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Are
you looking for something that will tie together the contrasting colours in a
room? Soften the look? Brighten the atmosphere? Help define the areas of a
room more comfortably? There's one answer to all those common design problems
is the right area rug. Area rugs are the fastest growing segment of the
carpeting industry - and with good reason. Installation is as simple as
putting the rug where you want it. Care means running a vacuum over it - or
if it's small enough, picking it up and giving it a good shake. They come in
every colour imaginable and in patterns and styles that range from primitive
brights to subtle shadings that bring together unexpected colour combinations
into a beautiful and cohesive whole.
There
are many different styles and types of area rugs. The one you choose can help
create a unique atmosphere in your rooms.
Want
to protect a wooden floor or accent a narrow hallway? Rug runners are
designed to fit long, narrow spaces, but they can be equally useful in a
large, open room with different areas. A rug runner can help visually define
the room, breaking it into smaller spaces - and encourage foot traffic to
stay off more delicate surfaces like polished wood floors. A throw rug can
serve a similar purpose, or help soften the floor underfoot at work areas
like kitchen sinks and counters.
- Carpet is a more desirable and practical alternative to hard
floor coverings, and has better aesthetics. It is available in a wide
variety of textures, colours and designs. It is non-reflective.
- Carpet is one of the most effective acoustical building
materials, preventing noise generation at floor level without decreasing
the quality of projected sound such as speech, music etc.
- Carpet is more comfortable to walk on, cushioning footfalls
and reducing fatigue.
- Carpet increases thermal comfort and is more economical
because of lower maintenance costs and savings on fuel costs and sound
insulation materials.
Underlay
There are many types of different under lays available,
however a good underlay will:
- Overcome slight unevenness in the floor.
- Add to the walking comfort of the carpet.
- Improve thermal and acoustic properties.
- Increase the effectiveness of vacuum cleaning, by improving
airflow through the carpet needed to remove dirt.
Maintenance
In common with other fine crafted products the maximum
life expectancy can only be fulfilled if the product is carefully maintained.
So with this in mind, please take the time to read the
"Care for your Carpet" which is intended to help answer any
questions you may have regarding the characteristics of your new carpet,
together with cleaning and maintenance suggestions to help prolong its life
and appearance.
Q - What
is Karndean made of?
A -
Karndean
flooring is made up of pure virgin PVC with high quality plasticizers and is
manufactured to create a textured surface which replicates the natural
products.
Q-
Underfloor
heating
A -
It
is possible to install Karndean over floors incorporating underfloor heating,
but these must be insulated to ensure the surface temperature does not exceed
27°C (80°F). The underfloor heating must be switched off 48 hours before,
during, and 48 hours following the installation, and Karndean HT adhesive
must be used.
Protecting your floor
Do...
- Use quality fibre
mats at entrances to minimise dirt and grit being brought in from
outside. (Warning: Avoid rubber-backed mats as some types can cause
permanent floor discolouration.)
- Use protective pads
under furniture legs to prevent fine scratches.
- Use load-bearing
castors to prevent indentation from heavy items of furniture.
- Mop up spillages as
soon as possible to prevent spots becoming stains. Use of the Dim Glow
floor protector should ensure better protection from most substances.
Do not...
- Slide or drag
appliances or furniture across the floor.
- Allow cigarettes or
other hot items to come into contact with the floor, as they can cause
permanent damage.
- Apply thick coatings
of Dim Glow floor protector. Two thin coats as per our instructions is
sufficient.
- Use non- Karndean
cleaning products. Some cleaning products contain agents that can damage
the floor.
- Allow silicone-based
products such as furniture polish or glass cleaner to come into contact
with the floor. These can make the floor very slippery.
- Allow rubber backed
mats or rubber footed furniture to come into contact with the floor.
Permanent discolouration may occur.
Laminate floors are a popular,
affordable alternative to hardwood or stone floors. They can give the
appearance of far more expensive marble, teak, oak or other surface, but
offer advantages that the un-laminated floor simply doesn't.
The manufacturing process encases a
thin layer of wood or stone beneath a transparent layer of cellulose and
melamine. Generally, the result is a high-gloss surface that stands up to
wear for years without showing it. Beneath the wood, there are several other
layers to give the flooring material body, strength and stability. There are
a wide variety of patterns available to suit any style of decor that you
choose.
There are a number of advantages to
choosing laminate flooring other than affordability. Here is a list of some
of its greatest benefits.
Versatility
Unlike hardwood floors, moisture
and traffic are far less of a concern. A wood laminate can work in a bathroom
or kitchen without the concern of moisture damaging the floor, for instance.
Just wipe up spills off the laminate surface. They also are less subject to
the concerns about expansion and contraction that can be a concern with
hardwood floors.
Easy Care
No need for buffing, oiling, waxing
and polishing with laminate floors. Sweep regularly, and damp mop when
needed, and the shine will last for years.
Allergen and Odour Resistant
If you have allergies in your
family, and cannot quite afford hardwood floors, laminate floors may be the
right material for you.
Easy Repair
While laminates can't be refreshed
with a sanding when they finally start to show wear, they are easy to repair
in most situations. If a piece of floor becomes damaged or stained, it's not
difficult to remove one plank and replace it without uprooting the
surrounding ones.
Durable
Wood laminate veneers resist
scratching and nicking that would damage hardwood floors.
Important Note:
We
recommend that installation is carried out by a professional wood-flooring
fitter with a proven track record in installation procedures. Furthermore the
following information should not be regarded as strict instructions but as
installation guidelines only.
Points to Consider When Installing Timber
Flooring
- Ensure site
conditions are dry.
- Ensure the sub-floor
is sufficiently flat and dry.
- Always use a
moisture barrier over cement ground floors.
- Use adhesive only
for floors, which are intended to be glued down.
- For floor batten
construction, ensure the battens are packed where necessary. Always fix
the packing to the battens. Do not place batten ends in a line, they
must be staggered throughout the floor area and laid end to end.
- Always leave the
correct expansion allowances at walls and all fixed points. Gaps may
also be necessary between boards, depending on the type of system used.
- If any of the
flooring appears faulty, do not install it. Set it aside or cut to
waste.
- Make sure that the
client has the floor maintenance instructions.
Three Installation Methods:
Choice of Underlay
Choose
a type to suit the floor and its intended use. Under lays are generally used
to provide sound reduction and shock absorption to varying degrees. Some
products also include a moisture barrier. Under lays intended for carpets and
other floor finished are generally not suitable for use with hardwood floors.
Summary
Installation Procedures
Solid Wood Flooring
- Flooring must be
brought into its new environment for a period of approx. 10 - 14 days
prior to fitting and allowed to acclimatise until moisture content of
between 7%-10% is achieved. Generally, this applies to all species of
solid wood flooring. In the case of under floor heating it is recommended
that the flooring be brought into its new environment for a period of 3
- 4 weeks prior to installation.
- On areas where
concrete or cement sub-floors exist it is recommended that a layer of
10,000-gauge polythene is placed beneath flooring battens.
- Where battens are
being used it is recommended that they are spaced at approx. 300mm
centres. If existing joists are being nailed at 400mm centres, this is
also quite suitable.
- Expansion gaps of at
least 18mm should be left around all sides of the floor and expansion of
2mm in every 10 boards i.e. washer space.
- The use of
insulation between joists and battens is advantageous in a number of
areas such as, sound absorption and added R-value.
- All solid wood
flooring should be nailed using either 38mm or 50mm flooring cleats
sanded and finished with a minimum of three coats of flooring sealer.
- When measuring a
floor area allow a 5% waste for grading and cutting.
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