Rugs

When purchasing your new Solomons rug, make sure that the rug you choose will suit its selected location - are the colours right, is the size right, will the design enhance the room? There are many different types of rugs to choose from and great care should be taken in selection. Classical fine Persian rugs, thick pile Shag rugs, funky Contemporary rugs all designed with the latest colours, textures and styles that can lift the mood of a room whilst serving as a practical addition to your decor

The life of a rug will depend on several variables - the quality of the piece, its location in the home, the number of people in the household - all these factors and more will have a bearing on the durability of a rug.

The first rule is to visit one of our Solomons Flooring outlets to view the range of rugs and experience the colour, style and textures .Avoid auctions on the internet and closing down sales. Examine the rug carefully in good light for obvious signs of poor workmanship, although remember part of the charm of some oriental rugs can be the minor imperfections, often the trademark of the individual weaver. Take care not to confuse the degrees of imperfection with bad workmanship. Ensure you choose your colour palette wisely when considering a modern contemporary rug.

Oriental rugs

The Oriental rug has several forms of 'value'. The main three come under the descriptions 'aesthetic', 'functional' and 'investment'. The oriental rug is a work of art which is also a practical article of everyday use. The creative expression of the weaver, representing his or her cultural and spiritual achievements and traditions, provides its 'aesthetic' value in the same way as music and paintings are composed or produced. The purpose for which the carpet is purchased decides its 'functional' value particularly if it has to stand up to heavy wear in the Western home. This in turn will affect its 'investment value', particularly if it is worn bare. If the purchaser is properly advised in both matters of choice and treatment, then the rug can be a very good long term investment. The price paid ultimately should reflect what the purchaser is prepared to pay and not what some would call 'worth'.

Timber Flooring

Making the right CHOICE is essential when choosing a timber flooring solution. Click the links below to view more information on each aspect of timber flooring:

• C = Colour
• H = Hardness
• O = Origin
• I = Individuality
• C = Climate
• E = Environment

Which Timber Flooring Colour Should I choose?

The larger the tree, the deeper the colour! Timber derived from closer to the bark will be lighter than timber from the centre of the tree. The colour of timber flooring will vary even with particular species of timber flooring.
<INSERT TIMBER FLOORING COLOURS >

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Timber Flooring Hardness

Hardwood timbers generally have a Janka rating of 5.0 upwards. Each species has its own ranking. These rankings are important as they give an indication of what timbers are best suited for particular uses in high traffic areas woods with Janka ratings 5.0 and above are recommended. It is usually the finishes on the floors that are damaged, not the hardwearing timber itself, which can easily be re-sanded and polished

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Timber Flooring Origin

We also a large range of reclaimed timbers, saved from devastated woodlands across the world. Our plantation timber products are a renewable source that's harvested using sustainable forestry practices. The availability of some timber species varies from region to region and it is best to check with Solomons sales teams before ordering

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Individuality

Each tree develops a one-of-a-kind grain so every timber is different and possesses a unique pattern and texture. It's as unique as the human fingerprint, and it's entirely defined by a mixture of chance and the elements. Soil and weather conditions can play a huge part in the shaping of a tree and its unique make up. This uniqueness makes it a very special investment for your home

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Climate

Believe it or not, the climatic conditions of where you live play an important role in determining what timber flooring to purchase.

• Does your home hold moisture and seem damp?
• How well ventilated is your home?
• Installation techniques and the use of correct fasteners
• How much sunlight does the room get each day?
• Are you installing into a wet area such as the kitchen?
• Condensation (i.e. air conditioners and dryers)

Drying, shrinkage and moisture expansion are the most significant issues that impact on floor laying and floor laying environments. They have to be carefully managed in order to successfully lay a floor Floors can only be laid when the roof is on and all wet trades have been completed. Floors need to be properly acclimatised and stacked in the same room where it will be laid before laying if at all possible .Heaters and air conditioners both tend to dry the air

Northerly or westerly sunlight directly onto a floor can cause drying out of timber and shrinkage leading to gaps in the floorboards. Direct sunlight can also cause some coatings to darken excessively or to colour yellow and needs to be filtered by shades where possible

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Environment

The thickness of a new timber floor: affects transitions between carpeted and tile areas. Ideally the difference in height should be minimal. will require your skirting boards to be raised and refitted; impacts on the height of your doors and door jams.

Consider the stability of the existing floor as we recommend only keep an existing floor if it does not squeak and creak and is even throughout. Have you checked for moisture content (it should not have rotting areas or any evident pest infestations)?

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Carpet

• Where should i put Carpet in my home?
• Carpet Colour
• Carpet style and texture
• Carpet Fibres
• Carpet Performance
• Cost of Carpets

Where should I put carpet in my home

When making a purchase for carpet in your home, you should always consider the following:

• The Lounge: Probably the room you spend the most time in, so your choice should be one of colour, durability and a touch of luxury perhaps.
• The Dining Room: In many homes the dining room is part of the main living area. If it is a separate room and is not in daily use then a lighter carpet may be considered, but a practical easy care choice is recommended here.
• Bedroom: Practicality is not necessarily a prime consideration here, where you may want delicate colours and shades and softer deeper piled carpet. For children's bedrooms look for something both soft enough to crawl on and yet tough enough to withstand vigorous cleaning when accidents occur.
• Hall landing and Stairs: A hard wearing practical carpet is the order of the day here. This is the highest traffic area of the home, so it is best to look for a carpet with high pile weight and tuft density.
• Kitchen: If you choose to fit carpet into your kitchen, then you will need a carpet that is easy-care and stain resistant. Many specialist kitchen options are available both from the roll and in tiles.
• Bathroom: Specific washable carpets with rot proof backings are available in most bathroom shades.

When consulting for a Solomon’s carpet, look for performance rating guidelines with various brands of carpet stocked in our showrooms. A simple rating system offers guidance on choosing the carpet that will perform best for various traffic needs. Most guidelines will be rated form light duty to heavy duty to extra heavy duty with varying warranty periods and benefits. We will consider a correct installation plan to minimise joins in heavy traffic areas and make suggestions for high wear and tear areas such as the stairs. Our sales teams will discuss the benefits of stain resistant party proof carpets in entertaining areas and luxury wool for formal areas.

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Which Carpet Colour should I choose?

Colour chooses the mood of the room and is a personal statement. Floors and walls are the two largest visual areas in any room and it is important to balance the colours of both by choosing colours from the same family Consider the following

• Purpose of the room to be carpeted in your chosen colour?
• How much natural sunlight does the room provide?
• What are your favourite colours?

Ever-popular beige carpet can make a room look spacious; and seem larger. New stain and soil resistant technology makes today's lighter colour carpet much easier to clean, allowing more practical decorating options .Lighter colours allow you to offset the décor and colours of your furnishings as a feature in the room

Environmental colours, like blues, greens, red hues, and stony neutrals are becoming increasingly popular in modern homes offering a calming effect typically used in bedrooms and large open living areas
Warm colours can turn up the heat in a room that lacks light, Deep reds and greens have a almost regal effect on a room proving ever popular in renovated terrace homes and single fronted cottages

Darker colours provide cosiness Medium and darker colours in Berbers and textures will help disguise common soil in your home's high traffic areas.

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Carpet Style and Texture

Solomons Flooring offers carpets with much more than a conventional loop pile adding to a room’s sophistication and interest using the latest textured patterns. New technology can produce multilevel loop and cut/loop patterns offering diamonds, pin dots, or fleurs-de-lis designs that "pop out" in sculptured effects. The texture, colours, and pattern of the carpet can be made to complement or contrast with patterns of your furniture and window treatments. Textured styles also fit well with today’s active lifestyles and can be created through the use of several construction techniques with many of these styles known for their soil-hiding ability.

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Carpet Fibres

Approximately 97 percent of all carpet is produced using synthetic fibres that are designed to feature style, easy maintenance, and outstanding value Most modern carpets are manufactured using the tufting method rather than woven method on a loom. Hundreds of needles thread yarn through a lightweight backing forming loops of tufts to a desired height and weight. An adhesive backing is then applied to further hold the tufts in place whilst a second backing of jute may be applied for stability. Traditional methods of weaving carpets are used by the popular Axminster and Wilton brands

Quality of carpet is a matter of fibre and yarn quality rather than type of texture or style. The type of fibre used and the way the carpet is constructed determine how well the carpet will stand up to spills, pets, and daily traffic. There are five basic types of carpet pile fibres.

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Carpet Performance

The density and weight of pile together with the type of fibre texture determines the basic performance of the carpet. Quality can be enhanced by the way the fibres, or yarns, are twisted and heat set, and by the density of the tufts. Deep pile height that’s densely tufted has a luxurious feel; however, pile height is really a matter of personal consideration and does not itself guarantee durability.

• Medium Duty: suitable for the lounge and living room of a small family home and not for areas subjected to heavy traffic.
• Heavy Duty: suitable for general purpose lounge and living rooms of four or five person family home. Use heavy duty carpet in most hallways or lounge and living rooms and anywhere there is a heavy flow of household traffic. Carpet coded with this label plus a stair symbol is also suitable for stairs
• Extra Heavy Duty: designed for all heavy traffic areas of the home including hallways. Also suitable for installation in some commercial environments

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Cost of Carpet

If you want a carpet that will look good for many years in an area of very high wear then the simple truth is you will have to spend more money than if you are happy to change your carpet more frequently

Your budget and your needs are two key elements in selecting carpet and rugs. There are a wide range of choices and costs from which to make your selection. Ask yourself how long you expect to keep your carpet before replacing it. A better grade of carpet will give you a greater length of service than one of lesser quality. Buy the best carpet you can afford for the heavy traffic areas of your home—halls, stairs, and family rooms. A medium grade will provide good service in rooms with less traffic—bedrooms and guest rooms.

The cost of carpet is based on many factors, including fibre, construction, quality, and design. The total project will include the cost of a good quality Bridgestone underlay and professional installation by our accredited installation teams. Ask your retailer to give you a complete cost estimate—one that includes premium Bridgestone underlay, installation, moving of furniture, take up and removal of old flooring materials, and any special needs that you may have. Remember—a high-quality, professional installation can extend the life of your investment.

The carpet that is ideal for you and your home will be one that gives the best match to your answers as you worked through the information above. We therefore hope to be able to give you all the information you need to make the perfect choice for your home.

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Carpet Underlay

The last thing you consider when purchasing your carpet should be the first thing

Selecting a new carpet is a very important and often difficult decision. Colour and pattern, pile, construction, fibre type and cost all contribute to the final choice. But there is one factor in the selection of carpet which you really should consider first – the u n d e r l a y. Carpet laid on low quality underlay will never feel as good and will not last. Don’t be fooled by low prices. Take the very best care of your carpet and investment by insisting on genuine Air-Step carpet underlay. Air-Step will make any grade of carpet last and last under the toughest conditions. Why? For very sound practical reasons.

Air-Step Carpet Underlay