It’s that time of year again when teachers are ready for a well-deserved break and are counting down the days until the Easter holidays hit.
While many teachers might pop into school during the holidays to get ahead, studies have shown that students actually benefit from a teacher who has taken the time to relax and is more refreshed. And, it might not be the only thing students benefit from when refreshed.
The Easter holidays are a great time for the decor in schools, colleges and universities to be revived – especially the carpet. Taking the time to update the carpet in classrooms and communal areas can have a positive impact on both students and staff when they return for the new term as it can exercise their creativity.
It’s also a great opportunity to give the place a brand new look and feel – to breathe some life back into a room.
However, there is more to think about when choosing your new carpet than how it looks. In the education sector, almost all carpets need to be heavy contract rated to withstand the heavy footfall and general wear and tear.
Fibre bonded carpets are an excellent option as they tend to be anti-ravel, anti-fray and anti-static – making them ideal for schools and colleges using computers. They also help to absorb sound so can reduce noise and create a more relaxed atmosphere – another positive in learning environments.
Alongside this, many fibre-bonded carpets provide a cost-effective flooring solution not only at the point of purchase but throughout its life cycle. With its heavy-duty nature, the carpet will not have to be replaced as often, with many products providing a 10-year guarantee when used with advised cleaning a maintenance procedure – providing a large potential saving to the end-user.
Heckmondwike’s Supacord range still stands as a firm favourite for fibre bonded carpets within the education sector. It is a tried and trusted commercial carpet solution and is a smart choice for schools, colleges and universities in particular due to its durability and robust manufacture.
At Heckmondwike, we have over 50 years’ experience in providing a wide range of fibre bonded carpets and have a variety of colours and patterns available. So, if you’re looking to rejuvenate your school, college or university this Easter half term, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can contact your local area manager here, call us directly on 01924 410 544 or email us: sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
With so many options available, choosing the right flooring can be a very difficult decision. Here at Heckmondwike FB, we have over 50 years’ experience in providing a wide range of bonded carpets and carpet tiles to the education sector as well as commercial offices and apartment complexes.
Over the last few years, hard surface floors, such as luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) have become more of a trend, and as much as we agree that there are benefits to hardwood floors, we’ve put together a list of reasons to fall in love with carpet all over again.
Quiet
Not only does carpet eliminate the sound of footsteps walking across the floor, it stops other sounds carrying as far which will make for a much quieter and more relaxed space. This is because hard floors can’t absorb sound like carpets can, so noise bounces around the walls a lot more.
Safety
It goes without saying that softer flooring is safer for a number of reasons. If something is spilt on the carpet, it’s unlikely you’ll slip and injure yourself like you would on a hard floor. Plus, carpet provides a much softer landing if you were to fall for any reason.
You’re also much less likely to break things if you drop them onto a carpet, so again, you’ll save money by not having to replace broken items!
Comfort
Standing on a hard floor for a long period of time can actually take its toll on your body, sometimes resulting in foot, leg and lower back pain. So, when deciding on commercial flooring in particular (where you may need to stand for work), carpets or carpet tiles are a much better option.
Warmth
Unlike hardwood flooring, carpet provides excellent insulation, which means your space will stay warmer for longer. As a result, the costs associated with heating your space will reduce and you’ll see huge savings at the end of the year.
Cost
Contrary to popular belief, carpets tend to be more cost-effective than hard surface floors. Unlike hardwood floors, carpets don’t require any special preparation and can be used on almost any subfloors.
For more information on our range of carpets for a variety of sectors, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 01924 410 544 or send us an email – sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
There’s nothing worse than having to work in a cold office or live in student accommodation or a residential care home when the floorcovering doesn’t offer that all important thermal performance – especially at this time of year! Carpet has been proven to offer exceptional thermal performance, but why is this? Basically, if a floorcovering has good insulation properties it will reduce the rate of heat being lost and so make the room feel warmer.
With hard surfaces, such as timber or tile, heat will be lost through the floor quite rapidly. Other materials, such as marble or concrete, are very dense and so require a lot of energy to pass into them to warm up. Carpet, on the other hand has a much lower density, because most of the volume is occupied by air. It, therefore, warms up very quickly to the temperature of your skin, at which point it prevents further heat loss and feels warm.
There have been many trends in floorcoverings for offices, schools and student accommodation over the years, where vinyl and hard floorcoverings have been tried, with mixed results. Some interior designers have specified these floorcoverings because they like the aesthetics but the reality is that living with them day in, day out can be quite a different experience.
Research has shown that many people like the comfort underfoot of a carpet, particularly for an area where they sleep and relax. It is little wonder that carpet is so widely specified for care homes and sheltered accommodation. Older people and those who are less mobile feel the cold more than others and as around 15% of a building’s heat is lost through the floor; it is, therefore, very important that this heat is conserved.
Recently, our tufted carpet Total Care was specified for a development of retirement apartments in Solihull. The company responsible for maintenance of the complex consulted with residents about which floorcoverings they would like. Our tufted carpet was chosen as it offers comfort, durability and is extremely hardwearing. For residential care homes in particular it is important that the floorcovering chosen keeps service users safe and is comfortable, as well as creating that ‘home from home’ feel. It should also meet the 2010 Equality Act, so residents can easily move and be moved around the premises.
At this time of year, temperatures can be below or just above freezing for a large amount of time. Where high quality tufted or fibre bonded carpet is fitted this means that occupants have greater peace of mind that thermal performance is maximised in their building. It also provides a higher degree of comfort, whilst helping to save energy.
We have been working tirelessly this year to ensure your orders are delivered on time and that your carpet is of the quality you have come to expect!
With this in mind, our wonderful bosses have allowed us a few days off over Christmas, so we thought it best to let you know so you can ensure that your orders are placed on time.
The Sales Office will close at 12pm on Friday 22nd December 2017 and will reopen on Tuesday 2nd January 2018. Please ensure all orders required before Christmas are placed by close of business on Friday 15th December 2017.
We have created a handy postcard for you to download, print and pin up in your office to remind other members of staff of our Christmas shutdown period.
Finally, from all at Heckmondwike FB, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Heckmondwike FB, one of the UK’s leading carpet manufacturers, has been shortlisted in trade magazine Tomorrow’s FM’s annual awards for its Supacord fibre bonded carpet range.
The national magazine, which is read by facilities managers across the UK, selects the top 50 companies that manufacture products and services that it feels are worthy of winning the prestigious ‘best product/service title’.
A full list of entries is released in a Guide produced by the magazine in January and readers are invited to vote online for who they believe deserves to win. Three winners then receive a trophy, which is presented in March.
Jeremy Broadhead, Commercial Manager at Heckmondwike FB, said: “We are really pleased to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. Our Supacord range is very well established and widely specified for education and commercial projects – what really makes it stand out is the 42 different colour choices within the range. We’re really excited to see the results of the online voting!”
Rebekah Thompson, Editor of Tomorrow’s FM magazine, said: “We’d like to congratulate Heckmondwike FB for being shortlisted. We reviewed hundreds of companies’ products and services and it was an easy decision to nominate Supacord. We wish them and all the other shortlisted companies all the best in the final voting stage.”
Used in classrooms for over 40 years, Supacord is considered the number one carpet solution for schools, colleges and universities. It has an A+ BREEAM rating, offers anti-static and anti-slip properties and a reduction in impact noise. Like all Heckmondwike FB’s products, Supacord can be cut on-site without the risk of fraying, allowing individual flooring designs to be created and installed with ease.
Heckmondwike FB carpet tiles are British-made and provide outstanding performance, as well as being backed by a 10 year limited wear warranty, which means they can be specified in complete confidence.
Supacord samples and shade cards are available on request by calling 01924 413637 or via Heckmondwike’s free online sample store.
Heckmondwike FB, one of the UK’s leading commercial fibre bonded carpet manufacturers, has strengthened its market presence with two significant new appointments.
Lincoln Chillman has been appointed to the role of Area Manager for West London, Tunbridge Wells, Hampshire, Berkshire and Dorset and Jason McKelvey has been promoted to the role of Works Manager, following 12 years as Quality Control Inspector.
Lincoln has been in the flooring industry for over 20 years which includes working in flooring wholesale, retail, contracting and manufacturing. His objective is to raise awareness of Heckmondwike FB floor finishes within the region in which he operates, building on the company’s reputation for excellence in fibre bonded carpet.
Jason aims to enhance quality and production efficiency, to further improve customer satisfaction. His role involves running the production and despatch on site for both Heckmondwike FB and Playrite, the company’s sports surfaces business.
Commercial Manager Jeremy Broadhead explains: “Lincoln and Jason have almost 35 years’ experience in the carpet industry between them. Their extensive experience and understanding of the flooring industry will help us to reinforce our offer to the market, backed up by industry leading quality, production and delivery.”
Heckmondwike FB has recently revealed its new company branding, a new brochure and a re-designed website. The company’s powerful new strapline – ‘Heckmondwike – Makers of Fibre Bonded Carpets’ – demonstrates its unique heritage, celebrating 50 years of fibre bonded carpet manufacture for the education, commercial and health sectors.
The company’s refreshed contemporary image reflects a new design-led approach, which is reflected in its new shade card suite and corporate marketing literature and collateral.
Why carpets are a good option – now and forever!
You may have noticed that we’ve recently rebranded our company, with a new logo and strapline – ‘Makers of Fibre Bonded Carpets’. The reason we did this was to reinforce messages around our history, longevity and commitment to manufacturing fibre bonded carpet, here in the UK.
The branding exercise has also given us the opportunity to review our marketing messages and to ensure that we are clearly communicating to flooring contractors the benefits of fibre bonded carpet.With so many different flooring options out there, we think there’s a great opportunity to look at why carpet has stood the test of time and why it continues to be one of the UK’s most popular flooring choices.
History of floor coverings
As far back as 6000 BC there is evidence of goats and sheep being sheared for wool and hair and it being spun and woven into a material that was used for a number of purposes, including as clothing and as a floor covering. Dating from around 1480 BC the ancient Egyptians used handlooms to make rugs. In 1000 AD Marco Polo confirmed rug making was taking place in the Middle Eastern countries that he passed through.
In the Industrial Revolution in England, textile inventions were introduced by Hargreaves, Arkwright, Crompton which included weaving wool for many purposes, including soft flooring.
Over the years, there have been many developments in man-made fibres, loom widths and machine efficiencies bringing carpet within reach of the mass market.
Fast forward to the modern era and carpet is still as popular as ever in the UK for use in many different applications. Carpet design continues to be influenced by social and economic factors and fashion. Some of the most important reasons that contractors and specifiers choose carpet are for its thermal and acoustic performance. This has led to fibre bonded carpet being specified widely in public buildings, student accommodation, retail outlets, sheltered housing and offices. People like the soft, comfortable feel underfoot, which cannot be rivalled by any other floor covering. Carpet also has benefits in terms of reducing slips, trips and falls. Many of our entrance carpets enable grit and moisture to be removed from footwear, so it doesn’t cause damage to internal floor coverings and lowers the risk of accidents to visitors or occupants.
Design trends
There will always be popular trends in floor coverings and carpet is extremely versatile in being able to ‘move with the times’. For example, the planked look is being widely specified for both public and private sector buildings, including offices and student accommodation. Also, there is a trend for plain carpet that is intermingled with subtle elements of colour, as seen in our Array range.
Even though carpet manufacture has been around for thousands of years, it keeps on evolving. Recent innovations include, for example, the introduction of machines that enable bespoke logos and designs to be integrated within a carpet. Many schools, as well as private and public buildings are specifying this type of carpet to enhance and reinforce their branding in their entrance areas.
It’s worth considering why carpet is still one of the most popular floor coverings for so many different applications. Whilst more competitively-priced materials may deliver short term gains, there are few that can match a carpet’s aesthetics, comfort, acoustics and thermal performance.