Flooring Advice
Advice and helpful tips for choosing, installing, and maintaining your flooring to ensure it stays beautiful and durable for years to come.
What is LVT Flooring?
You've likely heard the term LVT, which stands for Luxury Vinyl Tiles, but do you know what our planks are made of and why you might choose dryback over click? This guide provides everything you need to know about LVT and how to select the perfect flooring for your...
How to Clean and Maintain LVT Flooring
LVT flooring is celebrated for its exceptional ease of cleaning, practicality, and durability, making it the perfect choice for family homes where spills and stains are inevitable. Our luxury vinyl floors are built to withstand daily wear and tear,but to ensure they...
Our Guide on How To Measure Your Floor
Measure the length and width of the room. Always remember to measure into doorways, alcoves and recesses.Measure odd shaped rooms in the same way as rectangular rooms. However, you will need to take more meaaurements. Remember to measure into doorways, alcoves and...
Our Guide to Subfloor Preparation for Amtico & Karndean Flooring: What You Need to Know
To keep your floor in optimal condition, manufacturers have strict standards for preparing the subfloor before installing your flooring. At Carpetstyle, we are a premium Amtico retailer, and we exclusively work with Amtico-registered fitters. Meeting these...
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions about flooring options, installation, and care to help you make informed decisions for your space.
Carpet FAQ's
What are the Different Types of Carpet Fibres?
Here are the three primary types of carpet fibers, each with distinct advantages:
- **Wool** – Wool is unmatched in its resilience against soiling, stains, and flammability. It is not only long-lasting and easy to maintain but also provides exceptional natural insulation during winter. Many wool carpets effectively integrate manmade fibers to enhance their durability and strength.
- **Polypropylene** – For busy households, polypropylene carpets are the ideal choice. They boast outstanding stain resistance and can be effortlessly cleaned with a diluted bleach solution. This hard-wearing manmade option is resistant to fading and offers excellent value for your investment.
- **Nylon/Polyamide** – This robust synthetic fiber guarantees a long-lasting appearance and is particularly suited for vibrant colors. Choose nylon/polyamide for carpets that stand out and endure.
Why Does the Colour of Carpet Look Different in Homes?
Lighting can significantly alter how we perceive the color of carpet, making some areas appear lighter or darker than others. The lighting conditions in a carpet retail store differ from those in your home. Therefore, it’s often recommended that customers take a carpet sample home before making a final decision. When in use, pressure on the carpet pile causes it to flatten in different directions, which creates a shading effect. This shading is a common characteristic of cut-pile carpets, and while it may affect the carpet’s appearance, it does not have any negative impact on its performance.
Can I Hoover My New Carpet?
Carpetstyle recommends hoovering your new carpet daily after it is installed. During the first hoovering, focus on a small area at a time and check your vacuum bag regularly, as a lot of fibers will be collected initially. You may need to change or empty the bag several times; failing to do so could damage your vacuum. For straight-pile carpets, use an upright cleaner with a beater bar to remove fibers more effectively. Most loop pile carpets should only be vacuumed with a suction cleaner. Some loop pile carpets may develop pilling on the surface of the wool loops that a suction vacuum cannot remove. In such cases, you may need to trim these pills at the top of the loops but avoid cutting the loops themselves. Deep pile carpets can be challenging to vacuum with a strong suction cleaner, so, if possible, use a less powerful vacuum regularly.
Is Carpet a Practical Choice for Bathrooms?
Choosing to use carpet in a bathroom ultimately depends on your personal preference. If you decide to go with carpet in this space, it’s advisable to select one designed specifically for bathroom use. A key feature to consider is waterproof backing, which enhances the carpet’s resistance to water and helps protect your subfloor from damage.
When Do I Need to Replace Carpet?
Proper maintenance of your carpet can extend its lifespan; however, if it experiences heavy foot traffic, it will eventually need to be replaced. Here are some common signs that indicate it’s time for a carpet replacement:
– Wear and tear
– Stains
– Unevenness and wrinkling
– Increased allergy symptoms
How Do I Measure My Stairs for Carpet?
Preparation is crucial when calculating the area of flooring needed for stairs. Start by measuring the height and depth of each step to accurately determine the total length. Then, multiply that length by the width. Ensure you measure everything twice for maximum precision. Additionally, always add an extra 10% to cover waste and potential errors, as staircases can be particularly challenging to measure accurately.
If I Can See Footprints On My Carpet, Is It Faulty?
If the pile of the carpet has been disturbed, it may show footprints or compression marks. Carpets with a deep pile will naturally bend during use, causing the color to appear different from various angles. As the carpet is used, the pile becomes randomly disturbed, resulting in light and dark patches that become visible depending on the angle of the pile and your position in the room.
What Additional Services Do You Provide?
In addition to installing your new flooring, our fitters can provide a range of additional services if needed:
– Moving furniture out of the room
– Uplifting and disposing of your old flooring
– Preparing the subfloor using either latex screed or plywood
– Trimming wooden doors
Luxury Vinyl Tiles FAQ's
What is a wear layer?
When shopping for smooth flooring, understanding the term “wear layer” is crucial. This clear top surface is essential for ensuring the durability, stain resistance, and scratch resistance of your LVT flooring. To select the appropriate wear layer, you must assess your specific usage needs. If you have children, pets, or anticipate high foot traffic in your home, a thicker wear layer is non-negotiable. By making this choice, you will ensure that your new LVT flooring remains in excellent condition for many years to come.
Do you fit LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile)?
I have a box of leftover LVT flooring. Can I return it?
Many of the products we sell can be purchased in square meters, but our luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are sold by the box. When estimating the amount, you need for your installation, please add approximately 5% to your order (rounded up to the nearest box) to account for any potential waste during installation. If you have a spare box left over, we recommend storing it on a flat, dry surface for future use. Keeping a spare box is helpful in case of accidents, as it allows you to replace any damaged tiles with new ones, so it’s wise to keep any leftover boxes. Please note that all LVT is a special order and cannot be returned.
I’ve spilt something on my LVT flooring, what should I do?
You can relax! Luxury vinyl tiles are extremely easy to clean. Their PU protective layer makes them completely water-resistant and highly resistant to scratches and stains.
Will I need to prepare my floor before installation?
To achieve a smooth finish, certain preparations are necessary. If your sub-floor is floorboards/chipboard, it will be essential to have 5.5mm flooring-grade plywood installed and the joints feathered. For concrete floors, they must be screed with a smoothing compound before any flooring is fitted. This step is critical, especially for smooth flooring options like LVT or vinyl, as any imperfections in the subfloor can impact the appearance of your new flooring. Our home consultant are available to identify any potential issues that may need to be addressed before installation. They can also provide a quotation for any additional services required after assessing the condition of your subfloor.
Are luxury vinyl tiles waterproof?
Absolutely! Luxury vinyl floor tiles are designed with a special waterproof coating, making them an ideal choice for areas such as bathrooms, utility rooms, and kitchens. However, there is a slight risk that moisture or water could seep into the joints between the tiles. Therefore, it’s important to clean up any spills promptly and to be cautious when mopping the floor.
How does dryback LVT differ from click-fit LVT?
Dryback LVT is installed using an adhesive, while click-fit LVT uses a click-and-lock system. Dryback LVT is more stable and durable, and is better for high-traffic areas.
What are the benefits of dryback LVT?
Dryback LVT is well-suited to moist environments, provides sound dampening, and can perform well in rooms with large temperature fluctuations.
What are the challenges of installing dryback LVT?
Installation is complex and requires precision, and the subfloor must be perfectly level and clean. It’s often recommended to call a professional.
How difficult is it to remove or replace dryback LVT?
Dryback LVT is difficult to remove or replace because of its strong bond to the subfloor.
Is dryback LVT cost-effective?
Dryback LVT is generally more cost-effective, especially for large areas. However, the initial savings may be offset by higher installation costs.
How should I clean dryback LVT?
You can clean dryback LVT with a brush, broom, vacuum, or mop. Avoid steam cleaning, as the intense heat can make the tiles unstable.
How can I repair minor damage to dryback LVT?
You can try to repair minor damage yourself or can get a qualified fitter to do, if you have spare tiles or planks. For major repairs, you can check your home insurance policy.
Get in Touch
Address
87 Joel Street
Northwood Hills
Middlesex
HA6 1LW
Contact
Telephone: 01923 823118
Email: sales@carpetstyle.com
Visit
Monday – Saturday | 9am – 5pm
Closed Sundays