Flooring Guide

  1. Carpet Tiles, Timber, Laminate, and Vinyl

  • Carpet tiles, timber, laminates, and vinyls are all supplied in different carton sizes, roll widths, and lengths. To make it easier to compare these products they are generally priced per square metre.

  • Modular carpet tiles allows for variation in colour, texture, pattern, and size. Carpet tiles are easy to install, and can be easily be changed. They are also very hard wearing, require little maintenance, while being very cost effective.

  • Laminate is an excellent flooring solution for customers wanting the look of natural timber at an affordable price. Laminate is hard wearing and offer a high resistance to scratching which makes them ideal in areas with lots of traffic. Laminates come in a large range of finishes to suit any décor and can suit many different applications.

  • Modern vinyls are quiet and soft to walk on, and come in a wide variety of patterns and textures. Vinyl is available with timber and ceramic finishes, with it often difficult to distinguish Vinyls from the product they emulate. Vinyl is a great way to achieve a premium finish without the price.

    Vinyl is normally supplied in rolls (2 or 3 metre widths), and come in a huge range of qualities and finish.

  • Planking products are becoming more popular. They are simple to install and come in a large range of colours and styles. There is also flexibility to mix planks, creating unique and inventive spaces.

2. Carpets

  • A standard carpet roll is 3.66m wide, and is sold by the metre – commonly referred to as a linear metre. Like most other durable purchases, the more you pay, the better the quality and the longer the product will last.

    Richmond Flooring only supplies only reputable products from New Zealand, and International Brands that are recognized, and respected, with industry leading after sales support.

    Pricing can be expressed in either linear, or square metres. It is important to check carefully when comparing products how the pricing is expressed.

2.1 Carpet Piles

  • Cut pile carpet is manufactured by cutting the tops of the loops so the pile stands upright with an even, and smooth surface. This pile gives a very soft, luxurious look. This is our most popular pile sold.

  • Loop pile carpets are made by forming a loop in the thread. This pile is hard wearing, durable and doesn’t tend to show tracking (footprints). Loop twills are made by blending different colour yarns, making them better for wear with high traffic, and being very durable.

  • Textured carpets are a type of loop pile. They’re generally manufactured using a single colour. Manufacturers continually work on developments to maintain a modern, and contemporary look for this type of carpet. Designs range from high and low thread ups, to level loops.

  • Combination, level, and textured cut loop pile carpets. Create a very fine and luxurious and prestigious finish to living areas.

2.2 Carpet Gradings

  • Carpet is graded to determine the quality, however be careful in making comparisons. Grading is usually either Medium, Heavy or Extra Heavy Duty. Also check the stairs grading on the carpet if required.

2.3 Carpet Characteristics

  • Cut pile carpets, particularly those that are plush or near plush, may develop lighter or darker areas depending on the angles from which they are viewed. This phenomenon is generally referred to as “Shading” or “Watermarking”. The causes of shading are not understood and it cannot be accurately predicted or prevented. Shading does not affect the durability of the carpet and is not caused by the manufacturing or installation process.

  • It is common to find that the texture lines (both up and down and sideways) may be slightly irregular. These irregularities are not a manufacturing flaw, but appear naturally in the production of these products.

  • Particularly “plush pile” will in some circumstances show the condition known as “Shading, Watermarking or Pile Reversal”. This condition is characterized by random light and dark patches appearing some weeks after installation , caused by permanent reversal or bending of the carpet pile fibres with consequential different light effects. It can neither be predicted nor prevented. It does not affect the wear or durability of the carpet. It is beyond the control of the manufacturer and is not recognized as a either a product defect or a manufacturing fault. Tracking is caused by imprints left in the carpets , primarily from feet walking on the carpet . This is not a defect or manufacturing fault, but an inherent fibre characteristic. Most carpet styles and textures show some effect from pile flattening or a change in pile lay due to frequent walking or other forms of traffic. You are advised to consider these characteristics before purchasing.

  • In order to properly install your new flooring, cutting and seaming are quite common. Today’s heat-bond seams are very strong. The thickness of this tape may cause seams to peak by 2-3mm, but this will settle down over time as the seam beds in to the underlay. Our installers pride themselves in making these seams as inconspicuous as possible, however as with all products installed in lengths such as wallpaper, or pavers no seam is entirely invisible.