Have you found burns on your apartment block carpets? Singed floors in your clubhouse from a dropped candle or a naughty customer? It’s not the end of the world. While you may think it’s time to overhaul your entire flooring completely, we’re here to walk you through fixing burns in your carpet.

I’ve spotted a burn: What do I do?

Don’t be afraid, accidents happen. You don’t need to give up on carpets altogether and start grabbing the hardwood planks. Carpets are actually fixable and sections can be easily replaced, meaning that you can refresh your look for a fraction of the price of replacing the entire floor.

 

The first step is don’t panic! The next is to identify the type of burn.

Big carpet burns

For large carpet burns (for example, straighteners knocked on the floor or irons put down before they’ve cooled), you’ll need to patch the area. If you haven’t kept the scraps from your carpet installation, don’t fret. One option at your disposal is ordering a sample of carpet, or purchasing a small amount of the same carpet or one in a similar colour.

 

Cut a shape, just larger than your burned area. To match best you’ll want the patch to be the same pattern as your carpet and the pile to run in the same direction. Top tip: a square patch will always be easier to hide than a circle patch!

 

Once you have your spare carpet ready, you’ll need to carefully cut out the burnt area. A sharp utility knife is your best bet for this as you can be very precise. Place the patch over your carpet, press firmly, and cut around it. Then simply glue the area, place the patch, and lay something heavy on top for a few hours so it can fully dry. Brush the carpet out and it should be as good as new.

 

If you’ve used carpet tiles, then you’re in luck. Approaching your carpet manufacturer to ask for a new carpet tile is an option, and then all you’d need to do is use adhesive to lay the tile down. Voila, good as new.

Tackling the real big issues

 

For very large burns or complex carpet patterns then it may be time to call in the experts. They can use their years of experience to make sure that it looks like your carpet was never touched, and most fixes take only a day or two maximum, meaning you can open your doors to customers, clients, and students as quickly as possible. Carpet repair experts are available across the country, oftentimes at a low cost too.

 

Obviously, the DIY approach is the cheapest, but there’s no shame in hiring professionals when the problem becomes too big for you to tackle alone.

Avoiding carpet burns

 

It’s not always possible to avoid burns and spills. They’re a part of life. That’s why it’s important to know how to tackle them afterwards. However, there are steps that can be taken to reduce their frequency. Implementing no-smoking policies indoors not only helps make sure your furnishings don’t smell of nicotine but also that you won’t be left with cigarette burns on your carpets. Instructing your residents how to properly take care of their hot tools and candles can help reduce accidents too.

 

Choosing high-quality, durable carpets for your retail and commercial spaces will help you avoid serious damage too, meaning that you’re less likely to have to replace your carpets if accidents like carpet burns do happen. If you’re looking to fit carpet into your commercial space or overhaul your current floor, take a look at our most hard-wearing carpet options like Hobnail or Supacord.

 

So you see, a full replacement of your Heckmondwike carpet isn’t necessary when you know how to fix burn marks.

 

You can find more of our maintenance tips and our products through our webpage, or get in touch today to chat about our fabulous range of products.

While it’s probably not something you’re super aware of, carpeting is an industry with changing trends just like any other. In the world of carpet, trends usually last a bit longer than in fashion, but it’s important to keep an eye on commercial carpet trends if you want to create spaces that are fashionable and functional.  Read on if you’re looking to renovate student accommodation, classrooms, or your own shop floor.  

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.

Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers with 50 years’ experience in the education sector. To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.   

As a popular classroom material, paint is found in schools across the country and helps children get creative. Trying to get it out of the carpet, however, is a real challenge. Our blog will help you remove pesky paint stains from your classroom carpets before they cause a real mess.

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.

 

Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers with 50 years’ experience in the education sector. To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.   

When it comes to selecting the ideal carpet for your school or commercial space, one area that often requires careful consideration is the stairs. Staircases are high-traffic areas that endure significant wear and tear, so choosing a carpet that combines durability, style, and safety is crucial. In this blog post, we will explore various factors to consider when selecting the best carpet for stairs.

Durability

Since stairs are frequently used, it’s essential to choose a carpet that can withstand heavy foot traffic and resist wear and tear. Consider opting for a carpet with fibre-bonded properties, as they have exceptional resilience and are easy to maintain. Our Fibre-bonded Supacord range has anti-ravel and fray properties, and has been trusted in schools for over 50 years. Browse our bestselling Supacord range: Supacord Collection Heckmondwike.

Safety

Safety should be the primary concern when selecting a carpet for stairs in commercial settings. To prevent slips, trips, and falls, prioritise carpets with excellent traction properties. Look for carpets that have a low pile height, preferably between ¼ to ½ inch, as they provide a stable surface for walking. You can also choose carpets with a textured or patterned surface as they can enhance grip and reduce the risk of slipping.

Easy Maintenance 

Stairs are prone to spills, dirt, and stains, making it essential to choose a carpet that is easy to clean and maintain. Consider a carpet colour or pattern that can effectively camouflage any potential stains or wear marks to minimise their visibility. All of our commercial carpets are easy to maintain, but we recommend a deep clean of your stairs every week to keep your carpets looking fresh. To learn more about how to clean your commercial carpet, read our blog: How to clean your commercial carpet.

Aesthetics 

While functionality and durability are essential, the appearance of your staircase carpet should be noticed by students and employees. Choose a colour, pattern, or texture that complements your overall branding and reflects your school or business. Neutral tones or darker shades tend to be more forgiving in terms of hiding dirt and stains but don’t hesitate to explore bolder options if they align with the rest of your look and feel.

All of our commercial carpets come in a multitude of colourways, making them ideal for matching logo or brand colours. Discover our full product range by visiting our homepage: Heckmondwike.

We hope that our blog has helped to give you food for thought on the key things to consider when choosing a commercial carpet. If you’d like to arrange a bespoke consultation with our sales team to discuss your next project, you can get in touch with us by clicking here: Heckmondwike – Contact Us.

Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers with 50 years’ experience in the education sector. To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.   

Is your classroom looking dull and outdated? Sometimes all you need to create the perfect learning environment is a little inspiration. Keep reading for our classroom decoration ideas to get your student’s creative juices flowing. 

Why is classroom decoration important?

The classroom is where students spent the majority of their day, therefore it’s important that the classroom decoration motivates and inspires them. According to a study by The University of Salford, classroom design can impact pupils’ learning by 25%, so it’s vital that the below factors are considered in your new classroom. Our classroom decoration ideas below are sure to get your creative juices flowing!

Use colour to create a calm environment 

Colour is a huge part of classroom decoration, and can even be used to help change or encourage mood and behaviours.  Most teachers want their classroom to be a place of calm for their students – something that’s particularly important for primary school students. Blue and green are colours that have often been associated with a feeling of calm, along with having the abilities to reduce stress or anxiety. 

You can read more about colour psychology over on the Verywell Mind website.

Create break-out zones 

Using the same theory as the above, colour can also be used to create break-out zones.  For younger children, having carpeted areas in different colours for dedicated reading and activities can be a good way to help them focus on the task at hand. Pink is often associated with fun, while orange can be used to help motivate and encourage positivity.

Consider the classroom acoustics 

Lots of children in one classroom can soon become extremely noisy! This can soon become a problem if children are unable to hear the teacher properly. This is particularly important for students with special needs, who may become stressed by a lot of noise.  Therefore, ensuring that your acoustics are sound is a crucial thing to consider in your classroom decoration.

Commercial carpet is an effective way to reduce noise reverberation in the classroom. Many of our fibre-bonded collections also have the option to add additional acoustic backing, which will further reduce noise at school. 

Create wall displays 

Wall displays can act as a very important teaching aid to assist in visual learning. The displays can often be centred around a specific topic or theme for the month, which helps to embed information. Displaying their work on the walls can also help to motivate pupils and make them feel good about their work. 

Incorporate plants and biophilic design

Biophilic Design is a concept that brings a touch of the outside into an indoor space and is something that can easily be utilised into your classroom design. Studies have shown that introducing plants into the classroom can boost air quality and improve mood – who wouldn’t want this in the classroom! So why not pop some plants on window sills or in reading areas? You’ll be able to watch your students grow and flourish. 

Sensory furnishings

For primary school children and children with special needs, sensory furnishings can help them to focus amongst the chaos of the classroom. Consider adding things like cushions, mats and beanbags to help relieve stress and create a relaxing haven away from the learning environment.

Interactive designs 

Interaction with the surroundings in the classroom is an important aspect of cognitive development, and can help to fine tune motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Providing lots of opportunities like sand boxes and patterns on your flooring is a brilliant way to boost this type of learning.

Choose a suitable flooring

Comfort in the classroom is key, and flooring is the main factor in this. Our fibre-bonded commercial carpet provides a soft yet robust surface for learning and play, while being easy to maintain.

Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers with 50 years’ experience in the education sector. To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.   

Cleaning your carpets has endless benefits. From extending the life of your carpets to maintaining a healthy environment, there are an array of reasons to keep your carpet tiles spotless. In this blog, we’ll be sharing how to clean your commercial carpet.

Clean up carpet spills 

Forget the 5-second rule! If you spill something, you need to clean it up as fast as you can. If you spill anything on your carpet, make sure that you clean it up immediately. You should blot any liquid-based stains with absorbent towels or tissues. If you get something trickier stuck in your carpet like blu tack, read our blog.

CLAYGO initiatives

Although this sounds similar to playdough (which can also get stuck in your carpet), CLAYGO couldn’t be more different. CLAYGO is a ‘Clean As You Go’ initiative, which can be used to encourage space users to make sure their area is left clean. This way, everyone has a collective responsibility to make sure that the carpet is always in good shape.

Get the hoover out

How often do you clean your carpet tiles? Matthew Lee, a senior research scientist at Dyson says, “Vacuuming high-traffic areas twice a week and the rest of your carpeted spaces once a week is enough to keep dust and dirt at bay.” Commercial carpets should therefore be hoovered regularly. For help on how to choose your vacuum cleaner, visit this guide.

Deep clean

Sometimes, vacuuming just isn’t enough! Especially in high-traffic areas. Therefore, you should have a deep-cleaning schedule in place for your commercial carpet. Professional carpet cleaners can get into the places where hoovers can’t, and leave your carpet tiles feeling fresh. Read our blog for our deep cleaning recommendations.

Install entrance matting

Always keep the outside, out. Put specialist entrance matting in your doorways to prevent dirt from trailing into your building or space. Aside from carpets, there are also health and safety benefits because, according to the Health & Safety Executive, 90% of slip accidents in public buildings occur on wet floors. Online carpets in our Entrance and Transition Area Range are a great solution.

We hope that this blog has helped you to learn how to clean your commercial carpet. 

Our commercial carpet designs are perfect for giving a fresh new look to your flooring. For more information about how we can help, get in touch today.

Blu Tack is an essential product throughout schools, with classrooms all over the UK using it to put up wall displays and showcase work. But, it can be a nightmare if it gets stuck in your commercial carpet – especially if it’s been trodden in by the children’s feet! Our blog will help explain what you can do if the dreaded event happens and you get Blu Tack stuck in your classroom carpet.

Does anything dissolve Blu Tack?

There are quite a few different things which have the ability to dissolve Blu Tack. However, it’s important to know that these things won’t dissolve it completely, but will instead soften it enough to aid removal. Here is a list of the different liquids which can dissolve Blu Tack:

4 ways to remove Blu Tack from carpet

Now you know what dissolves Blu Tack, let’s talk about some of the tried and tested ways you can remove it from your carpet.

Use heat

Applying heat is often one of the best methods for removing Blu Tack that’s dried into the carpet and hardened over time. Using heat will soften it and bring the elasticity back, making it much easier to get rid of.

Hold a hairdryer to the blob in 15-second bursts. Take care not to hold it too close to your carpet as you don’t want to damage the fibres. When you see that the Blu Tack is starting to peel away, try collecting as much of it as you can. You’ll need to repeat the process as many times as you can until it’s nearly all been removed.

If you don’t have a hairdryer handy, then an iron will work the same way. You just need to pop a cloth or tea towel over the Blu Tack, then hold the iron over it in short bursts.

The last step in this method is to mix a mild detergent, like washing up liquid, together with some water and give the patch some good, old-fashioned, elbow grease! Once you’re satisfied that you’ve removed all remnants of Blu Tack, you can leave it to dry.

Vegetable oil

As mentioned previously, oils such as vegetable, olive or eucalyptus can be used to help soften the Blu Tack, and reduce any stickiness. For this method, you just need to apply your oil to the Blu Tack using a cloth and let it soak in for a couple of minutes. Then, using a blunt knife, you can try to scrape as much of it off as you can.

Once the Blue Tack has been removed, it’s important to thoroughly clean the carpet area where the oil has been. This is because oil can leave a residue which can easily stain the carpet fibres if not thoroughly removed. For this, you can just use a mild soap or detergent.

White vinegar

Another common method for removing Blu Tack is white vinegar. This is one of the things which will dissolve it, and therefore make it easier to remove. The first thing to do is to gently heat the vinegar, if you can, by popping it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Then, apply the vinegar to a damp cloth and let it soak into the Blu Tack for approximately 15 minutes, or until you see the blob starting to peel away. Using a blunt knife, you can then scrape it off the carpet.

Don’t worry about washing the vinegar with soap once you’re done, simply some warm water and a cloth will rinse away any remaining vinegar.

More Blu Tack

This method may seem counterproductive, but we assure you it’s not. Using a blob of spare Blu Tack, you can attempt to stick it to the Blu Tack which is in the carpet to pull it off. Keep repeating this process until it’s all been lifted out.

Does Blu Tack leave a stain?

It’s likely that Blu Tack will stain if you have lighter-coloured carpets. But, how easily the stain will come out all depends on how long it has been there. The best way to remove stains from your carpet is to use a detergent or carpet cleaner and blot the stain rather than rub. When you rub a carpet stain, the colour can easily seep into the fibres making it difficult to remove completely.

How can you prevent it from happening again?

Although you can remove Blu Tack using the methods above, ensuring that it doesn’t get stuck to your carpet again would save you a lot of hassle. One way would be to not let any children in the classroom use the Blu Tack, as they may be more careless with it. Another alternative would be to use sellotape where possible, as it’s much less likely to cause damage.

We hope that you’ve found this blog useful and that it’s given you some tips and tricks on how to keep your classroom carpets free from Blu Tack.

Our commercial carpet designs are perfect for giving a fresh new look to your school flooring. For more information about how we can help, get in touch today.

Recently, our fantastic team of Area Sales Managers from up and down the country donned their work uniforms, grabbed their litter pickers, and headed out to help clean up their local areas!

As a UK manufacturer, it is important to us here at Heckmondwike that the land we live on is clean, tidy, and remains a wonderful place to live for everyone. It’s essential to us to do our bit for both the environment, and for the people who live in it. So, we arranged a day where our eager Area Sales Managers could make an impact on their own communities, by cleaning up discarded and unwanted litter.

As well as looking unsightly, litter is bad for the environment in several different ways. Firstly, as it degrades, it releases chemicals which are harmful to the earth and air. It is also known to harm and kill animals who may encounter it. Discarded rubbish can also be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and diseases which can spread amongst humans and animals, as well as encouraging the spread of pest species. All these reasons make it clear just why it’s important to clear up as much litter as possible, in order to protect the world we live in.

Bob Mortimer, our UK Sales Manager, said: “Bringing together our area sales managers from around the country on this initiative was something both myself and the company were very passionate about. Whilst we can’t clear the entire country of litter, doing our bit to help clean up our local areas, whether that’s in Scotland or South London, feels like a great way of making a small but firm difference.”

“As a company, going forwards we’ve pledged to give our eco-conscious sales managers a day of work-time each year to take part in a local litter pick, contributing to the clean-up of their communities!”.

Here at Heckmondwike, we believe that, like our carpet tiles, we need the planet to last for years to come. Therefore, we look for every opportunity to minimise the impact we have on the environment. 

Here are a few of the ways that we’re making our carpet tiles eco-friendly.

1. Using recycled materials

Every day over 55 million car tyres are thrown away, with many of them being burned or dumped which is extremely harmful to the environment. For some collections, we use a rubber crumb backing from recycled car tyres. Recycling the tyres into backing for carpet tiles is a great way to give them a new purpose and stop pollution. 

For the rest of our carpet tile products, we back them with a polymer modified bitumen which contains a minimum of at least 72% recycled content.

Image of car tyres

2. We donate waste carpet to companies in need

Throughout our manufacturing process, there is often a lot of waste carpet which isn’t required for our products, such as off cuts or seconds. Rather than sending these to landfill, which isn’t very sustainable, we donate them to other organisations in need. Some of these include local charities and carpet training apprentice centres or colleges. 

colourful classroom

3. Sourcing raw materials 

One of the ways we can make more eco-conscious decisions is by sourcing raw materials with a low environmental impact for our carpet tiles. We use 100% recycled Polyester for the majority of our products, which are made from things like plastic bottles and lids. Our products are also manufactured using a high percentage of Polypropylene which has the lowest energy conversion of any man-made fibre.  

Sourcing Raw Materials

4. We use local suppliers

Where possible, we prefer to use local suppliers here in Yorkshire for our raw materials. Using suppliers who are based locally reduces carbon emissions as the goods don’t have to travel as far to reach our factory. Not only does this help to reduce our carbon footprint, but it also means we are supporting our local economy too!

Image of sofa and school

5. All our packaging is recycled

Single-use plastic, like the kind that is found on a lot of packaging, is significantly damaging to the environment. When it’s not recycled, it ends up going to landfills and can litter our countryside when not disposed of responsibly. So, our plastic packaging for raw fibres is collected and recycled. 

All cardboard, including the tubes used in carpet rolls, is also reused or recycled to minimise waste. Wooden pallets are often reused frequently to prolong their life cycle. Once they become damaged or unable to be used, they’re also collected and recycled. 

Wooden pallets

6. Our carpet tiles will last the test of time

One way of reducing the environmental impact of carpet tiles is to ensure that they last for years to come, so they don’t have to be replaced. We pride ourselves on producing commercial carpets that are durable, and perfect to use in areas of heavy footfall like entrances and classrooms. In addition to this, carpet tiles are an eco-friendly option because if part of the flooring has reached the end of its life span, you can simply replace the tiles affected rather than the full room. 

Interested in our UK manufactured and eco-friendly carpet tiles? To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.  

Every student has a bright future ahead of them, so why should your school’s design settle for any less? 

Experts at the University of Salford have found that classroom design contributes to 16% of students’ learning rates. Therefore, it may be time for you to inject some more colour into your classrooms. What better way to do this than to invest in new fibre bonded carpet designs? 

1. Creating Zones and Breakout Rooms

Implementing certain colour schemes throughout schools can influence students’ mood and mindset in positive ways. It may also be worth creating certain zones and breakout rooms with different carpet colours. 

For younger children who have carpeted learning, different colours can be used to signify dedicated reading, play and learning zones. Use blue tones in areas that require focus, green to motivate and pink to associate fun in the play zones. 

In secondary schools, the same concept can be used but with breakout rooms for students to relax in, work together or study independently. Not only does this create an inspirational space for students, but it will also help to add a pop of colour into their day to boost morale. 

2. Use Shapes and Patterns 

Using shapes and prints on carpets can help to encourage creativity, especially with early years. Shapes such as stars can be added to carpet tiles, to make going to school even more fun.

It may also be beneficial to add numbers or letters onto carpet tiles, to help younger children learn and improve their memory recall when learning the alphabet and mathematics. In the same way, numbers can advise on classroom numbers without additional signage.

When you opt for our Fusion range, we can brand any logo, shape or print into our carpet tiles. Available in a range of colours, it has never been easier to personalise your space.

3. Make a Lasting First Impression

Every school is different and has its own unique logo and branding. Why not show this off by building your logo into entrance halls and welcome mats? As well as adding a splash of colour to grab attention, it will also help give a professional and welcoming feel to prospective students and parents. 

4. Use Carpet Planks

Carpet planks offer places of education the chance to create a completely unique look, with a wider variety of design options. Using rectangular planks rather than squares can offer a different kind of aesthetic and look particularly pleasant in secondary schools. 

Use monochrome planks in black and grey to create a herringbone pattern across the floor. The contrasting colours will inspire creativity among students as well as looking striking and stylish to guests.

5. Creative Walkway Solutions

Walkways are arguably one of the most important areas within a school. They are essential to ensure students can get between lessons and breaks both easily and safely. Naturally, these walkways might be one of the first places that are forgotten about in the sea of students travelling around the school. Imagine how nice it would be to brighten these up with some colour, and put an efficient system in place?

Different coloured carpet tiles or arrows can be used throughout walkways to create a handy system so that students don’t bump into each other during changeover times. 

Our fibre bonded Array and Broadrib carpet tiles are perfect for creating walkway borders, and are super reliable to use in areas like corridors, where there is heavy footfall. 

Get in touch with us today to discuss any bespoke requirements for your school or classrooms.