Floor Covering

Kiwis recognise Harrisons Carpet as the only 5-star flooring brand for overall satisfaction

The old real estate adage is that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses … but that overlooks potentially the biggest space in any home: its floors. Flooring is one of the first things you see when entering a home, and it’s undoubtedly the part of any property that gets the most use. Not only does flooring have a practical role to play, it’s a key part of a home’s aesthetic appeal.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, either. Different rooms require different floor coverings. Very few, if any, kitchens or bathrooms feature plush carpets, and outside Mediterranean villas, tiled bedroom floors are not a common choice – even tiled bathrooms offer a chilly start to the day for bare feet.

Choosing the correct flooring for your home is a major decision. Unlike a paint colour scheme, which can be changed relatively easily and cheaply, flooring is in for the long-haul. It’s an expensive investment in your home akin to replacing a kitchen. That’s why it’s so important to do your homework, balance the options and choose the right flooring for your home and lifestyle.

To help you make that decision, Canstar Blue has surveyed 368 Kiwis who have installed new flooring over the last three years. We asked them about their choice of flooring to discover their thoughts on a range of factors, including the range of products and styles available, the durability of their flooring and its ease of installation.

Harrisons Carpet swept up gold and was rated 5 stars in five out of six categories: overall satisfaction, customer service, value for money, ease of installation of flooring and range of products and styles available. Flooring Xtra was also recognised with 5 stars for customer service, ease of installation of flooring and range of products and styles available, with 4 stars awarded for durability of flooring and overall satisfaction. Carpet Court received 5 stars for durability of flooring, and a sweep of 4 stars across all other categories.

Flooring can save money on heating:

When it came to choosing the right flooring, price and durability were the main considerations for our respondents: 29% citing price and 28% durability. The practicality of the flooring was important to 19% of respondents, while its colour ranked with 16%.

Of those in our survey who had chosen carpet for their home, 42% of respondents said it was to help with insulation. This can be an overlooked factor when considering flooring, and one that has an important part to play in retaining heat in your home.

The rule of thumb, generally, is that the denser the covering, the more heat will be retained, but given the differences between carpet, wood and laminate, each flooring has different insulation properties.

Does wooden flooring retain heat?

Despite the common perception that wooden flooring is cold, certain types can actually help conduct heat throughout your home. If you’re a lover of wooden features and warm, cosy spaces, you need not rule out wooden floors.

Here are some ways to keep rooms warm with wooden flooring:

• In terms of wood, solid hardwood floors are your best choice, as they are wonderful at conducting heat.
• Rugs not only spruce up a room and add an extra layer of heat insulation, they also provide good noise insulation, meaning less reverberated sound.
• The downside of wooden flooring is that it can fade in strong sunlight, plus it’s more prone to scratches, dings and damage.
• Keep your wooden flooring up to scratch with polishing. A strong polyurethane finish adds an extra layer to protect from the elements.

Does laminate or vinyl flooring retain heat?

No! Laminate or vinyl flooring doesn’t retain heat, as it’s so thin, but it’s commonly partnered with an insulating underlay, to stop heat escaping downwards. Similar to wooden floors, however, laminate and vinyl both conduct heat. Laminate and vinyl are also cheaper and easier to maintain than wooden flooring, and are tougher and more water-resistant.

Does carpet help insulate your home?

Yes! Carpet can help with insulation, but it isn’t a replacement for proper underfloor insulation. When partnered with thick underlay, carpet is a great insulator between a floor’s cold foundation, and it can also stop under-door draughts. This may be why more than half of those we surveyed installed carpet! And of those, 42% installed their carpet to help with insulation.

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