The Detail
How we actually spec the job
materials, methods, situations.
Choosing a carpet is choosing a combination, fibre, construction, underlay, gripper and fit. Get any one of those wrong and the floor will tell on itself within a year. Here is how we think about the choice on a typical Swansea or Cardiff job.
Fibres, wool, polypropylene, polyamide
Wool is naturally flame-retardant, springs back well and looks better as it ages, best for living rooms and stairs where you'll notice the finish. Polypropylene is bleach-cleanable, ideal for pets and kids and far cheaper per square metre. Polyamide (nylon) blends sit between the two: strong, soft and good in heavy traffic. We talk you through which is right for the room before pricing anything.
Constructions, twist, loop, saxony, patterned
Twist pile is the workhorse for bedrooms and lounges. Loop pile (including Berber-style) wears extremely well in halls and stairs but isn't pet-friendly, claws catch loops. Saxony is the deep, velvet finish for bedrooms where comfort beats traffic. Patterned and stripe carpets hide marks and are the right call for landlords and HMOs.
Underlay, the part nobody sees
We default to 10mm or 11mm PU (polyurethane) underlay for domestic carpet, quiet, warm, and the right firmness for power-stretching. Crumb rubber is the heavy-domestic choice for stairs and landings. We do not fit budget chip foam under quality carpet, it ruins the feel and shortens lifespan. Underlay is itemised on every quote.
Stairs and landings
Stairs are the highest-wear surface in a house and the most common fail point in DIY fits. We use stair-rated underlay, proper waterfall or cap-and-band finishes depending on the carpet, and bevelled grippers set to the correct gap so the carpet pulls tight into the riser. A well-fitted staircase is the single best indicator of fitting quality in the whole house.
Domestic vs landlord vs contract
For private homes we lead with comfort and longevity. For landlords and HMOs we lead with cleanability, stain resistance and quick turn-around, patterned polypropylene with a contract underlay is often the right answer. For contract work (offices, care homes, schools) we move to commercial-rated carpet tiles or broadloom with adhesive fit. See our commercial flooring page for that side of things.