Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take for my carpet to come?
Delivery time varies between different manufacturers. If your carpet is in stock, we will usually get it into the showroom 3-10 working days from the date the order is placed. Once your carpet has been delivered to our showroom, we can then look to book you a fitting date.
Do you use freelance fitters?
We have our own fitters employed. Using our own fitters gives us complete control and liability in the event of any problems. Our fitters have been with us for over a combined 60 years.
Can you dispose of my old carpet and underlay?
Absolutely! However, there may be a small charge applicable.
Can we borrow some samples and if so, how long can we keep them for?
We actively encourage you to take our samples home with you. Store lighting will be very different to your own lighting and can sometimes alter the appearance of the carpet. Taking it home gives you the chance to test it out in your own lighting, at different times of the day, against your own furniture and fixtures with no pressure. Samples can be kept for roughly up to a week. Most carpet manufacturers offer a free sample service via their own websites too.
Which is better: wool or synthetic?
In choosing whether to go with wool or synthetic carpet, it is advisable to understand firstly what the advantages and disadvantages of these respective fibers are:
Polypropylene
Of the synthetics, Polypropylene is less expensive than Nylon, stain-resistant and bleach-cleanable. Generally, most cold liquid stains will not stain a polypropylene carpet, although it should be noted that hot liquids present a different problem. If a hot drink for example is spilled, it is possible that the heat of the liquid, can in some circumstances simulate the original dyeing conditions and bond the stain. Also, as you might imagine, the fiber of these types of carpet can melt if subjected to sources of heat. For this reason, it would be unwise to use them in a room where you might have cinders spitting out from an open fire, or possibly where there would be any risk of dropped cigarettes. On the other hand though, if the children drop a glass of Ribena, the stain should come out.
Nylon
Nylon, is a slightly more expensive fiber than polypropylene, and is likewise stain-resistant. For technical reasons however it is not bleach-cleanable. Despite having better abrasion and crush resistance than polypropylene, or even wool in some cases, nylon is a far softer fiber. When manufactured as a tufted carpet, it has a very plush velour feel and is often used in the construction of 'Saxony' or 'Velvet' style carpets. It is an extremely durable fiber and when constructed as a low-level loop-pile carpet, is the preferred choice for very high traffic areas in contract flooring situations. Like polypropylene it can melt when exposed to a direct heat / flame. A new breakthrough in the manufacturing process has seen the introduction of solution-dyed nylon carpets. These fibers retain all the benefits of a nylon carpet, but have the added bonus of being bleach cleanable.
Wool
When it comes to carpet, wool is still the preferred option for many people. Wool has excellent crush resistance, and moderate stain-resistance (although it is possible to improve this with factory or retrospectively applied stain-guard treatments). If not actually burn resistant, wool burns slowly and self-extinguishes in flames (hence it's widespread use in pubs before the smoking ban). The only downsides really are that it can be attacked by carpet moths, and can have poor sunlight fade resistance in certain pigments.
If you have any questions not covered above, please contact our friendly team.