What’s the difference between laminate and wood flooring?

No, this is not the opening line of a joke, it’s one of the questions we get asked most often! Although laminate and wood flooring are similar in their appearance, both offer a beautiful wood look for your home, but it can be hard to know which one is going to be the best option for you. In this blog post, we look at the main differences between the two and what benefits each offers.  Laminate vs Wood The main difference between laminate and wood flooring is in their material composition.. Laminate flooring has a pressed wood core which is topped with an image layer, followed by a clear one, giving it the appearance of wood flooring. While wood flooring is 100% solid wood which is usually varnished or waxed for protection Although wood flooring offers some amazing benefits, laminates also offer their own set of benefits. So which one is best for your home? Benefits of laminate flooring The first thing to note about laminate flooring is its clear top layer adds extra protection, making it very scratch-resistant. This means that the stunning wood look should remain unblemished throughout normal use. A feature that can be important for young families or homeowners with pets.  The protective layer also makes laminate flooring soft to walk on. Paired with a foam underlay, laminate flooring makes a comfortable floor when compared to much harder wood flooring. It also doesn’t discolour as easily as some other hard flooring types so it’ll keep its appearance for many years.  Benefits of wood flooring Unlike laminate flooring, natural wood flooring is just that, 100% wood! This makes it even more durable than laminate. It’s also warmer than laminate flooring due to wood’s natural insulating properties. You can find out more about the warmth of wood flooring by reading one of our other blog posts.  When kept well, wood flooring can last for many years and can actually look better as the years go by. Best placed in high traffic areas, wood flooring has an ageless appeal and is always trending in the flooring world.  Should I get laminate or wood flooring? As you’ve read, both types of flooring come with their own range of benefits so it can be hard to decide which is going to be best for you. One thing to bear in mind when making that decision is the time it takes to install.  Laminate flooring is generally quicker to install than wood flooring, making it a good option if you need your home renovation to have a quick turnaround.  Which is best for pets? Although we’ve said laminate flooring is scratch-resistant, wood flooring is also highly durable. So either option is pet-friendly. As they are both hard floors, they won’t hold on to allergens like fur or dust.  If you’re still not sure, that’s completely OK. Deciding on what flooring is best for your home is an important one to make. We recommend that you come to either our Worthing or Storrington showroom to see all of our ranges for yourself.  You’ll also be able to speak to our friendly team of flooring experts who will be able to answer your questions and give you advice. Whatever hard flooring you choose, we will have you covered!

Top Three Benefits Of Wood Flooring

Real wood flooring from Wall Bros Carpets and Flooring

With its natural tones and classic styling, lots of people are choosing real wood flooring for their homes.  While it certainly looks stunning, there are other fantastic benefits. Here are our top three: Durability It almost goes without saying that real wood flooring is one of the most durable types of flooring available. Making it a perfect choice for areas with high foot traffic like hallways and communal living spaces.  In fact, with just a little TLC, wood flooring can withstand heavy foot traffic for decades and even look better over time.  Easy to maintain As we said, wood flooring does need a little bit of TLC but this is easy to do. Simply use a broom to tidy the floor when needed and give it a mop with warm water no more than once a week to maintain it.  There are of course wood flooring cleaners on the market. Make sure that you always read the label before using them to ensure that you’re using them correctly so as to not ruin the wood.  Top Tip: If you live in an area with hard water, use bottled or distilled water to clean your wood flooring as over time, the excessive minerals in hard water can leave the floor finishes looking dull.  Underfloor heating You may think that wood flooring would be a cold option for this time of year, but it lends itself well to underfloor heating. Which is actually more efficient than conventional central heating at keeping your home warm.  So opting for wood flooring could also offer up the chance to improve your home’s heating system too. Underfloor heating is cheaper to run and with wood flooring, the heat will last longer as wood is a natural insulator.If you’re thinking about getting wood flooring, head into our Worthing or Storrington showroom to view all of our ranges and speak to our experts. Who will be happy to give you advice on what will work best for you.

Spring Flooring Trends 2023

The UK flooring industry is always evolving and changing with the seasons, and this spring is no different. With the changing weather and the desire for more natural and sustainable materials, the trends are shifting towards eco-friendly flooring options. For both homes and businesses, the trend is leaning towards natural materials, muted colours, and a focus on sustainability. For homes, natural materials such as hardwood and wool are becoming increasingly popular. Hardwood has a timeless look that adds a touch of class and sophistication to any home, while wool is the original sustainable option for carpet. Both materials are available in a multitude of patterns, shades and colours, allowing homeowners to choose the right flooring to match their décor.  Furthermore, our award winning team of experts is on hand to guide you through all of our flooring options. We have thousands of examples on display that you can see and touch. In addition, we welcome clients who bring in soft furnishings or paint swatches to make sure colours contrast or match well.  In terms of colour, muted tones and earthy hues are all the rage this spring. Shades such as beige, grey, and light brown are perfect for creating a calming atmosphere, while brighter colours like yellow, blue, and green can add a pop of colour to a room. For a more modern look, metallic shades and highlights are also popular. For businesses, there is a growing focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. Hardwearing recycled materials are becoming increasingly popular due to their durability and low impact on the environment. In terms of colour, neutral shades are still popular, but brighter colours are also becoming more common, allowing businesses to make a statement with their flooring. No matter what kind of flooring you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone this spring. Natural materials, muted colours, and sustainable options are all trending, creating an eco-friendly atmosphere that is perfect for any home or business. With so many options, there’s no limit to what you can create this Spring. For more inspiration on what to do with your floors this Spring come and see us at our stores in Worthing and Storrington. No appointment necessary, but do call ahead if you want to check our ranges or if you’d like us to order something in for you to see. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Choosing The Right Flooring: Our 2023 Quick Guide

New year, new floor? Here’s what you need to know Getting new flooring is a great way to give your home a fresh new look and the beginning of a new year is a great excuse to do just that. So, if you are looking for new flooring, our  experts have put together a quick guide which tells you everything you need to know about choosing the right flooring to suit your needs.  Don’t forget that this is just a quick guide. Our friendly flooring experts are available to give you more help at both our Worthing and Storrington showroom. What goes with what? One of the first things you’ll be thinking about when considering new flooring is what type of flooring goes with the interior you have. Whether you’re keeping it the same or planning to change the interior, the flooring needs to match or complement it.  We’ve referred to ourselves as the ground workers of interior design before and this is because flooring works to tie everything in the room together. Choosing flooring that does just that is important to the overall look and feel of your home. So, what can you do to make sure things go well together? Here’s a quick look at what colours go with the staples of the flooring world: Wood flooring The great thing about wood flooring is that it pairs very nicely with a huge range of other textures. Including leather, fabrics and painted surfaces. So, more often than not, there will be wood flooring that goes well with the interior you already have or the one you’re planning to have. Wood also goes well with both modern and classic interior decor styling. What’s more, wood flooring comes in a variety of colours so you can choose whether to get one that matches your home. Or one that complements it instead.  Grey carpet Grey is a hugely popular choice for carpet and has been for many years due to its versatility. As grey is a neutral colour, it can be paired with almost anything to tie a room together. Some of the best pairings though are blues, greens and pinks.  It’s important to think about the properties of the carpet when you’re purchasing it. Even though you’ve decided on a colour, there are lots of other things to consider too. Such as how durable you want it to be as well as how easy to clean. So make sure you pop into our Worthing or Storrington showroom to speak to our expert team who will be more than happy to help you with which carpet to go for.  Think about where the new flooring is going Even if you’re going to be re-flooring your entire home, you need to think about the individual requirements  in each room the flooring is going. In this day and age, there are so many different flooring options and each has its benefits in different areas of the house.  For example; carpet can be used in the majority of a home and, in fact, there are so many different types of carpet that it would be possible to use a slightly different one in each room. Having said that, you wouldn’t want to put carpet in the kitchen or bathroom because these areas are likely to get wet. Instead, you’ll want to opt for hard flooring such as vinyl flooring which is not only really durable, it’s waterproof and easy to clean too. Taking it a step further, you will need to consider how busy each area of your home is. For example; you’ll want to ensure you have durable flooring in a busy part of the house like the hallway as people will be walking across it frequently.  Thinking about where your new flooring is going will help you to get an idea of what type of flooring will work best in that area. Don’t worry if you’re not sure – that’s what our flooring experts are here for! Pop into our Worthing or Storrington flooring showroom to speak to our award-winning team about what will work best in your home. Does it need to be low maintenance? A low maintenance floor is one that is easy to keep clean and looking nice. With more of us living time-starved lives, having a low maintenance floor is becoming imperative. So what are the options? Well, although hard flooring is a great option, they may need continual sweeping and having many carpet varieties are bleach-cleanable these days. Here at Wall Bros Carpets, we stock a range of bleach-cleanable carpets. A type of carpet that is made from polypropylene. A man-made fibre which doesn’t allow liquid to be absorbed into the fibre. We always recommend carrying out a small test with any harsh cleaning products before using them across a large patch in the middle of your lounge but, as the name suggests, bleach-cleanable carpets can really be cleaned with chemical cleaners like bleach. Ensuring that your carpet remains stain-free – even if you love having big parties, have muddy pets and an army of toddlers If you want to avoid carpet altogether, there are lots of different hard flooring options and each type of hard flooring is available in a huge variety of colours and styles. Vinyl flooring is always a favourite when it comes to durability and low maintenance. Not least because the variety of styles it comes in goes with most interiors.  Whatever flooring you’re looking for, our friendly team of flooring experts is on hand to give you the advice that you need to make sure you choose the right flooring. Pop into our Worthing or Storrington showroom to see our ranges and speak to the team. 

What Flooring Is Most Popular At This Time Of Year?

Or – How to keep those toesies cosy with the right flooring! Believe it or not, Winter has only just officially started! While it may seem as though we’ve had the worst of the cold weather, the coldest months (January and February) are yet to come.  Many of us are trying to prepare for those colder spells and look at what we can do within our homes to stop heat from leaking out of them and make sure it’s that bit warmer.  Luckily, there are other ways besides central heating to keep our homes warm and one of the most effective is having good flooring. So what types of flooring are trending this Winter? Well, we’ve put together this short guide to give you some flooring inspiration! Carpet, of course! It’s no surprise that carpet continues to be the most popular flooring type all year round, but it’s particularly popular in these colder months. There are lots of different types of carpet, but by far the warmest are ones made from 100% wool.  A wool carpet used to be perceived as being ‘hard to clean’ but many now come with stain guard coatings as standard and all wool flooring is extremely hard-wearing. The carpet industry has come a long way since its humble beginnings and now there are thousands of different colour shades and patterns to choose from. We expect patterned carpet to continue to be popular, just as it was in Autumn.  While patterned carpet is a fantastic choice, it can be a daunting decision when it comes to which combination of colours or even what pattern would look best. That’s where our flooring experts come in. Pop along to our Worthing or Storrington showroom with a photo of the room you’re buying the carpet for or a sample of the soft furnishings that you wish to match the flooring to. Our experts will be happy to advise on which carpet will be the best match for both the furnishings and the room use. Don’t shy away from wood flooring As we’ve said in a previous blog post, wood flooring can actually do a really good job at keeping your home that bit warmer over Winter. Looking at The 2022 Winter Edition of Design at Home, we can see wood flooring being used a lot as a way to tie lots of different elements together.  Not only can wood flooring be a good option for warmth over winter, but it can also look great too. Giving your home a modern and stylish feel. What’s more, wood flooring comes in a huge variety of colours and styles so there’s bound to be something that goes with your home decor.  Why not pop into our Worthing or Storrington showroom? There, you can have a look at all of our wood flooring ranges for yourself and speak to our flooring experts. There are other versatile hard flooring options If you’re keen on having a wood flooring look within your home, but need a little more durability or even a less hefty price tag, there are other options.  We often advise young families who are after a wood look in their homes to opt for Luxury Vinyl Tiles, or LVT. Mainly because of the durability that this type of flooring offers and how low maintenance it is – perfect for busy parents and small children who may be prone to spills. What’s more, LVT imitates a huge range of hard flooring so there are lots of style options when it comes to choosing the right one for you.  If you love the look of wood flooring but are not sure about how well it will stand the test of pets and children, laminate flooring is another fantastic option. This type of flooring is not only easy to maintain but it also doesn’t scratch or scuff easily. Making it a perfect option for houses with furry friends. In a similar way to LVT, laminate flooring comes in a huge range of colours and styles too and we’re happy to show you all of the options. Don’t skimp on the underlay Whatever flooring you choose, spending a fraction more on the best quality underlay will increase your comfort underfoot, increase the lifetime of your flooring and also potentially save you money on fuel bills! Believe us, going ‘better’ on the underlay will be one of the best flooring decisions you can make. Whether it’s carpet, LVT, laminate or vinyl, we have thousands of flooring samples on display for you to see and feel in our Worthing and Storrington stores, so make sure you pop in and see us. We’re open most days and our award-winning team of flooring experts is on hand to advise you on what flooring is going to be best for you.  For more flooring advice and inspiration, follow us on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

The best flooring to keep your home warm this winter

Or ‘How not to get cold feet in your own home!’ Now that the temperature is starting to drop outside and winter sets in, you might be thinking about changing the interior of your home. Not just to reflect the change in season but also to keep your home warmer and that costly central heating on a bit less. Flooring is often an overlooked part of home renovation and (although we’re probably biased!) we think it’s actually one of the most important. When chosen correctly, the flooring in your home can improve a home’s energy efficiency and keep it a lot warmer. So what is the best flooring to keep the heat in this winter? Wood flooring Contrary to popular belief, wood flooring isn’t actually that good at keeping your home cool in Summer, but it is a fantastic choice in Winter! Wood is a natural heat retainer and will absorb any heat and slowly disperse it. Making wood flooring a good choice for people who have/ want underfloor heating.  As the flooring industry has developed, there are now more colours, patinas and grains than ever. Meaning that there’s most likely a type of wood flooring that will suit your home decor. When laid with minimal gaps between planks, wood flooring can work really well as a warm flooring option. Wool carpet One of the main reasons fitted carpets gained in popularity through the 1950s and 60s was due to the fact that natural wool carpets keep rooms warmer. Wool carpet is a fantastic natural insulator and – unlike wood flooring – will feel warm underfoot. What’s more, when paired with a comfy underlay, wool carpet can be a luxuriously soft option. Its natural insulating properties help your home’s energy efficiency too.  Wool is also environmentally sustainable and here at Wall Bros, we’ve got lots of different wool carpets from a variety of high quality manufacturers to choose from. Pop into our Worthing or Storrington shop to see all of our ranges and speak to our team of flooring experts who will be more than happy to help you. Cushioned vinyl flooring Unlike raw materials, such as stone which you’d find on traditional tiled floors, vinyl flooring is soft and even warm underfoot. It is made up of five separate layers that are bonded together to make it a warm flooring option while still being waterproof, stylish and easy to maintain.  Its durability makes it a fantastic option for kitchens and bathrooms and you’re not short on style as vinyl flooring comes in a huge range of looks and patterns. Meaning that there’s almost definitely something to compliment your home. If you’re looking for new flooring that’s going to keep you warm this winter, pop into our Worthing or Storrington showroom to see all of our ranges of flooring and speak to our flooring experts. They’re more than happy to help you find the perfect flooring for your home. 

How We Work With Our Fitters

Text reads 'How we work with our fitters' which is the title of a Wall Bros Carpets blog post about how the flooring retailer works with their flooring fitters across Sussex

Here at Wall Bros Carpets we pride ourselves on providing the best flooring for all of our customers. Our flooring experts are able to recommend the right flooring for every home or workspace and customers leave our shop happy that the perfect flooring has been chosen for them. Once the flooring has been expertly selected and ordered, we work with our trusted fitters to ensure that the chosen flooring is fitted to the highest standard. We only work with fitters that we know and trust to do a great job and many have been working with us for decades. We have great relationships with our fitters and know what expertise is needed for specific jobs. Wood flooring, for example, requires specific precision to fit around door frames and other obstacles that cannot be moved. Here’s a job that we completed for a customer who wanted wood flooring in their hallway which looks great. It required specialist edging to fit the flooring around the door frames. How many pieces of border can you spot in the photo below? We can see at least six pieces were cut to fit around the shape of the wall. Don’t just take our word for it, we’ve recently received a fantastic testimonial from a customer who had our quickstep classic enhanced natural oak fitted in Storrington. They were so pleased with the fitters they wanted to reach out and say thank you. The customer said, “The new laminate floor in our dining room looks superb. Wall Bros were very good at organising, pricing and arranging the availability of the flooring and the fitters work was excellent. The fitters arrived exactly on time, they discussed with me how they were going to complete the work and then started immediately.  I had 5 pieces of extremely heavy furniture in the dining room but they moved it around without a moment’s worry. They worked non-stop, were exceptionally tidy and they even helped me put felt pads on all the furniture. As such I would have no hesitation in recommending them.”   It’s important to us that we work in partnership with our fitters, providing the very best quality flooring for them to expertly fit in our customers’ homes and workspaces. We of course shared this wonderful feedback with Ian and Sam, the expert fitters who completed the job. Ian said, “The feedback that the customer gave you is a reflection of the way we work. I think it is important to be customer focused, and when customers work with you and make the effort they made it spurs you on to go the extra mile!” If you’re looking for new flooring for your home or workspace, please don’t hesitate to call our Worthing/ Storrington store. Our flooring experts are able to advise you on the best flooring for your needs and the fitters we work with have the expertise and professionalism to fit the flooring perfectly.

Top 3 Things You Need To Know Before Choosing Your New Flooring

Living room carpet Wall bros

With Spring comes longer, brighter days which, while very welcome, can often highlight aspects of our home that need improving. Although it can be easy to replace cushions, curtains or other accessories, your flooring can have the biggest impact of all. Whether it’s choosing the right type for a particular room (not got round to replacing the last owner’s carpet in the bathroom yet?!), or simply refreshing your carpets, vinyl or wood, there’s a few decisions to make first: In some cases, the answer may be ‘yes’, but you might like to look at updating the style, perhaps upgrading the quality or maybe changing the shade slightly to make the room look lighter. We can advise on similar alternatives that you can feel comfortable about whilst improving the general appearance of the room. There’s a wealth of ideas on the internet and this is a great place to start gathering examples of flooring you like. But, of course, there’s nothing like the personal advice of an expert. With over 60 years of expertise – and awards for our outstanding customer service! – our expert team is well placed to help you make the right decisions. We’ll suggest ideas that work for you and your home, look great and stay within budget. Give us a call to make an appointment. We’ll ask you some basic questions about your home, your lifestyle, your favourite colours for interiors and what sort of look you’d like to achieve, and then make suggestions based on your answers. How about colour matching your flooring to either your wall colour or your soft furnishings? We can take any colour you like and make sure your carpet will fully complement your colour scheme. Matching colours across different areas of a room will pull it together and make it look like an interior designer has been at work! Alternatively you might decide you want to ditch the carpet and replace it with vinyl, or vice versa. Again, we can discuss the benefits of different options such as wood flooring, carpet, tiles, vinyl and laminates to establish what works best for you. Whatever approach you decide to take to revamping your flooring this Spring, pop in to our Worthing or Storrington shops for a chat with our experts about the choices available to you.

9 Reasons to Choose Real Wood Flooring

Wall bros wood flooring in showroom

Why should I have a wood floor? Here are 9 reasons why we think wooden flooring is a great choice… We love wood flooring, and are sure you will too – some of us even have it in our own homes. If you’re thinking about installing a wood floor get in touch to discuss your requirements with our expert team today.