Carpets: Taking the rough and tumble

Thanks to modern technology, carpet no longer needs to harbour critters, stains and faded spots and to lose texture.

Many overseas visitors arriving in New Zealand for the first time will remark on the ubiquitous use of carpets in our homes. In Europe, and to a lesser extent in the USA, carpet is not the be all and end all of floor coverings. Floor tiles, hardwood and pure wooden floors (often lime-washed) are much more prevalent, as they are in the hotter climes of Asia and Africa. And tiles of course.

While Northland might be blessed with a so-called winterless climate, the downside of warmer temperatures is carpet beetle which just loves a cozy and woolly environment. But thanks to modern technology, carpet no longer needs to harbour critters, stains and faded spots and to lose texture and because of all these things the trend now is to move away from the pure wool carpets of even five years ago.

In fact some carpets are now made of vegetable products at least in part - 37 per cent of the SmartStrand brand carpet is made of a corn sugar turned into a polymer. This component replaces the ingredients traditionally derived from petroleum and it's estimated that nearly every six metres of this Du Pont product saves the energy equivalent of over two litres of petrol.

If you've seen a rhinoceros walking over a carpet in the telly advertisement it's no mere visual metaphor. Carpet specialist, Alistair Hargrove, says the carpet really does what the pictures show.

"It has a 'smart' strand and it's bullet proof. It comes from the USA and it doesn't stain, or fade, there are huge warranties attached to it and yet it's as soft and as luxurious as wool."

He calls it the 'Rolls Royce' of carpets and it's one of the most popular carpets for Northland homes at the moment. But in the very near future you will be walking over plastic bottles. The brand, EverStrand, is produced without resorting to petrochemicals and by making use of recycled products. The front of the carpet, the bit you walk on, is made from plastic bottles while the backing is made from bottle tops.

In terms of cost carpet still the most economical option to cover a home's floor. Next is vinyl and while there is a vast array of colour and style options to choose from, and it's suitable for areas that carpet might not be, it's the preparation that takes the laying time with this choice because vinyl is adhered to the floor.

Then there's hardwood timber laminate which is a 'floating' floor. Yes, it's the more expensive of all flooring options but it's solid and secure. And if you want the real thing - and that can range from solid timber floors, layered timber floors and bamboo flooring - these options are all available from a specialist company in Northland if you haven't purchased an older home with original kauri or matai timber.

Planking is popular for renovation work and Mr Hargrove says at the moment, because of the state of the economy in Northland, renovation is more prevalent than new-build housing, even if new houses are still being built.

Flooring choice is largely dictated by price but increasingly there is more of a choice and new homes and renovated houses in Northland are reflecting the eclectic options available.