Carpet maintenance isn’t just another chore on your to-do list- it’s a powerful strategy to save your school money! While it may seem like a small effort, regular carpet care can lead to significant savings over time.  By maintaining your flooring, you not only extend its lifespan but also avoid unexpected costs that can strain your school’s budget.

In this blog, we’ll explore how schools can adopt a proactive maintenance strategy to protect their flooring investment, reduce long-term expenses, and creates a healthier, more welcoming environment for students and staff.

Replacing carpets prematurely due to wear and tear can be a major expense for schools, especially in high-traffic areas like corridors, staircases, and cafeterias. Yet, well-maintained and professionally cleaned carpets can last anywhere from 10-20 years. Therefore, by keeping carpets in good condition through regular maintenance, such as vacuuming, deep cleaning, and spot treatment, schools can extend the lifespan of their carpets and avoid the expense of frequent replacements.

Regularly maintained carpets are less likely to require expensive repairs or intensive cleaning treatments. Routine cleaning helps prevent dirt and allergens from embedding into the carpet fibres, which can lead to premature damage and more costly cleaning.

Addressing issues as soon as they arise can also prevent long-term damage and save on expensive repairs. For example, spot cleaning stains immediately can prevent the need for professional stain treatments. Alternatively, schools that neglect their carpets may face higher repair costs in the future, including re-stretching or patching damaged areas.

Poor indoor air quality can lead to health issues among students and staff, resulting in increased healthcare costs and absenteeism, which in turn affects children’s education due to missed school days. However, maintaining clean carpets through regular vacuuming and cleaning helps reduces the build-up of allergens and bacteria that can pollute the environment, thereby improving overall air quality. This can lead to fewer sick days, a healthier learning environment, and lower medical and absenteeism-related costs.

In winter, when the climate is cooler, carpets act as natural insulation, helping maintain a consistent temperature in classrooms. This thermal insulation can also help schools save on heating bills, especially in larger schools with many classrooms.

In the summer, carpets can assist with soundproofing, reducing the need for air conditioning or noise-cancelling solutions in open classrooms. Supacord, Heckmondwike’s market-leading carpet for educational sites, is available with acoustic backing, which can further enhance its impact noise-reducing rating to 23dB. For more insights into how acoustic flooring can improve noise control in educational spaces, check out our blog on how acoustic flooring reduces noise.

Since high-traffic areas like corridors, entrances, and staircases are prone to wear and tear, targeted maintenance is essential to reduce long-term damage. For instance, by using entry mats in transition areas, schools can prevent dirt and moisture from transferring into other parts of the school, such as classrooms, where carpets are more vulnerable to damage. Consequently, this minimises the need for costly repairs and replacements in these high-traffic zones.

Investing in commercial-grade carpets designed to withstand heavy foot traffic can also reduce future maintenance efforts, allowing schools to focus on simple routine cleaning. At Heckmondwike, Battleship/Hippo entrance carpets are used extensively in education due to their low maintenance costs.

Dirty or damaged carpets can pose safety risks, such as tripping hazards, which could lead to accidents that are costly for the school. For example, a tripping hazard caused by a worn-out carpet could result in injury and incur costs for the school. Therefore, regular carpet inspections are necessary to prevent these issues.

Due to its anti-ravel and anti-fray properties, Supacord is an excellent choice for schools, where high foot traffic and daily use can take a toll on flooring. It helps mitigate risks and provides a safe, cost-effective solution for educational institutions.

Brampton Manor Academy outlined their goal to create a new building for Year 7 as a stand-alone resource, alongside expanding the school’s sixth form areas. Three new buildings were constructed within the existing school footprint, allowing for an additional 600 pupils.

As a result, the school required a complete carpet and entrance solution. They chose 1,900 metres of Heckmondwike’s bestselling Supacord carpet tiles, along with 140 metres of its specialist entrance matting, Battleship, to ensure a long-lasting, high-quality finish.

Don’t wait until your carpets start showing signs of wear- invest in quality, commercial grade flooring today! Explore pour wide range of carpets designed specifically for educational environments like schools, colleges, and universities, offering durability, low maintenance, and long-term savings.

Contact us now to get started on selecting the perfect carpet for your school and see the difference it can make for your budget and your students.

When we think about school branding, the first things that come to mind are uniforms, events, and logos. But have you ever considered how something as simple as custom flooring can significantly boost a school’s brand image? Beyond its functional role, personalised carpet tiles and mats can be a powerful tool to reinforce a school’s identity, create a welcoming atmosphere, and foster a sense of community.

In this blog, we’ll explore how custom-designed carpets, featuring school logos, colours, and unique designs can elevate a school’s aesthetic while contributing to its overall identity.

Custom carpets offer an effective and subtle way to continually reinforce the school’s brand. A school’s logo and colours represent its brand, mission, and spirit. By incorporating these elements into the carpet design, the school solidifies its identity in every area where the carpet is placed, serving as a constant reminder of what the school stands for.

For new students, staff, and visitors, the visual cues provided through custom flooring serve as an immediate introduction to the school’s identity. These elements communicate the school’s values and personality, leaving a lasting impression. This ultimately strengthens brand recognition and creates a memorable image of the school, particularly in the minds of alumni.

Custom flooring is especially impactful in high-traffic areas like entrances. Incorporating logo entrance matting in the school’s doorway will essentially create the first point of interaction between the school and its visitors, making it an important step in its visual branding strategy.

Custom flooring can transform a school’s environment, making it feel more inviting and connected to its ethos. Personalised carpets establish a sense of ownership and pride among students, helping them feel more engaged in their school.

In large schools, it’s easy for different areas to feel disconnected. However, research indicates that consistent visual elements within a school environment can significantly enhance a student’s sense of belonging. For example, ‘The Power of Unity’ concept emphasises the importance of interconnectedness in educational settings, suggesting that fostering a unified environment contributes to a compassionate and cooperative school culture. These findings highlight the value of incorporating consistent visual design to create cohesive and welcoming spaces that reassure students of their place within the school community.

Consequently, being part of a unified school community nurtures student well-being, which spreads to staff, teachers, and visitors, uplifting the entire atmosphere of the school. This fuels school spirit and motivates students in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. It creates an environment where students don’t just attend school to learn; they come to be part of a meaningful, inclusive community.

• Durability: Mats are commonly used in high foot traffic areas meaning they must be able to withstand wear and tear from heavy use without showing signs of damage quickly. At Heckmondwike, our Bespoke Logo Mat is manufactured using the durable Diamond entrance carpet. It has a prominent, heavy contract, multi-directional texture, resulting in a highly durable surface, making it a popular choice for entrance transition areas in schools.

• Health and Safety: Carpets with non-slip properties are important in reducing accidents, especially in high-traffic areas like entrances, corridors, and stairs. Heckmondwike’s Loose Lay Mats offer the perfect entrance solution for schools. With rubber edging, the mats sit firmly and securely on an entrance surface, providing a benefit of safety while maintaining an aesthetic appeal.

• Noise Reduction: Custom carpet tiles can improve acoustics by reducing reverberation. Broadrib, Supacord, and Hobnail, available in Heckmondwike’s revolutionary logo carpet tiles, Fusion, are designed with enhanced impact noise reduction properties. These features make them the optimal choice for corridors. For more insights, check out our blog to explore the benefits of acoustic flooring.

• Improved Air Quality: Custom carpet tiles, especially those with dense fibres, like Supacord, can help trap dust, dirt, and allergens reducing the amount of dust circulating in the air, making the environment healthier, especially for children with allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma.

At Heckmondwike, our high-quality custom carpet tiles and mats are easy to clean and maintain. Regular cleaning of the tiles and mats ensures that they continue to support good air quality, helping to reduce allergens in the classroom.

Creating a custom logo mat isn’t just about putting a logo on a surface, it’s about crafting a symbol of identity that will stand the test of time. At Heckmondwike, every step in the manufacturing process is carefully executed to ensure that the final product isn’t just visually appealing, but durable, functional, and aligned with your school’s vision.

Here is a short step by step detailing how each Bespoke Logo Mat is crafted:

• A digital design of the logo is created
• The fibres, polypropylene and recycled polyester, are pre-constructed into a base mat through the needle-punching method
• The logo design is transferred onto the mat and precisely cut from the mat fibres using laser cut technology
• The individual pieces of the logo are carefully positioned on the mat’s surface and glued to the mat’s fibres
• The rubber waffle backing is then applied to the reverse side of the mat to provide structural support and slip resistance
• Any excess material is trimmed, and the edges of the mat are sealed

To watch a demonstration of how Heckmondwike manufactures Bespoke Logo Mats, click here

Custom flooring goes beyond functionality; it’s an investment in fostering a strong, cohesive school culture. By seamlessly integrating a school’s identity into its very foundation, custom carpets not only enhance brand recognition but also create a positive, welcoming atmosphere for students, staff, and visitors.

In addition to branding, custom carpets offer practical benefits like durability, noise reduction, improved air quality and increased safety. These elements come together to create a cohesive space that benefits everyone.

Made from 85% polypropylene and 15% recycled polyester, with a waffle backing, Heckmondwike’s Bespoke Logo Mats are designed to add a personalised touch to any school.

Visit the product page to view full specifications and order your sample today!

Did you know that excessive noise in classrooms can cause students to miss up to 25% of information? By incorporating solutions like acoustic flooring, such as acoustic-backed carpet tiles, schools can create a  calmer and more effective learning environment. This is because acoustic flooring helps alleviate challenges posed by disruptive noise, promoting a quieter, more focused atmosphere for learning.

Research highlights the detrimental effects of noise pollution in classrooms, which can disrupt students learning, attention span, memory, and motivation. Beyond cognitive struggles, constant noise exposure can lead to higher stress hormone levels and increased blood pressure in children. This issue is even more pronounced for children with ADHD, as they are particularly sensitive to distractions, resulting in heightened hyperactivity and a decline in academic performance, according to findings from the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Therefore, addressing excessive noise levels in the classroom benefits all students, even those with special needs.

Acoustic backing refers to a specialised layer added to carpets that is specifically designed to improve sound insulation and reduce noise transmission.

Sound travels in waves, and when these waves hit a soft, dense, or porous material, part of the sound energy is absorbed and converted into heat, reducing the amount of sound that passes through. By absorbing sound waves, acoustic flooring helps minimise noise.

At Heckmondwike, acoustic backing is made from felt, which boasts a dense structure that helps absorb sound waves and reduce noise transmission in a room. This makes acoustic tiles particularly beneficial in environments like lecture theatres in schools, where sound control is essential.

Beyond its acoustic benefits, felt offers several additional advantages. Its soft, cushioned feel underfoot enhances comfort and contributes to thermal insulation, making the space slightly warmer compared to other backing materials. The dense fibre structure also makes the felt highly resilient, preventing matting and compression and ultimately increasing the carpet’s lifespan.

Moreover, since the felt is made from synthetic fibres, it is more moisture-resistant than other materials, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria and mould under the carpet. This is especially important in schools, where maintaining hygiene is a priority. In the long run, these qualities not only support the upkeep of the carpet but also save schools money by reducing the need for frequent replacements.

• Noise Reduction: Acoustic tiles help reduce ambient noise in educational spaces. This limits distractions, especially in open-plan classrooms, as the acoustic tiles prevent the noise from travelling between areas, allowing students to focus better.

• Enhanced communication: In large classrooms, understanding instructions and engaging in discussions can be challenging without good acoustics. Also, for environments using microphones, acoustic-backed carpet tiles improve sound quality, making it easier for students to hear audio without distortion. Consequently, acoustic tiles can reduce airborne noise.

• Improved focused and learning: A study revealed that participants studying in low-noise environments showed better academic performance than those in high-noise environments, reinforcing the notion that excessive noise can negatively affect concentration and information processing. Therefore, acoustic-backed carpet tiles are a beneficial investment in students’ learning outcomes.

• Support for special needs: For students with sensory processing disorders, the noise-reducing qualities of acoustic -backed carpet tiles can help create a more calming environment. This makes it easier for these students to focus and participate in classroom activities without being overstimulated.

In addition to noise reduction and improved focus, acoustic tiles provide other features:

• Comfort: Acoustic-backed carpet tiles provide a soft surface, making classrooms more comfortable, especially for children who may be sitting on the floor for extended periods.

• Durability and Easy Maintenance; Acoustic-backed carpet tiles are specifically engineered to endure high traffic and regular use. They’re also low-maintenance and resistant to stains, making them an excellent choice for active classrooms.

• Safety: Hypoallergenic carpet tiles can help create a healthier and safer environment by reducing the risk of allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and other health concerns. If you would like to learn more about creating a cleaner, allergen-free environment in the classroom, look at this article on how to reduce allergens in the classroom.

Impact noise is the sound generated by physical impacts, like footsteps, dropped objects, or moving furniture.  This kind of noise can be particularly disruptive in educational environments, especially in multi-story buildings where noise from the floor above can be heard below.

Supacord and Broadrib acoustic-backed carpet tiles are popular choices in schools for reducing impact noise because they have a felt backing that is designed to absorb and reduce vibrations caused by impact noises. This helps prevent the noise from traveling through the floor structure and into other rooms or areas.

• Supacord, often specified for its superior ability to reduce impact noise, makes it an ideal solution for noisy educational environments. For example, Supacord’s tiles can achieve a 23dB impact. This means that the tiles can reduce the intensity of impact noise by 23 dB, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the volume of footsteps, dropped objects, and other physical impacts.

Heckmondwike’s Supacord carpet tiles in Kingston Grey and Blue Moon were used as part of the new build development for Lord Williams’s School. The high-performance tiles are designed to reduce noise levels, helping to minimise distractions in busy school corridors. The combination of stylish colours and noise-reducing benefits create an ideal balance of functionality and design in the school’s interior.

• Broadrib, celebrated for its market-leading acoustic properties and wider rib structure, offers exceptional noise reduction, achieving an impressive 25dB impact. Consequently, Broadrib is ideal for high-traffic communal spaces such as receptions, corridors, and break out areas.

Broadrib tiles were installed in St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School’s corridors and communal areas. The school required a new flooring solution that was not only hard-wearing but also capable of enhancing acoustics and reducing disruption in heavy footfall areas. The combination of excellent acoustic performance and long-lasting durability made Broadrib the perfect choice for the school’s busy spaces.

With a BREEAM A* rating, both Supacord and Broadrib contribute to schools’ sustainability efforts by supporting low-carbon, energy-efficient designs. These high-performance commercial carpet tiles not only enhance environmental credentials but also deliver exceptional durability and functionality, making them an ideal choice for schools seeking both performance and sustainability.

Designed to enhance focus, improve acoustics, and create a safer, more productive learning environment, our acoustic-backed carpet tiles are the perfect solution for fostering a better educational space for your students.

Contact us today to discover how we can help transform your school with our high-quality acoustic-backed carpet tiles.

Following on from our success at the CFJ Awards, where we received the award for flooring in education schools category, we will be attending the Education Estates 2024 Exhibition 15th – 16th October 2024 at Manchester Central.

The CFJ Awards

We were honoured to have supplied the carpet tiles and entrance matting to Westcotes Flooring Ltd who fitted the flooring for the new-build school, The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School. We manufactured and supplied 1400m2 of Supacord Carpet Tiles in Steel Grey, and 48m2 of Battleship Entrance Matting in Anthracite.

Supacord Tiles are considered to be the number 1 carpet solution for schools:

• A+ BREEAM Rating
• Enhanced Impact Noise Reduction
• Hardwearing – Anti-Fray and Anti-Ravel Properties
• Manufactured in the UK for over 50 years

Battleship Entrance Matting has been specially designed for entrance areas:

• Rubber Waffle Backing
• Anti-Fray Structure
• Low Maintenance Costs

All of us here at Heckmondwike FB are thrilled to have won the award for Flooring in Schools. This accolade is hard fought for each year, and deemed as one of the hardest awards to win. It is with great pride that we can showcase this award, cementing our position as a leading manufacturer of carpets and flooring for the Education Sector.

We are also very proud to have been part of the team for flooring for Signature Care Home, Highgate, London, fitted by Blade Flooring Ltd who were selected as finalists in the Healthcare Sector.

We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to everybody involved in the CFJ Awards. It is these prestigious events that allow us to celebrate the amazing work we do in transforming spaces and creating stunning environments for learning, working and caring.

Education Estates 2024

Exhibition season is upon us, and we can’t wait to see you!

We are excited to have a stand at the Education Estates 2024 Exhibition at Manchester Central. You can find us at Stand 513 alongside Paragon, Mat.Works and Playrite.

We’ll be demonstrating how our products can enhance the learning environment and showcasing what makes Heckmondwike a leading manufacturer of carpets and carpet tiles for the Education Sector.

Secure Your Free Ticket

We would love to see as many of you as possible at the exhibition. You can secure your free ticket using the following link.

https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=EduA4Visitor&FormMode=PR&TrackingCode=

Following on from our success at the CFJ Awards, where we received the award for flooring in education schools category, we will be attending the Education Estates 2024 Exhibition 15th – 16th October 2024 at Manchester Central.

The CFJ Awards

We were honoured to have supplied the carpet tiles and entrance matting to Westcotes Flooring Ltd who fitted the flooring for the new-build school, The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School. We manufactured and supplied 1400m2 of Supacord Carpet Tiles in Steel Grey, and 48m2 of Battleship Entrance Matting in Anthracite.

Supacord Tiles are considered to be the number 1 carpet solution for schools:

• A+ BREEAM Rating
• Enhanced Impact Noise Reduction
• Hardwearing – Anti-Fray and Anti-Ravel Properties
• Manufactured in the UK for over 50 years

Battleship Entrance Matting has been specially designed for entrance areas:

• Rubber Waffle Backing
• Anti-Fray Structure
• Low Maintenance Costs

All of us here at Heckmondwike FB are thrilled to have won the award for Flooring in Schools. This accolade is hard fought for each year, and deemed as one of the hardest awards to win. It is with great pride that we can showcase this award, cementing our position as a leading manufacturer of carpets and flooring for the Education Sector.

We are also very proud to have been part of the team for flooring for Signature Care Home, Highgate, London, fitted by Blade Flooring Ltd who were selected as finalists in the Healthcare Sector.

We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to everybody involved in the CFJ Awards. It is these prestigious events that allow us to celebrate the amazing work we do in transforming spaces and creating stunning environments for learning, working and caring.

Education Estates 2024

Exhibition season is upon us, and we can’t wait to see you!

We are excited to have a stand at the Education Estates 2024 Exhibition at Manchester Central. You can find us at Stand 513 alongside Paragon, Mat.Works and Playrite.

We’ll be demonstrating how our products can enhance the learning environment and showcasing what makes Heckmondwike a leading manufacturer of carpets and carpet tiles for the Education Sector.

Secure Your Free Ticket

We would love to see as many of you as possible at the exhibition. You can secure your free ticket using the following link.

https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=EduA4Visitor&FormMode=PR&TrackingCode=

Following on from our success at the CFJ Awards, where we received the award for flooring in education schools category, we will be attending the Education Estates 2024 Exhibition 15th – 16th October 2024 at Manchester Central.

The CFJ Awards

We were honoured to have supplied the carpet tiles and entrance matting to Westcotes Flooring Ltd who fitted the flooring for the new-build school, The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School. We manufactured and supplied 1400m2 of Supacord Carpet Tiles in Steel Grey, and 48m2 of Battleship Entrance Matting in Anthracite.

Supacord Tiles are considered to be the number 1 carpet solution for schools:

• A+ BREEAM Rating
• Enhanced Impact Noise Reduction
• Hardwearing – Anti-Fray and Anti-Ravel Properties
• Manufactured in the UK for over 50 years

Battleship Entrance Matting has been specially designed for entrance areas:

• Rubber Waffle Backing
• Anti-Fray Structure
• Low Maintenance Costs

All of us here at Heckmondwike FB are thrilled to have won the award for Flooring in Schools. This accolade is hard fought for each year, and deemed as one of the hardest awards to win. It is with great pride that we can showcase this award, cementing our position as a leading manufacturer of carpets and flooring for the Education Sector.

We are also very proud to have been part of the team for flooring for Signature Care Home, Highgate, London, fitted by Blade Flooring Ltd who were selected as finalists in the Healthcare Sector.

We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to everybody involved in the CFJ Awards. It is these prestigious events that allow us to celebrate the amazing work we do in transforming spaces and creating stunning environments for learning, working and caring.

Education Estates 2024

Exhibition season is upon us, and we can’t wait to see you!

We are excited to have a stand at the Education Estates 2024 Exhibition at Manchester Central. You can find us at Stand 513 alongside Paragon, Mat.Works and Playrite.

We’ll be demonstrating how our products can enhance the learning environment and showcasing what makes Heckmondwike a leading manufacturer of carpets and carpet tiles for the Education Sector.

Secure Your Free Ticket

We would love to see as many of you as possible at the exhibition. You can secure your free ticket using the following link.

https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=EduA4Visitor&FormMode=PR&TrackingCode=

Maximalism

Maximalism is getting more popular in many design fields, including flooring. Bold colours and patterns are the ones to watch for in the top carpet design trends of 2024. Eye-catching designs will be used more in office spaces and residential properties, adding life to any room. Look out specifically for vibrant shades and jewel tones Like our Array carpet in Fuschia.

Pastel Tones

As well as this though, we’re seeing a rise in pastel tones like baby pinks and delicate yellow hues. Soft colours work best in relaxation areas where they can help create an understated look to the room and inject a bit of freshness and fun. One warning though – they are trickier colours for commercial settings that experience a lot of foot traffic as they’re more liable to staining.

Natural Designs

With 90% of our time being spent inside (according to the Environmental Protection Agency) the last few years have seen a surge in biophilic interior design. More than just bringing the natural world inside with house plants and utilising natural fibres like bamboo, you can inspire the soothing effects of outdoor spaces with subtle patterns that remind you of the oceans, bark, or other natural elements. You’ll want to choose carpets with designs that imitate these textures, like carpets that mimic natural elements in soothing, natural tones. If you own a commercial property like a healthcare facility or a school this is definitely a trend to consider jumping on.

Eco-conscious Choices

The general public continues to become more eco-conscious. Especially when designing educational facilities, the thoughts of sustainability will for sure be on the minds of designers and buyers more than ever. Conscious creation is a huge trend for 2024 with more people choosing environmentally friendly materials. This means we’re likely to see a huge rise in people buying carpets made from recycled materials like polyester in the next year.

Practicality

Practicality may not seem like it would be a huge trend for Interior trends. But for commercial carpet trends of 2024, it’s a huge one. We’re seeing more multifunctional spaces across all industries as people continue to eat, work, and socialise all in one space. Think about the mess. That’s why many commercial properties are now being designed with this in mind. Carpets now have to be resistant to a whole host of stains, damages, scuffs, and abrasion. This means you’ll see far more use of Luxury Vinyl Tiles in flooring as well as more durable carpets like our Hobnail carpet which you can view here.

Inexpensive Options

The unfortunate threat of the recession is sure to impact carpet trends for 2024. It’s forecasted that people will spend less on flooring options or look for cheaper alternatives. So there may be a movement away from hardwood flooring towards cheaper products like vinyl and carpets. Designers of commercial projects are looking more than ever, for something low maintenance that’s also durable so they can spend less on cleaning, repair, and replacement. Cheap and cheerful is the way forward.

The best way to keep up with upcoming commercial carpet trends is to follow industry leaders and keep an eye on retailers. You can find more of our content and our products through our webpage and get in touch today to chat about our fabulous range of products.

Maximalism

Maximalism is getting more popular in many design fields, including flooring. Bold colours and patterns are the ones to watch for in the top carpet design trends of 2024. Eye-catching designs will be used more in office spaces and residential properties, adding life to any room. Look out specifically for vibrant shades and jewel tones Like our Array carpet in Fuschia.

Pastel Tones

As well as this though, we’re seeing a rise in pastel tones like baby pinks and delicate yellow hues. Soft colours work best in relaxation areas where they can help create an understated look to the room and inject a bit of freshness and fun. One warning though – they are trickier colours for commercial settings that experience a lot of foot traffic as they’re more liable to staining.