Monday 7 February 2011

To carpet or not to carpet....

Sigh! It's been one on those days!
Why can something so simple at the time, seem so complicated now?


That being the carpet!
My current premises had carpet, left by the previous occupants so it was never an issue, never discussed but the new premises has a BIG, bare, cold stone floor.


I have sensibly had 2 quotes - with a £400 variation in price!
I thought I had it sorted but today's discussions have raised up the issue of glue and how to fix the carpet and what the outcome will be, when one day, it has to be removed and the floor made good!


Do I need carpet?

The reason I want to lay it, is to insulate the cold, stone floor but will it really make that much of a difference or do I just heat the room more?


Carpet tiles have been suggested as I can pull them up and take them with me if I decide to move on but at 4 times the cost of carpet, this isn't really a viable consideration!


Oh decisions, decisions - my decision has to be made yesterday, as it is set to be laid early next week.


What shall I do?

13 comments:

Vintage to Victorian said...

Oh Becky ... such a dilemma, but my previous comments still stand re cold feet etc! If nothing else the carpet will absorb the echo-ey sound which you'll have to live with otherwise. (I'm good at spending other people's money by the way!!!)

To be honest I think turning up the heating won't make any difference, but that's only my opinion!!

Took Mum to Tescos earlier - waved as we drove past ;o)

Sx

Penny said...

Becky, if it was me I'd go for floor paint to seal it if it's crumbly or dusty. Otherwise, the warmer weather will be with us sooner rather than later and you can defer the whole thing till after the summer when you can make a decision with a bit more knowledge about the way the whole thing is working as a space (and you've had a chance to sort out the money angle) Hope that's helpful, good luck! Penny

Dazie said...

With heating costs set to rise I would say invest in some carpet. Plus you dont want people dripping wet umbrellas around on the floors of god forbid anyone falls over or drops anything precious it wont get smashed or hurt.

And then of course there is the whole look of your shop, I think its always nicer to have some sort of flooring to just make it feel that extra bit nice.

Dazie
x

Claire said...

I had a similar situation, albeit on a smaller scale, with my workshop. The floor was painted with heavy duty floor paint and I bought big rugs cheaply from Ikea for the areas in which I'd be working - under my desk, in front of order packing area, etc. Much more cost effective for me than carpet tiles and it meant I could replace/move as I wanted to. You could do it this way and even spread the cost of "rugging" the whole floor!

Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics said...

I agree with Penny, you could leave the decision until carpet is really needed after the summer, and make do with rugs in the meantime? Can't wait to see you all moved in!

Unknown said...

My friend got lino in her house that looks like wooden floors, it was cheaper than carpet, easy to clean and didn't need completely glued down just at edges and furniture held the rest. Maybe worth getting a quote for it?

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Oh dear Becky, food for thought for me too. I haven't got a quote yet as unit not fully measured up yet. I had wondered about the glue issue too. Would have to go for underlay as glue could be a problem. Dreading the cost. I have been trying to think of other options but carpet still seems best so far. I agree with Sue about echo- ey sounds and that is one of the reasons I wanted to have a carpet. I understand that for you costs will be even higher as premises are that much bigger. Good luck with final decision.
Isabelle x

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh, what a dilemma. I had a similar one when we re-vamped my workroom a couple of months ago, but we opted for hardwearing laminate in the end because of the roller chair I use! It would squash carpet in no time. Penny's suggestion is a good one, although think about the amount of stuff you will have to move later in order to have carpet laid if you go for this option. Hope you manage to make a decision soon!

Unknown said...

That is a huge space to carpet, but on the other hand that is also a huge space to heat. Weighing up the pro's and con's.. I would go with carpeting or some kind of insulated flooring. A stone floor will be fabulous in the summer keeping the room cool, but in the winter, you are probably going to pay out more trying to keep the place heated.

Stone floor will be cool in the summer, freezing in the winter, probably damp too if its really rainy where you are. The plus side its fabulous to keep clean and costs nothing to maintain.

Carpeting will get dirty if it isn't maintained properly, but it will keep out the cold and lower the heating expenses. I agree that turning up your heating will only just make you poor and the heating company richer.

I think long term carpet will be super benefical, especially if you can get a good hard wearing carpet. You can always also do half and half too. Maybe the walk through stone then work space carpet? Its just an idea but I do think something warm under foot will be good x

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

I've had another thought. How come it was OK for previous owner to leave the carpet down in the unit that you are in now?

dots and spots said...

WOW! thank you for all your very considered comments - you have given me a lot to think about - all very much appreciated - thank you!

Vintage to Victorian said...

I wondered that, too, Isabelle, about the previous carpet being left.

Hope you find the right solution in the end Becky - good luck!

Sx

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