...you can choose from
thousands of carpet and
flooring options
did you know?
carpets &
flooring
All you need to know about
carpet & flooring
When choosing your new carpet or
hard flooring the selection and options
seems endless and you want to be sure
that you make the best choice to suit
your budget and style.
It is easy to overlook suitability and
practicality of a particular carpet and
this leaflet is designed to help guide you
through the complexities of carpet
buying and provide some useful and
practical tips.
Carpets
Choosing - Home Decor
The main criteria for choosing a carpet will be the colour, it's appearance and how much it costs. All these matters can be fully discussed in our showroom where you can also take advantage of the following benefits:
• expert advice from our experienced staff.
• co-ordinate your ideas with our curtain, rug and furniture ranges to achieve the look and style that you are after.
• the natural light in our store makes it easier to view your carpet selection.
• you can also take advantage of our sample loan service.
It is important that you view a sample of your chosen carpet in your home prior to purchase. Colours can look different to how you perceive them in our showroom.
As a matter of course our estimator will bring a sample to your home when he comes to measure.
One of the most important considerations is which room in the house is the carpet to be fitted and is it suitable for its purpose?
Suitability
You will know where the busy areas are in your home. Generally the hall, stairs and lounge will receive the heaviest traffic, the bedrooms the least.
Stair carpet in particular has to withstand the heaviest punishment, so selecting a suitable grade of carpet, colour and underlay is paramount in order to retain a good appearance over a long period.
Consider what you have at the moment...
• If you have a patterned carpet and are changing to a plain, you need to be aware that a plain carpet will show more marks
and unevenness in the subfloor than a patterned carpet.
• If you are replacing a plain carpet with a big heavy pattern it will tend to make your room look smaller.
• When considering a change from carpet to hard-flooring bear in mind that you will be changing the whole 'feel' of the room. Carpet will absorb the acoustics of the room and Hard Flooring will reflect sound.
Characteristics and Types of Carpet
Clearly the appearance and performance of any carpet will depend on the amount of use that it will receive, but also on the way it is constructed, the materials used and the quality and colour chosen.
To help you make an informed choice, here are a few pointers on types of carpet available
• Plain carpets are very popular as they allow you more freedom in choice of upholstery, curtains wallpaper etc.
The selection of quality, colour and widths available is extensive so choosing the perfect shade shouldn't be a problem.
• The pile of any carpet will flatten in use and over time. The effect of this is that areas of the carpet will look lighter than others. Plain or light patterns will show this more, as will darker colours over lighter ones. Heavily patterned carpets will tend to hide this better and disguise dirty marks more easily.
• Twist pile carpets are very popular. The individual yarns in the carpet are twisted during production to help the pile recover during use.
• Velvet pile carpets have a very smooth finish and by their nature will show foot prints and general traffic marks.
• Fibre used in carpet manufacture varies from 100% Wool on the one hand to 100% man- made on the other.
100% Wool gives softness and warmth and is generally used in woven axminster carpets. Man-made fibres provide strength and usually have a built in stain resistance.
• A good compromise is 80% Wool 20% man-made mix.
• Berber Carpets are made with a random blend of coloured yarns to give a distinctive textured look. This can give a slightly striped appearance not visible in a small sample.
• Care is required when choosing ‘natural’ flooring. Generally this is manufactured from sisal, sea grass or coir. It offers a wonderful alternative to traditional carpet
but will need careful installation. Pets claws can also cause damage to this type of flooring as with any loop-pile carpet.
Performance in Use
A quality carpet should give years of good service but it is essential that a good maintenance regime is followed. This will not only help to prolong the life of the carpet but also help retain its appearance during everyday wear and tear.
Regular vacuuming is recommended as this will both help to lift the pile and remove any grit or dirt which could cause premature wear.
Protection against strong sunlight especially from south-facing patio doors will help alleviate fading in carpets and hard flooring.
The quality and evenness of your floorboards or sub- floor will have a bearing on the wear and appearance of your carpet, especially plains. Again, a strong light source such as patio doors will show up any imperfections in the sub-floor when new carpet is laid.
Heavy furniture will inevitably leave pressure marks on the carpet. It is recommended that furniture is moved regularly to even out any flattening.
Underlay
You will spend a lot of time and trouble selecting your new carpet so it makes sense to protect it with a good quality underlay. It will provide support and acts like a shock absorber between the carpet and the sub-floor, helping to reduce the wear.
Hard Flooring
Vinyl or laminate flooring can give a whole new dimension to your home. The finishes and designs that are available can give a contemporary feel to any room or complement any Traditional roomset.
Hard Flooring needs to be installed on a sound and even subfloor. Depending on your existing floor it may need to be installed on a base of hardboard, plywood or sound absorbing Underlay. Our Estimator can advise on the method of installation that will be required.
Estimating
We offer a free estimating service and will bring samples to your home so that you can see how they will work with your current furnishings. Our Estimator will take the appropriate measurements, advise on suitability and give a
written estimate of what is required to complete the job.
Where large areas such as hall, stairs and landings are to be covered, we will discuss how best to plan the fitting. Many carpet ranges are available in different widths to reduce the need for joins. Where joins are necessary their siting will be discussed with you.
There may be carpet off-cuts, especially with hall stairs and landing installations where we are pattern matching a carpet. However it is best to retain waste carpet, as this can be used in the future to replace any stair treads or can be made into rugs to alleviate wear and tear in high use areas.
Fitting
Once your carpet or flooring is available we will arrange the earliest convenient fitting date for you. We ask that all areas are clear of furniture and existing carpet and underlay ready for our fitters.
Our skilled fitters will lay your carpet with the minimum of disruption and they will clear away any waste leaving only useful size remnants.
It is usually best to ensure that decoration is complete before fitting carpet or hard flooring to avoid it getting damaged or splashed with paint.
Services available:
• Full fitting service offered
• Existing carpet uplift & removal
• Moving existing furniture
• Free estimating and sample Loan
• Any width carpet available up to 7m
• Runners & stair-rods available
• Bespoke colour-match service
• Stain protection available
Carpet Maintenance
Carpets can be treated with a stain resistant finish which slows down the absorption of any spills.
• Always follow manufacturers instructions on care and maintenance.
• Newly laid carpet can 'shed' fibres. These are created during the finishing process and is quite normal.
• Regular vacuuming (daily is best) will help to lift the pile and remove dust and grit from the carpet.
• Pilling can occur in certain carpets made from a blend of fibres. Simply remove the piles with scissors. This will not make the carpet any less durable or hardwearing.
• Loop-pile carpets should only be vacuumed with a suction head, as a cleaner with a beater bar will give the carpet a hairy or felted appearance.
Carpet Shading
Most carpets are manufactured using ‘cut pile’. In use the pile will flatten and you may notice light and dark patches appearing in your carpet soon after it has been laid -particularly velvets and darker colours.
This is neither a fault nor a sign of premature wear but occurs when carpet tufts are trodden down in different directions. Certain areas may show this more than others eg. heavy traffic areas, doorways and stairs. This effect can be lessened with regular
vacuuming, preferably with a vacuum cleaner that has a beater bar/brush - this helps to lift the pile.
Tackling stains
Do it right... Do it quickly!
Accidental spillages on carpets are an unfortunate fact of life and no carpet is totally stain-proof.
Remember the golden rule that instant treatment can mean instant cure.
NEVER - NEVER - EVER RUB - but always blot... blot... blot to a damp dry state.
Liquid spills should be soaked up immediately with absorbent tissue, preferably white, or a clean, dry cloth.
Avoid rubbing and always work from the outside edges of the stain into the centre to avoid spreading. Use a blunt knife or spoon to gently scrape away any solids.
Cleaning Solution
Detergent solution
A teaspoon of neutral detergent, such as Stergere, to half pint (quarter litre) of warm water.
DETERGENT/VINEGAR SOLUTION
Add one teaspoon of white vinegar to the above detergent solution
AMMONIA SOLUTION
One tablespoon of household ammonia to one cup of warm water. Warning: Always test a small out of the way area of your carpet for colourfastness prior to tackling the stain.
DRY CLEANING SOLVENT
A proprietary brand of dry cleaning solvent should be used. You will also need a blunt knife and some white tissues or absorbent cloth to blot up the stain as it is released.The modern alternative is K2R, a dry spray, which is best left overnight to work on any stain before vacuuming off.
BLOOD, CHOCOLATE, EGG, ICE-CREAM, GLUE, GRASS, GRAVY AND FRUIT
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with ammonia solution. Blot dry. Do not rub.
MILK, SOFT DRINKS
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Following with ammonia solution. Blot dry. Do not rub.
FATS, SHOE POLISH, LIPSTICK, OIL, SOLIDS, NAIL POLISH, TAR, VOMIT, WAX, GREASE AND CHEWING GUM
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use dry cleaning solvent, followed by detergent/vinegar solution. Blot dry. Do not rub.
COFFEE, TEA, ALCOHOL/WINES, PERFUME, URINE AND LIQUID FOODS
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use
detergent/vinegar solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blotting up with dry cloths frequently. Do not rub.
About your Order
Please take a moment to check that the details on your order are correct as this will be exactly what we will be ordering from our suppliers. On the reverse of the order you will find some straightforward terms and conditions which we would ask you please to check through.
Once your goods have arrived we will call you to arrange the earliest convenient
delivery/fitting date. We do ask for the balance to be settled three days before delivery. If you are paying by Interest Free Credit we will process payments after fitting.
CARPET
& FLOORING DEPARTMENT
01708 255350
FURNITURE
& INTERIORS STORE
22 - 24
Station Road, Upminster,
Essex RM14 2UB
01708 255300
Free customer parking
Open 7 days a week
Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 9.30am - 6pm
Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm
