CAMERON LEE HELP CENTRE
Here at Cameron Lee Carpets we are keen to ensure that we have ‘happy customers’ with stunning new Fitted Carpets and Flooring, We have assembled below a list of key pages to help you select, install, care for & maintain your new Fitted Carpets, Luxury Vinyl Tiles or Natural Floorcoverings
We understand that a new Fitted Carpet or Floor-covering can represent a substantial investment; but a Fitted Carpet or Floorcovering that is correctly chosen and installed will repay you with a stunning individual finish for many years to come. Pop into our Bristol Carpets Showroom for a cup of tea and to discuss your Fitted Carpets and Flooring Requirements.
Q: Do you provide a fitting service?
A: Yes - We provide a local fitting service for all type of floor-coverings; our carpet fitters, carpenters and floor layers are time served craftsmen who work to only the highest standards. We cover Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas typically within a 30 mile radius of our BS3 2TY Bristol carpet showroom. We have set charges for installation; please refer to our Fitting Services page. We promise to vacuum and leave your areas clean and tidy.
Q: Do you provide a furniture / appliance moving service?
A: We require all valuable and breakable items to be removed from the working areas, plus all other moveable items where possible. This will enable us to achieve the best results when stretch fitting your new carpets and setting out and installing your new floorcoverings. If, however, you have large individual pieces of furniture that cannot be removed from the room, please let us know and we can normally work around such items as required. If you require furniture moving services or the removal and reinstatement of appliance please discuss your requirements with your Cameron Lee planner / estimator at your FREE home consultation visit. When moving appliances we use only qualified fully insured tradesmen for your peace of mind.
Q: Do you cut and adjust doors?
A: Yes - we have in-house carpentry teams and we offer a door cutting service at £25.00 per door.
Q: Do you remove old carpets and existing floor coverings?
A: Yes, we offer a full waste removal service, our fitters are licenced to carry waste. We also endeavour to recycle waste wherever possible.
Q: Do you provide a measuring and carpet planning, and home selection service?
A: Yes, these services are all free of charge. To ensure that you order the correct amount of materials and that they are laid in the correct direction with the carpet pile running the correct way, we would always recommend our professional Cameron Lee measuring and estimating services. Cameron Lee Carpets will visit at a time that is convenient to you bringing a wide range of samples to view. Book your free consultation here .
Q: Do you deliver samples?
A: Yes we provide a free sample service. We would always recommend that you view samples at your own home in your own lighting conditions.
Q: Do you provide sub floor preparation services?
A: Yes we provide a full range of sub-floor preparation services. Ask one of our friendly team about sub floor preparation during your home consultation, and they will be able to advise accordingly.
Q: Can we buy materials without fitting services?
A: Yes we are happy to supply only materials, but the best results will always be achieved with professional installation from our team of skilled Cameron Lee floor layers, carpenters and carpet fitters.
Q: I have uneven floorboards or concrete floors - how do I treat them?
A: Uneven floorboards can reflect through fitted carpets and cause unsightly ridges and premature wear. It is best practice to level in and re-secure loose boards and overlay lay with flooring grade hardboard secured in the approved manner, always be aware of pipes beneath the floor when securing boards.
Uneven concrete floors can be treated with a layer of latex smoothing compound to make the floor smooth and even. We can complete these works on your behalf and these works can be costed in situ by our experienced measuring and estimating teams.
Q: How do I prepare floor for Luxury Vinyl Tiles, Sheet Vinyl and other floor coverings?
A: Timber bases would normally be prepared with a 6mm flooring grade plywood secured at 100mm centre with approved fixings. Concrete or cement screed bases need to be tested for moisture and any unevenness can be addressed with a suitable latex smoothing compound. We can provide these services for you - please ask your estimator or let us know when booking your initial appointment.
As always good preparation is the key to a perfect finish.
Q: How do I treat and care for my new Carpets and Floor coverings?
A: Entrance and barrier mats that catch dirt on entry and exit are a valuable tool in protecting you new carpets and flooring. We can also supply our customers with full cleaning and routine maintenance instructions from the manufacturer. This will ensure that our customer get the best performance and value from their new carpets.
Q: How do I pay for my new flooring?
A: If you are ordering high quality carpets and flooring for supply only we require payment in full prior to delivery of the goods. You can pay with all major credit cards by telephone, or completing your order online via our secure payment system.All orders under £1,000 (including materials, ancillaries and fitting costs) must be paid in full. All orders over £1,000 require a deposit of either £1,000, or 50% of the order value if the order is more than £2,000. The remainder of the balance to be settled 3 days prior to the fitting date.
We accept BACS and all major credit cards. We do not accept American Express.
Q: Do you accept returns?
A: Normally yes. Please refer to our full terms and conditions, for full details. However, we are unable to accept returns of non-defective materials that have been cut to length, or especially ordered to your requirements. We would therefore recommend that our customers take advantage of our FREE planning and estimating services to avoid any potential mishaps.
Measuring and planning carpets and flooring materials is a skilled task normal best executed by one of our skilled estimators, however if you are looking to get an idea of how much material you require, we have some general notes to help point you in the right direction.
Helpful Tips:
Carpet Planning:
- Carpets and sheet materials often have a specific pile direction its important to maintain the correct pile direction especially for stairs and for rooms that require joins, for stairs and landings it is normal practice to have the pile flattening towards you as you are walking up the stairs, this prevents the pile front flattening
- Where Carpets & Floor Coverings have a specific design or pattern or texture this must be taken into account and the relevant amount of additional material must be accounted for. This would also be relevant to striped carpets.
- The most common broadloom carpet widths are 4 metres and 5 metres, (not all products are available 5 metres wide) some specialist products are available in custom or multi - width formats saving you waste.
- Check your room sizes and see if they are under the 4 metre or 5 metre roll width. If they are the task will be easier as your carpets can be installed in one piece and without a join. To accommodate waste and fitting tolerances we normally recommend allowing an additional 100mm on top of your sizes, ensure that you measure the maximum length and width and include and recesses and doorways, be careful as walls can run out and rooms may be wider or longer at one end or the other.
- For example a room size of 3.60m by 3.90m would require 3.70m of a 4 metre wide roll = 14.80m2 or a Room 4.60m by 4.80m would be better suited to a 5 metre product to keep the area ‘join free’ a carpet 4.70m by 5m would be required under those circumstances.
- Where stairs are required expert planning is normally required, however as approximate calculation for a standard flight of 12 steps at under 1m wide a piece of Carpet 1.50m by 4m (6m2) would be required, stairs do not have to be installed in one continuous length as the join can be hidden within the gripper rods (using a traditional fit method)
- For rooms with joins care is to be taken to maintain the correct pile direction for Example a room with dimensions of 5.60 metres by 5.90 metres would require a join (unless you are selection a custom width or special order product)
- For this example you would require a piece at 5.70 metres by 5 metres for the main section, leaving a requirement for an additional piece of carpet 5.70 by 5 metres for the join, this can be reduced by introducing cross joins, adding 1 cross join would half the amount of material required for the filler, (reducing from 5.70m to 2.85m) or two cross joins would enable you to divide the amount of material required for the filler by 3, (reducing from 5.70m to 1.90m by 5m) not all materials are suitable for cross joins and expert planning would be recommended to ensure that you achieve the best results
Planning for Wood Flooring and Luxury Vinyl Tiles & Carpet Tiles:
- For wood flooring and LVT the general rule is to add 5% for waste to the net floor sizes, then round up to the nearest full pack.
- There are exceptions to the rules for example if you are selecting multiple colours or laying patterns or fitting on an angle, any slanting or raked cutting will add additional waste.
10 Steps to Flooring Heaven:
1) Set Your Budget!
It’s an obvious one to start with but when considering the purchase of a new carpet or floor covering, set aside not only a sum to cover the cost of the flooring itself but also any underlays and accessories required, plus any installation costs. Be wary of organisations offering too good to be true free installation offers, as often inferior quality products are sold at elevated rates to cover the hidden costs. Set your budget to the top of your limit as the cost and hassle of replacing poor quality products prematurely will soon eat into any savings made at the point of purchase. Quality products and materials that are professionally installed will repay any investment with years of good service; we have regular accounts from valued customers of our installations lasting for decades
2) Is it Suitable?
Ensure that you check the product suitability and wear ratings to ensure that they are suitable for the given purpose, this information will be on the rear of the product sample, or simply ask one of our friendly team members.
3) Don’t Underestimate the Underlay!
Always set aside money for a high quality underlay, as a good quality underlay will offer thermal insulating properties, acoustic properties, and will also prolong the life of your new carpets or floor coverings. Paying back any initial outlay, a cheap underlay may not do your carpet justice, a high quality underlay will promote even wear and give a great feel underfoot. High quality carpet underlay can increase the life of your carpet by up to 40%, and can even save you money in reduced heating costs.
4) It’s All About the Preparation!
As with any trade preparation is the key to a successful installation, we can check your sub-floor to ensure that your base is smooth, dry, sound and even - giving our clients the perfect finish every time. If required, we offer a full range of sub-floor preparation services such as plywood, latex smoothing compound, and even damp proof membranes. Ask for more details.
5) Get Your Measurements Right!
Don’t take the risk yourself! Your own measurements can be brought in store to get a general guide cost, but let us task the risk and burden away from you. Take full advantage of our expert team of estimators and carpet planners, with in excess of 100 years combined experience. We can save you money with careful planning of materials, reducing wastage, eliminating unnecessary joins, and ensuring that materials are set out with the pile running in the correct direction. All of our expert planning and estimating services are free and without obligation.
6) Choose the Correct Width of Material!
Eliminating joins where ever possible right from the start. Carpets and flooring materials are now available in a variety of widths, we can help you select the correct materials saving you money and eliminating waste
7) Take Our Samples!
It’s always best practice to view our samples in the comfort of your own home in your own specific lighting conditions; we can collect your samples when you are finished at your convenience or when we call to measure. Bear in mind when viewing samples of any material that samples are indicative only, and colour variation from manufacturing batch to batch is normal. This will especially be evident in natural wood products with a flecked appearance.
When selecting solid wood flooring or engineered wood flooring, or any other natural flooring product, colour & grain variation between boards is normal, these colour grain and shade variations make each installation unique as is the nature of a natural flooring product.
8) Fitted by an Expert!
Always use our expert installation services. Our time served craftsmen floor layers, carpet fitters and carpenters are at the pinnacle of their trade, we only use the very best fitting teams, giving your flooring the best fit from the word go!
9) Care for your Flooring!
It’s not over! The installation of your new carpets and floor coverings is only the start, and as with any relationship - there has to be give and take. Care for your flooring by taking time to follow the manufacturers recommended cleaning and maintenance regimes, this will ensure that your products are covered by any manufacturers warranties.
10) Enjoy!
It's all done! Sit back and enjoy your fine new carpets or floor coverings from Cameron Lee Carpets Bristol.
Different Types of Carpet Piles:
Twist Pile Carpet:
Twist Pile carpets are manufactured using several cut pile fibres that are twisted together, creating a strong carpet with a lightly textured finish to the surface. Twist pile carpets are available in plains and heather type effects and can be found in both wool and man-made fibres. The most common combination of twist pile fibres would be: 80% wool with 20% Nylon, 50% Wool with 50% Nylon, or 100% man-made fibre such as polypropylene. The 100% man-made fibre carpets are normally inherently stain resistant and are perfect for customers looking for an easy to clean, durable and hard wearing product. Wool, or wool combination twist pile carpets give a more subtle and natural look, and will normally offer a wider range of colours. These products are equally as durable as their man made counterparts, although not as resistant to soiling. For clients preferring the natural look of a wool product, an additional layer of Scotch guard treatment can be applied.
Twist pile carpets generally perform well and are amongst the most popular types of carpet sold today; twist pile carpets are hard wearing and suitable for most areas within the home such as hall, stairs and landing, dining room, lounge, study, & bedroom areas.
Velvet or Velour Pile Carpet:
Velvet or Velour Pile Carpets offer and opulent and luxurious look created but using a straight cut pile manufacturing process. Velvet pile carpets will show light and shade as the pile direction moves, they can be made of wool or wool combinations and man-made fibres.
A low maintenance carpet with a medium to short pile, suitable for most areas within the home. Velvet pile carpets can give the look of a more solid overall colour when compared to the lightly textured look of a twist pile carpet
Saxony Pile Carpet:
Saxony Pile Carpets are created by using a deep long length cut or twist pile, giving a luxurious look. Saxony pile carpets with very long piles can be more difficult to clean, the pile being longer can also flatten. Often used in bedroom areas for softness, feel underfoot and smooth to the touch, the long pile length can also be prone to showing footprints and traffic routes - so we would not normally recommend for use is high traffic areas such as hallways or stairs.
Loop Pile Carpets:
Cut and twist pile carpets are sheared at the surface, loop pile carpets leave the uncut loops of yarn intact at the surface of the carpet, creating a looped look that can be flat or textured. There are limitless combinations of how the loops can be orientated to give different surface appearances with a uniformed or alternating height. Loop pile carpets are tough and durable, they can be made of wool, wool combination, or man-made fibres. Loop pile carpets are suitable for most areas of the home, especially stairs and hallway areas. Loop pile carpets generally will not show footprints and walkways as much as their twist and cut pile counterparts.
Cut and Loop Pile Carpets:
Cut and loop pile carpets are created by using a combination of both cut and loop pile construction methods, creating a textured and patterned effect.
Wilton & Axminster Carpets:
Axminster and Wilton Carpets are woven using traditional methods, the Wilton type weaving method uses one continuous yarn woven throughout the product, where the Axminster method uses individual sections of yarn woven with the weft. Axminster and Wilton carpets are known for their durability and performance in both commercial, contract and domestic locations. Woven carpets do not use a separate bonded backing layer, as the backing is an integral part of the woven product.
For your reference, please click below to download cleaning, care & maintenance guides from our manufacturers.