easy to clean given the synthetic properties of the fibre.
POLYESTER
Polyester is a budget friendly option that still provides great stain resistance, soft underfoot and made from 100% recycled materials.
LVT, Laminate, timber, hybrid or vinyl?
When selecting your hard flooring you'll want to take into considering the look you are after (would you like a timber look or tiles?), where it will be used (bathrooms need to consider water proof rating, kitchens need to be hard wearing) and budget (engineered timber can be more expensive than Luxury Vinyl Planks but it does offer other benefits).
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
LVT give the look of wood without the cost. The major pro of LVT is the ability to use in wet areas due to it's water resistance (unlike timber which cannot). Choosing a LVT with a higher top wear layer will give better durability and make it a hard wearing option.
LAMINATE
Constructed via layers of compressed wood fused via a lamination process, with a printed timber design overlay and protective layer. Great option for high traffic areas but shouldn't be used in bathrooms or laundries unless it is a new generation product with joint sealing technology.
TIMBER
Timber flooring can either be solid hard wood or engineered, which involves layers of timber fused together. Timber floors are the top of the line, they only get better with age (with the right care & maintenance) but expect to pay a premium price.
HYBRID
Hybird flooring is typically constructed via 5 layers including underlay, composite core, decorative layer, pvc wear layer and topped with a surface treatment to prevent scufs and stains. They are a great option for wet areas due to their water resistance and minimal expansion and contraction.
SHEET VINYL
'Lino' as we've always called it, isn't the same as it was 20 years ago. The patterns and designs available today lend themselves to contemporary and modern homes. Sheet vinyl typically comes in 2m, 3m or 4m widths and is available in huge variety of looks from stone, vintage, tiles and timber effects. Great option for wet areas.
