Home > Buying Carpets

Before searching for a new carpet there are a number of questions that you need to consider. Whilst your answers to these questions may change during the selection process, these questions will certainly help to point you in the right direction.

What effect am I trying to create in my room?
What colour, design and style are you looking for and what do you need your carpet to match with?

How long do I want my carpet to last?
Everybody wants their carpet to last for a long time and stay looking good, but how long they actually last for depends upon both the style of carpet that you pick and your answers to the following factors:

How much use will my carpet get?
Is the carpet going in a room with heavy wear (like the stairs or living room) or light wear (such as a spare bedroom)? How many people live in your house? Have you any children or pets? All of these factors will affect how much use the carpet gets and therefore how long it is likely to last. Even the shoes you wear in the home or the amount that you vacuum can affect the life of your carpet.

How much do I want to spend?
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. Whilst there are many inexpensive carpets on the market that are very durable and look good these are usually less luxurious and comfortable than other ranges.

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

From the luxury of tropical and domestic solid wood to laminate wood effect, stone and slate finishes - Alan Ward offers something for every taste and every budget.

Solid wood floors are solid pieces of wood that have tongue and groove sides and come in either pre-finished or unfinished styles. They can either be fully glued to the floor or nailed down. Because they are solid, they can be recoated or refinished several times, which adds to their appeal and lifespan - some floors are over 100 years old and are still in good condition.

The elegant look of a hardwood floor can add warmth and character to any room. The natural characteristics of wood add depth and a visual appearance that many other types of floors try to duplicate.

Hardwood floors come in a wide variety of wood species, colours and widths. Besides the classic hardwoods (like red oak, white oak, maple and ash) many manufacturers now offer exotic hardwood species from all over the World. Exotic hardwoods give homeowners the chance to better express their own personal decorating tastes with a more unique looking floor. With so many different types of hardwood flooring now available it is sometime hard to choice which is best suited.

All solid wood floors will react to the presence of moisture. In the winter heating months, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract which leaves unsightly gaps between each plank. In the summer months when the humidity is higher the wood will expand and the gaps will disappear. If there is too much moisture it may cause the wood planks to buckle.