Product Information

Colour Selection

Think of your floors as the fifth 'wall' of a room, connecting all the design elements. When choosing a colour scheme it is important to consider the walls, curtains and other furnishings as well as any mood and effect you wish to create in the room. When it comes to carpet selection, colour can be the key to transforming space.

colour affects the way we perceive space - it can, for example, create a mood, lower or raise the ceiling, square up a long and narrow space and make the most of interior architecture.

To make a large room with a northern or eastern exposure feel cosy, choose a dark colour carpet - particularly one from the warm red, orange and yellow end of the spectrum. Deep, rich hues absorb light, which means they give the illusion of smaller, more intimate space

Conversely, choose a carpet that's light in tone to expand a small space. Pale pastels and neutral colours reflect light, causing an area to appear larger.

As well, light colours - particularly in the green, blue and violet end of the spectrum - help to cool sunny southern and western exposures.

Green is one of nature's most restful and restorative colours. Blue is also a wonderfully soothing colour. Vibrant, lively colours are good for a family room or kitchen.

In your final decision remember a floor is a large area - and a whole floor of carpet will intensify the colour, making it seem darker than the small sample.

Colour is a reflection of your tastes and personality so be sure to choose something that suits you and sets the right tones for your rooms.

You are always welcome to take samples home to see how your colour selection in the shop will look; colours will change in different areas , particularly from daylight to artificial light at night time.

Carpet Fibres

There are three basic types of carpet fibre: Natural, Synthetic and Man Made.

Natural Fibres

Originally there was only one carpet fibre - wool. The premier fibre for carpets: luxurious, soft and warm with a natural 'crimp' making it resilient and better able to recover from compression marks. Wool is used in 100% form but is more familiar in an 80% mix with another man made fibre, usually nylon, to improve durability.

The latest development is to blend 80% wool with 10% nylon and 10% hot-melt polyester. This construction gives better long term appearance retention and reduces fibre shedding; thus preserving the 'body' of the carpet.

Synthetic Fibres

These fibres are produced as a by product of the petrochemical industry, being oil based such as Nylon, Acrylic, Polyester and Polypropylene.

Acrylic

The man made fibre most like wool in appearance and feel. Wears well but not as durable as nylon. It soils easily and is usually blended with wool rather than manufactured in 100% form.

Nylon

Widely used in carpets because of its versatility and performance as well as being very hard wearing. Nylon (polyamide) is blended with other fibres but is quite often used on its own.

A low cost fibre, it dyes easily and wears extremely well.

Polyester

A fibre less suited to high traffic areas so quite often used in bedroom carpets and heavy weight Saxonies. Soft to the touch and warm, not as durable as Nylon.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a very versatile fibre due to its strength, stain resistant and anti static properties. Not as hard wearing as nylon but very suitable in heavy soil areas or sensitive electronic environments.

Carpets in this fibre are predominantly made in 100% form as a low level loop and often combined with wool as a 50/50 wool/polyprop. or 80/20 wool/polypropylene mix. Polypropylene is moisture resistant, rot proof, colour fast and will resist bleach. Often used as outdoor carpeting for swimming pool surrounds/patios/balconies etc.

Viscose

This fibre is 'Man Made' being produced from wood pulp. Usually mixed with other fibres to bulk them out. Viscose is inexpensive, easy to dye and inherently non-static.

Carpet Care & Maintenance

1. Regular vacuum cleaning with an efficient dust catching bag is essential as it prevents loose dirt and grit from working its way into the carpet pile where it will damage fibres. In areas of heavy traffic, it is recommended that carpet be vacuumed three to four times per week.

To protect the appearance of your carpets, it is advisable to placebarrier mats by each entrance. This will scrape dirt, grit and moisture from the shoes. Cleaning the mats regularly will ensure their continued efficiency.

2. Rubber soled shoes and all types of heels can be hard on carpet pile, especially in front of chairs where heel abrasion is difficult to avoid. Periodically move chairs and restrict the use of sports shoes and trainers in certain areas.

3. All carpet gets dirty and after a while will need a clean to bring back its appearance and colour. It is recommended that carpets be cleaned by a specialist cleaning company that use the correct solvents and cleaning agents for your carpet.

Everyday spills and stains can be cleaned using a spot cleaning kit as an aid to preserving your carpets good looks. If you clean the carpet yourself, always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Always pre-test a small unobtrusive area before cleaning the rest of the carpet. If a stain reappears after cleaning, all the spill and/or cleaning agent may not have been removed completely. Further cleaning and rinsing is necessary.

Laminate care

One of the reasons that laminate is such a popular flooring choice is its ease of maintenance. It doesn’t require any special equipment or product to keep it looking beautiful and in good condition – just a regular vacuum using a soft brush attachment and then a wipe with a damp mop or soft cloth. It is important to only use water, even if you are scrubbing at a heavily soiled area, as soap-based detergents and harsh chemical cleaners can damage the floor’s finish, causing clouding and discolouration. Similarly, avoid harsh abrasives, such as steel wool, sandpaper or scouring pads, and laminates do not need polish or wax so avoid these as well.

Hardwood care

Correct care of solid wood floors is important to keep the natural beauty and sheen. The main thing is to keep little bits of grit and debris off the floor as these act as fine abrasives and will scratch the hardwood finish, leading to a lack lustre appearance.It is a good idea to vacuum regular and in addition, to use a dust mop or broom to sweep the floors during the week. For heavier soiling, act quickly and wipe with a soft cloth, using as little water a possible. Even if you are cleaning up a spill and need to use a damp cloth, always wipe the area again with a dry cloth. It is essential to keep hardwoods and their finishes free from moisture – especially if you have a wax finish. Always clean up a spill or puddle immediately. Water can seep into joints and seams and cause irreparable damage.

Always check the label of the cleaner you are proposing to use and make sure it says “suitable for hardwood floors” – otherwise, don’t use it. In fact, if you have presealed hardwood floors (usually with polyurethane), then just a cloth lightly dampened with solution of clear vinegar and hot water will be sufficient. Some people mistakenly use self-polishing waxes or vinyl and tile care products on their solid wood floors as this leaves a high gloss appearance; however, this will discolour after some time and also cause problems when you need to re-finish your hardwood in the future. If your floors are waxed, then make sure that you never use a cleaning product which requires water or contains water.