FAQs

FAQ

• If I bend the carpet and see the backing does this mean the carpet is low quality?

  No. All carpets, except woven carpets, are made with spaces between the tufts (ends). Remember, except when used on stairs, carpet is laid flat on the floor. You can feel the thickness or density of different carpets by sticking your fingers into the pile, but make sure you do it on a flat surface. As a general rule, thicker, tighter, denser carpets perform better.

• If I know the weight or other technical specifications, can I compare products?

  Using technical specifications of a product can give you a guide, but there are many other factors that can alter the comparison. For example, two carpets made to the same specifications but made with different fibres will perform, look, and feel differently in the same environment.

• What’s twist carpet?

  Twist is the number of turns put into the carpet fibre or yarn. Almost all carpets have twisted yarns. As a general rule, the more twist or turns on a fibre, the better performance you can expect. Yarns that are twisted tighter have a different feel compared to those that are looser.

• Should I buy plush or twist pile carpet?

  A plush pile carpet is very luxurious and comfortable to live with. A twist pile carpet has the added benefit of minimising the appearance of tracking or foot marking. We recommend that you select products depending on your lifestyle and the foot traffic in your home.

• Which is better: Wool or nylon carpet?

  There are various qualities of wool and nylon carpets available across a range of price points.

• What’s the difference between a broadloom metre and a square metre?

  A broadloom metre is actually 3.66 square metres, i.e. 1 metre cut from a carpet roll, which is normally 3.66 metres in width. It’s always a good idea to compare the square metre cost of carpet against other floor coverings such as ceramic tiles, vinyl or timber as they are specifically priced by the square metre and you can determine a better comparison of value.

• What causes a carpet to shed?

  Shedding results from the type of fibre used in the manufacturing of the carpet. Carpet that is manufactured with staple fibre has shorter fibres in the yarn and will shed for a short time depending on the amount of foot traffic and how often you vacuum. BCF, or Bulked Continuous Fibre, is the other type of fibre used in the manufacturing of carpet. In terms of durability there is little difference between the two. Wool is naturally a staple fibre; nylon and polyester can be either staple or BCF and olefin is usually BCF.

• What is berber carpet?

  While many people commonly refer to loop style carpets as Berber, the term Berber actually means a flecking of colour that originates from the natural flecking found in wool

• Is nylon static?

  Anti-static technology is built into the carpet itself to ensure a static-free environment.

• What’s the difference between wool and nylon?

  Wool is a natural fibre and is great for insulation, i.e. it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer. Recommended if you have an open fireplace. Nylon is a man-made fibre that can be solution dyed, i.e. the colour is right through the fibre like a carrot, or just nylon i.e. colour coats the outside of the fibre like an apple

• Does wool have stain resistance through it?

  No it doesn’t. Spot cleaning is recommended because a stain is harder to remove if allowed to dry—don’t rub into the carpet, rather use pressure to soak up the liquid as soon as you notice a spill. While nylon carpet is treated with stain resistance, it’s still recommended to clean up spills as quickly as possible again, don’t rub into the carpet, rather use pressure to soak up the liquid.

Vinyl faq's

• How is vinyl laid?

  Generally, cushion vinyl is laid loosely so any imperfections in the floor don’t show through over time. It can also be glued down, but the flooring needs to be completely level. Vinyl tiles or planks are glued down so the surface needs to be completely level, which is done by applying a self- leveller to the floor if required.

• Is vinyl easy to clean?

  Yes it is—just use a broom for sweeping and a damp mop for cleaning spills.

Bamboo faq's

• Can floating bamboo be glued down?

  It’s not recommended to directly stick bamboo to flooring as any subfloor moisture cannot be allowed to pass into strand woven bamboo as it may cause cupping or bubbling.

• Does bamboo flooring scratch, dent and age?

  Yes it does, just like real timber floors. It’s recommended you protect the floor from furniture with felt tips which you can purchase from hardware stores such as Bunnings and Safeway etc

• Can I sand bamboo flooring?

  Some bamboo flooring cant be sanded back because of the glue used to bond the product together, but our product from Quickstep can be sanded back.

Timber faq's

• Are some timber floors harder than others?

  Yes, different species have different molecular structure and different hardness. All species are subjected to a Janka test. This test measures the force required to embed an 11.28 mm steel ball into wood to half the ball's diameter. This method leaves an indentation; the more force required, the harder the timber and the higher the Janka rating.

• How durable would my timber flooring be compared to other floor coverings?

  Compared to carpet, tiles and vinyl flooring that do wear and need to be replaced periodically, timber flooring can last a lifetime.

• Can I install a new timber floor over my existing timber floor?

  Yes. As long as the existing floor is level, you can lay a new timber floor over the top. However, bear in mind that the new flooring will raise the total floor level from 12-19mm (depending on the thickness of the flooring type you have chosen).

• Can I install a timber floor over concrete?

  Yes, you can lay timber over concrete. If the concrete slab is less than 5 years old, a membrane between the slab and the timber can be applied so as the moisture from the slab doesn't damage the timber.

• What coating should I have in order to get the best result on my new or existing timber floor?

  When choosing a coating for your floor you must take into consideration the amount of traffic it needs to endure. A polyurethane finish is the most durable coating and will stand up to any heavy traffic. A water based finish is less durable and wears a lot quicker, however this particular finish is a more popular choice for commercial applications, due to its minimal smell and drying time.

Laminate faq's

• What is laminate?

  Laminate wood flooring is a construction product used to finish floors. It is designed to mimic the look of a hardwood floor but is actually constructed quite differently to traditional wood flooring products. You can choose from a wide variety of finish options when selecting laminate products, with many that are virtually indistinguishable from real wood.

• What are the benefits of laminate flooring?

  Laminate floors closely resemble those made from real hardwoods, yet cost just a fraction of the price. They often contain an integral foam underlay that adds insulation to the floor while making it more comfortable to walk on. Laminate is also considered a 'green' alternative to exotic wood species.

• What are the drawbacks of laminate flooring?

  The biggest drawback associated with laminate wood flooring is that it cannot be refinished. Because the top layer of each board is made of paper instead of wood, the floor cannot be sanded or stained to give it a new look, or to refresh a dull, worn surface. For more information on timber, timber laminate, hardwood flooring, or floating timber or timber laminate floors.