The MacArthers

Ballymena // January 2021

This was one of those jobs when completed the difference was outstanding. Mr & Mrs Jones came to us wanting something bright and fresh to lift the more traditional elements in their home. After searching for a while and discussing pattern or plain options we came across this stunning Axminster Velvet carpet. Super soft, hardwearing and unbeatable quality coming from Axminster. 

The customer said they wanted a runner but with all the different level landings and entranceways it was going to be tricky, but our fitters made it work. They chose a darker colour binding along the edges to help frame the carpet and to make the carpet really pop on the stairs. 

The finished product was incredible and the customers could not have been happier. The outcome is stunning from whatever angle you look at and does not take away from any of the period features in the home, it enhances them. 

 If you have any questions or would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

We would always advise to fit all carpets with a new underlay.

A quality underlay will improve the life of your carpet up to 40% which will save you money avoiding the need to replace carpet earlier than expected.

Please find the advantages of a quality underlay

• A good underlay will improve underfoot comfort

• Improves appearance retention – reduce pile flattening.

• Absorbs the pressure of foot traffic and reduce wear.

• Improves thermal insulation of your home helping you with those expensive energy bills.

• Increases sound insulation

• Smooths out floor imperfections and will last the lifetime of your carpet

Types of Underlay

Sponge Rubber
Performs well for comfort and has durable spring retention..

PU (Polyeurethane) Foam
PU is one of the most popular underlays and is made from recyclable foam off cuts. PU provides excellent comfort and performance levels available in varying thickness options. It is a light weight product making it easier to handle.

Crumb rubber
Flat and dense rubber is great for heavy wear footfall offering maximum protection ut a little less comfort.

Combination Underlay
A rubber crumb base with a felt top layer offering a combination of protection, durability and comfort. It will also allow seams to bed into the top felt.

Felt
A traditional underlay is made from recycled fibres such as wool, jute and synthetic. It represents a firm underlay offering excellent thermal insulation. Very popular when fitting woven carpets.

Pile Types and Underlay

Cut Pile: 

Twist Pile – A twist carpet is where the yarn is tightly twisted and often heatset to retain this feature. It is a hard wearing and durable carpet and is prone less to showing the effects of shading and marks.

Velvet Pile – (Sometimes referred to velour or plush carpet) Velvet pile carpets are luxurious with a close cut pile carpet and smooth feel. The carpets tend to shade more easily due to the pile lying in a different direction reflecting the light differently.

Saxony Pile – Saxony textures are a combination of a longer and denser pile with a soft feel. Saxony textures show footprints and vacuum marks. More textured and tighter variations improve the practicality of saxonies.

Frieze – Freize carpets are similar to saxony but the yarns are more tightly twisted and should always be heat set. They have a dense low pile surface which creates a coarse, pebbly texture. Frieze carpets are very durable and hide foot prints,dust and dirt which makes them great for heavy traffic areas.

Shag pile – The characteristic of shag pile carpets relates to the length of pile up to 50mm long. The carpet gives a luxury look and soft feel but is prone to flattening which means the carpet is more suitable for occasional rooms.

Loop Pile:

Loop Pile Berber – A durable construction variable in natural or berber flecked colours. The loops are made from thick or bulky yarns of wool, Polypropylene or a blend of these fibres to give a cushioned effect underfoot.

Level loop – When all the loops are the same height, a highly flexible and durable carpet in natural colours and is commonly made in synthetic fibres. The tight loop textures tend to hide the marks so are extremely practical.

Multi Level loop – The loops vary to two or sometimes three loop heights to create informal random textures which are very forgiving for marks and stains and therefore very suitable for high traffic areas and busy family rooms.

Buying over the internet is not always the cheapest option and certainly buying large items such as carpets can be a problem.

Service is a big factor when selling a carpet as they all have to be measured correctly and fitted to a high standard ensuring maximum performance. Please be careful and always consider the following points.

1. Before you pay up front for the carpet do you know the company you are dealing with and what happens when things go wrong.
2. Have you received the expert advice to ensure that you have selected the best carpet for the right purpose.
3. Reputable and quality manufacturers mainly deal directly with bona fide retail showrooms. This means that their carpets are measured and fitted correctly by professionals ensuring that the consumer guarantees and warranties remain valid.
4. Delivering big items like carpets are not straight forward. You will need somewhere to store it and it could be days if not weeks before the carpet can be fitted.
5. Very important – If you were unfortunate enough to be sent a faulty carpet or had a carpet badly fitted who would then arrange the replacement carpet quickly and efficiently.

Service is extremely important when buying a carpet. The reality is that by calling into any of Small Cost Carpet’s showrooms you will be guaranteed expert advice and support at the very best prices.

All carpets need to be fitted correctly as the quality of the workmanship will be a big factor to ensure your carpets look good and retains it appearance for longer.

Fitting should be left to a fully qualified fitter as there really is no such thing as free fitting.The condition of the sub floor prior to fitting is your responsibility.

Agreement should also be discussed regarding the following points

• The removal or shortening where necessary of doors.

• Cleaning the room of furniture.

• Disconnection of electrical or electronic equipment

• Uplift and disposal of old carpets

• The number and position of seams

There are two main types of carpet manufactured in the UK – Woven or Tufted

Tufted –Due to significant advances in technology over 95% of all carpets sold in the UK are tufted. The carpets are made on high powered and fast producing tufted machines by pushing hundreds of yarn threaded needles through a primary backing and then applying a secondary backing with adhesive/latex. Tufted carpet are available in a range of pile textures and some patterns.

Woven – There are two traditional types of woven carpet – Axminster and Wilton. Woven carpets are made by weaving the pile yarn directly into the backing materials at the same time. Woven carpets may be in a tiny minority of today’s overall market but still produces some of the finest carpets which are used for prestigious installations.

Axminster – The pile of the carpet is inserted into the backing as it is woven and cut to length creating U shaped tufts to give a velvety surface. The process allows for intricate designs and multiple colours to be used. The carpet offers extremely good pattern definition and dimensional stability.

Wilton – Wilton Carpets are produced in a similar way to with the principle difference being that that a continuous fibre is woven all the way through. Wilton Carpets tend to be used for plain, texture and pattern carpets using up to 5 colours. The carpet can be sheared to create a range of cut and loop textured effects.

How to buy a carpet the smarter way – Choosing the right carpet

What to consider before you buy

• Carpets have numerous benefits including warmth, sound insulation properties, and a luxury soft feel. Here are a few of our top tips to follow when buying a carpet for your home.

• How long do you want the carpet to last for and how much wear is required. Ask us to show you carpets that reflects your lifestyle giving you maximum performance.

• It is always advisable to take away carpet samples from our member showrooms so you can be sure the colour you choose will match with your home decor. You will also need to think about the width and pattern of the carpet will fit your room without the need of oddly positioned seams.

• Never rely on your own measurements. Small Cost Carpets are professionals and will measure your carpet free of charge. This is because if anything goes wrong it is their responsibility to sort things out and not yours.

• You generally get what you pay for which is why it is best to buy at the top end of your budget. A heavier weight carpet combined with a high density pile will last longer than a lighter and looser pile.

• The carpet will only perform to its maximum if it is fitted professionally and with a new underlay. Just think how a car performs with worn tyres, a new underlay will extend the life of your carpet up to 40%.

• Let Small Cost Carpets help you select the right carpet – Remember heavier weight and higher pile density carpets last longer in heavy wear areas.

It’s important to look after your carpet, please find some useful tips which will help you keep your carpet looking great for longer.

General Cleaning and Smart Maintenance:

To protect your carpet from premature soiling it is advisable to place entrance mats at all outside entrances to the house. This will help reduce the amount of dirt coming into the house.

Regular cleaning will help remove the gritty particles from the carpet pile that can cause abrasion and damage the fibres.

Spillages

It is always advisable to deal with any accidental spillages as soon as they happen. It is best not to use detergents or other cleaners recommended for household use. At first the carpets may look clean but will almost certainly encourage rapid re soiling, colour bleeding or damage to the backing materials.

Periodic Cleaning

Carpets will at some stage need a good clean and you can either do the job yourself, or you can call in a specialist carpet cleaning company. If you are considering cleaning the carpet professionally it is best to engage the services of an accredited carpet cleaning company. These companies are fully trained and have been in business for a considerable length of time, are members of one or more recognised professional trade associations related to the cleaning industry and have a reputation for top quality service.

Dealing with Stains
Stains should be blotted and never rubbed. Always work the stain from the outside in to avoid the stain spreading. Solids should be scraped up and the pile brushed up after cleaning. A cleaning should be applied to a cloth and never directly to the spillage. Stains should always be rinsed thoroughly with water afterwards if spot cleaning, but never excessively and then use a hair dryer to dry the spot.