Tony Cagorski owner of Homestyle Flooring Solutions in Brookvale has been selling carpets on the Northern Beaches for over 25 years. Tony shares his vast flooring knowledge about wool carpets; how to choose a good one, what brands he recommends and what trends we can expect this year.
Wool Carpets
When customers walk into the showroom at Homestyle Flooring Solutions Brookvale one of the first questions they ask is, ‘What is the best material for carpet?’
In truth, no one material or style is overall better than the next, each comes in a variety of prices to suit your lifestyle and budget, but for me the sumptuous feel of a good quality wool carpet underfoot is pure luxury. What you really need to consider when choosing what’s best for you is, what room the carpet is going to be in? How much traffic it will get and how much you are prepared to spend?
There are multiple different fibres used for carpet; wool, natural bio-polymers, nylon and polypropylene. Carpets can be made up of a single fibre or a blend of fibres, for example 80% wool and 20% nylon is a favourite.
Wool carpets remain a popular choice for their warmth, luxurious feel and durability – a good quality wool carpet should outlast any other type. Generally, wool is more expensive than other fibres, but price depends on the quality and construction of the carpet.
I recommend my customers choose a carpet that has been graded by the Australian Carpet Classification Scheme (ACCS). The scheme works like a star rating similar to the energy ratings efficiency for white goods. The more stars a carpet has the better it is likely to be in terms of its durability and how well it keeps its appearance. Residential carpets can have a maximum of six stars and carry a yellow and blue label, whilst commercial carpets can have a maximum of four stars and carry black and gold labels. Some carpets will carry both residential and commercial gradings.
Wool has excellent resilience, so it recovers well from crushing and retains it appearance. It resists liquid-based spillages and releases dirt easily due to the unique structure of wool fibre. Unlike nylon however, wool can’t be treated for stain resistance so spillages need to be attended to immediately. Wool is naturally flame resistant; it is difficult to ignite and has low flame spread and heat release properties. As a result, pure new wool carpets comply with many international flammability regulations.
Carpet is an integral part of your décor and can be the focal point of the room. For the ultimate in choice, Godfrey Hirst carpets offer a fantastic colour selection and range of styles. Being the largest manufacturer and exporter of carpets in the southern hemisphere means there are literally hundreds of carpets to choose from. Godfrey Hirst wool carpets are renowned for their quality and durability. Made with premium wool, they suit all climates and provide natural stain resistance.
I also like to recommend Feltex Woven carpets made from premium wools. The expert team of designers at Feltex seem to be able to bring the latest colour and style trends to floors.
So what trends can we see in wool carpets this year? According to Chaparral Carpet Mills in Victoria, trends for the season show a dominance of darker shades, such as greys, beiges and mauves. Texture is a common theme in the market place.
If you are considering a wool carpet or indeed any other floor covering including timber, vinyl, and bamboo, come and talk to me at my Brookvale showroom.
