Don’t Be Afraid to b-creative with Your Carpets

There are so many carpet options available on the market today.  And that’s a good thing.  After all, not everyone wants to have the same grey or blue carpeting in their homes and businesses that the competition has.  If your business is especially large, there’s a fair chance that you don’t even want the same carpets running throughout every floor and corridor, just as you are unlikely to choose the same floors in every room of your home.  And carpets have evolved to the point where it’s no longer just a question of colour options, or even texture options.  Now, there are features to be concerned with too. 

So, just how does someone (or a department) choose between all the different carpeting options available?  Well, you’ll need to b-creative and use a few apps to help smooth the process along.

Choosing Carpeting Is Difficult

When you’re in the market for new carpeting, you know you’ve got some tough decisions to make.  It’s not just the shade of blue that you want either (although you will need to make that call at some point, won’t you?).  You’ve got to understand exactly what your needs are today – and guess at what they could be tomorrow.  And that’s tricky, especially in growing businesses.  But, if you want your carpet to last for as long as it should (which is a really long time, by the way), then you’ve got to be realistic about the whole thing.  You can’t simply take a wild stab at your needs.

To make these decisions even more difficult, you’ve got to remember that carpet does last an extraordinarily long time if the right one is chosen the first time around.  That means that a lot has changed since the last time you or your department had to shop around for the best carpeting for your budget – and your aesthetic needs. 

Fortunately, the folks over at Birch Carpets understand your quandary.  And, they want you to make the right decision for your floors just as much as you do.  So, they have taken the time to develop a couple of apps to make it easier for you to make those difficult choices.  On top of that, they’ve made their apps so easy to use, yet so very useful that making a decision about which carpeting to choose is... well, painless. 

The Product Selector

On the Birch Carpets homepage, you’ll easily find the Product Selector.  And this is the very best place to begin.  This quick and easy app will help you to narrow down your choices quickly, before moving on to the next steps.  The Product Selector features four drop down menus.  You can make one selection from these menus, or all four.  The more you choose, the more specific the carpet products that will be recommended for you. 

The first menu is Colour.  Now, this may be a priority for your company, or it could be the last thing on your mind.  If you’re not sure, you may want to skip this the first time around.  (Or, you may just want to see how many different blue options there are to choose between.)  Don’t worry, you’ll have as many chances as you like to check out the different colour options later if you prefer.

Type of Use is the next dropdown menu that you’ll encounter.  This is one of the most important factors, so you’ll want to give this one a go if you can.  Here, you can select your company’s primary business, such as health, retail or business.  But, once again, you don’t need to worry if you can’t select this – or if you’re unsure because your company has crossover functions.  Choose the one that’s closest to begin with; you can always go back.

Then, you’ll find Room Type.  This menu will really make a difference to your selection recommendations.  Here you can be more specific as to whether carpeting is meant for reception areas or offices.  It’s important because this is often the best indicator of traffic loads that you have for a carpet. 

Finally, you’ll get to the last dropdown menu.  This is a simple choice between carpets and carpet tiles.  You can also choose matting as an option though it is typically best to decide on the upper layer first and work your way down. 

Once you’ve selected all your choices, you’ll be taken to a screen with several choices that could be right for you.  But, that’s not the end of the process.

The b-creative App 

Seeing a tiny square box on your computer screen doesn’t ever tell the whole story, does it?  There are plenty of variables you still need to play with, and that does include choosing the right shade of blue to match your custom walls.  That’s why the b-creative app was developed. 

The b-creative app is also found the Birch Carpets home page.  Just one click and you’ll be directed to the image of a room.  Here, you’ll see a menu on the left hand side of the screen.  This will enable you to take a look at a few different types of rooms, such as an office space or a reception area.  Clicking on a different type of a room will bring up a new image.  Then it’s time to select wall colours and carpet types.  It’s best to save the carpet types for last so that you can play around a bit to find your best match. 

Once you’ve selected all your options the screen will change to reflect your choices, giving you an opportunity to look closer at your top picks.  And, if that weren’t easy enough, Birch Carpets has included a tab on this page to make it super easy for you to order samples.  After all, you’ll want to get an idea of how a carpeting feels – and how it looks in the sun through the windows at your business premises.  After all, that carpeting is going to last you a rather long time; you’ll want to be sure of your decision when you make it.

To talk to one of our carpet consultants please visit the Birch Carpets website - http://www.birchcarpets.co.uk/consultants

Choosing the Right Carpeting for Your Entertainment Complex

Entertainment complexes, regardless of the type of diversion they offer, are an essential part of modern life.  People need things to do outside of their home, and they love to be entertained.  But, behind the scenes, there is always plenty of work which must be done.  From scheduling to cleaning, the business of entertaining people (and keeping them safe at the same time) can be a hectic one.  And, all this comes before considering the current state of the economy, and the budgets which just are not what they should be.  Whether you are a facilities manager, or an entertainment property owner, you know that choosing the right carpeting for your space is imperative.

Planning for the Future

Regardless of the work your entertainment complex typically handles, this is bound to change at some point.  Audiences may grow larger, new diversions may become fashionable, entertainment legislation may change and all of these impact your business.  It also impacts on your space; you need to be prepared for anything.

The first step to choosing the right carpet is to consider all the entertainment you currently offer your guests, and to daydream a bit about the types of diversions you may offer in the future.  Perhaps it is adding in an arcade, or moving an eatery from their current premises into a smaller venue within your space.  Although many of these things will be difficult to forecast, any possible changes should be taken into account.  Remember that proper carpeting can last for many, many years; and unless you want to replace it sooner, it is always best to plan for the worst.

Maintenance Must Match Usage

You can hardly expect any flooring to remain in top condition unless you care for it properly.  When you welcome the public through your doors, you never know what you will get.  Obviously, continued maintenance is crucial so that you can tackle whatever challenges the people throw your way.  The key here is to match maintenance to the amount of usage your floors receive. 

But maintenance means different things to different carpets.  Some can handle a vast deal more foot traffic than others before they reveal the dirt trapped within piles.  Colour does have some effect on this, to be certain, but the quality and manufacture of your carpeting will do more.  The best thing you can do when choosing a carpet is to speak to your sales consultant honestly.  Under reporting your needs in order to secure cheaper flooring will mean that you need to spend more on maintenance – and replace your carpeting sooner. 

Broadloom versus Carpet Tiles

This is possibly the biggest question you will need to ask yourself.  Many people dream of the stunning good looks that broadloom carpeting offers, especially in a vast expanse of space.  Some people mistakenly believe that these actually retain their form better (rather than pulling at the corners).  However, this does have to do with the installation, and whether it was done properly.

One of the benefits of carpet tiles is that they are easily replaceable if a tile becomes damaged or stained.  And this can be crucial to maintaining a pristine facility for all events, at all times.  One of the other key benefits that comes with carpet tiles is that should you need to swop areas around, or upgrade that little bistro in the corner, you can simply add in or move carpet tiles as necessary.  That is flexibility that broadloom is simply unable to offer.

Playing with Colour

Different colours evoke different moods in people.  And carpeting is an easy way to do this without cluttering the walls, or investing in fancy gadgetry.  Because entertainment complexes must suit a variety of needs at different times, often the call is made to opt for neutral colours throughout the property. 

It does not need to be that way.  Colour on the floors can be easily balanced with the hues on the walls.  This allows you to divide spaces with colour.  It can be a directional clue as well as a division.  Even a few splashes of colour can help to liven your space to better reflect the diversions on offer (and possibly even remind patrons of your other entertainments).  Whatever palette you choose to work with, do not be afraid to play it up appropriately.  Your customers will love it. 

Patterns and Texture

Colour is not the only way to add vibrancy to your space.  If you absolutely must stick to a neutral palette, then consider the textures and patterns you can play with instead.  Consider a neutral colour with a dramatic pattern or texture to ensure that people notice your attention to detail whenever they enter your space.

If you purchase carpet tiles instead of broadloom installation, you have even more options to play with.  Although it will not have the same overall effect as a sudden change in carpeting colour, pile direction and texture can work to open a space, or close an area off.  If you are uncertain how to achieve this, your carpeting sales consultant will be able to guide you through the process, often suggesting solutions you may not have previously considered.  At the very least, your consultant will be able to steer you away from mistakes that other have made in the past.

Understand the Conditions of Sale

Some carpeting comes with guarantees or warranties, as do certain installation processes.  Make sure you are clear about what is and is not covered before you submit your carpeting order.  You may just find that a few pounds more could save you hundreds more by opting for a slightly different manufacture.  That is certainly something you want to know in advance.  After all, following the initial outlay, you must also factor in the cost of maintenance into that limited facilities budget.  The last thing you will want to do is turn your guests off from enjoying your space... especially when they do not know what wondrous things you are planning for the future. 

If you’d like any help choosing the right carpet for your entertainment complex then please visit the Birch Carpets website - http://www.birchcarpets.co.uk/

What You Need to Know about Today’s Carpet Tiles

 Remember those old ratty carpet squares that you had in your old office?  If you flinched as soon as you saw the words carpet tiles, then you probably do.  But, not all carpet tiles are miserable like the ones you remember.  In fact, most of today’s carpet tiles are not only incredibly strong and versatile; they’re also remarkably stylish (and back in fashion).  

Why You Want Carpet Tiles for Your Business

There are a number of reasons that carpet tiles make the absolute best flooring for most offices and plenty of commercial enterprises too.  One of the top reasons that they’ve always been on the list is their durability.  Carpet tiles are strong; indeed, they’re the kind of intense that most people wish they were.  This sort of strength means you can install carpet tiles in the areas of your business with heavy wear and tear and excessive foot traffic; they’ll still hold up to the challenge.  That’s not something every flooring can take, not even every carpeting.  So, if you need a floor to battle everything you're throwing at it seriously, carpet tiles are what you want.

Caring for carpet tiles is remarkably easy.  Of course, carpet maintenance in general is pretty simple.  That’s because they’re built to take on the world.  So, as long as you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, you’re golden.  For the most part, that means regular care, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to do a lot of it.  Vacuuming and the occasional shampoo are really all you’ve need to include in most care routines.  That’s something you can handle, right?  (And by you, we do, of course, mean your support teams.)

Plus, you can (we promise) get carpet tiles in a range of colours, patterns and textures.  You’re not stuck with the carpets that you remember from old buildings (unless, of course, you want that).  And there are plenty of different variations to fit with your business needs.  Not only that, but playing with carpet tile patterns is seriously in style again.  Plenty of prominent offices are using tiles to accent company colours in principal spaces or creating illusions within the reception area.  Isn’t that something your business should be doing if you can do it cost-effectively?  Of course, it is.

There’s one other really crucial reason you want to incorporate carpet tiles into your office.  (We say one other, but really, there are hundreds.  We just know you don’t have the kind of time needed to wade through all of them.)  That reason is the ease of installation.  Really.  It’s simple to order them (and to do so without making a mistake), and it’s even easier to have them put into place.  Plus, you don’t need to clear the entire area; you can simply shuffle things to one side, have the carpets laid, and then move those items back over to the other side.  Don’t you wish everything was that simple?

Caring for Your Carpet Tiles

Okay, carpet tiling, just like its brother broadloom carpeting, needs regular vacuuming.  Usually, that means you’ll need to pull out the vacuum cleaner once a day.  You can always pull it out more often if you’d like though you may not need it.  However, the trick is to make sure you vacuum like you mean it every time you do it; that way your carpet tiles will last for, well, a lot longer than you want them.  Get the best vacuum you can possibly afford and make sure it has a brush, as well as a suction function, as this will make all the difference in the world.  Then, make sure you move the vacuum around in different directions and from different angles every day.  These things will help to lift any trapped dirt – and thereby lessen your need for deep cleaning treatments. 

When it comes to deep cleaning, you’ve got to ensure that you’re working with a trusted supplier.  Ideally, you can choose a dry cleaning solution rather than the more traditional carpet shampoo.  The latter, unfortunately, can loosen the glue underneath your carpet tiles if it’s not done correctly.  (That’s why you want to work with a qualified team.) 

Obviously, one of the key benefits of choosing carpet tiles is that you can remove them one at a time or in batches if you need to cover a stain.  Of course, that means that you need a few extra tiles on hand to do this, but not to worry, your friendly technical carpeting consultant will probably remind you that you need an extra box (or two, depending on the environment you work in).  If you do need to remove a tile or a group of tiles, it is basically as pulling up a tile, slapping some glue on a new one and laying it in the proper position.  Okay, it’s not exactly that simple and you will want to take a look at the installation guide before doing so, but it’s pretty close.

Ready to Dispose of Your Carpet Tiles?

There’s every reason to believe that your carpet tiles will last longer than you want them too.  You’ll probably want to refurb the place long before your carpet tiles need to be replaced.  Sorry about that, because it will make it more difficult for you to justify more spend.  On the other hand, because they last forever – and can be repurposed in new areas, you can become a local hero by donating washed and ready carpet tiles to local charities and shelters.  There are plenty of social enterprises that will gladly accept a donation of your old carpeting. 

And, if you really cannot find a charity in your area, then you’ll be happy to know that carpet recycling organisations can help you divert your old carpeting from the local landfill.  You can even get a certificate to prove it.  And that’s something that every business in the UK would love to show the government.

Just remember, today’s carpet tiles bear no resemblance to the ones in your old office.  Hallelujah!

If you’d like to find out a little more about carpet tiles then please head over to the Birch Carpets website - http://www.birchcarpets.co.uk/