Irvine International Architectural and Designer News

Carpet for you garage is becoming the norm rather than the exception these days, as home owners really start to make use of such a large area of their home that historically was used only for housing your car, who ever said garages are just for cars?

Carpeting your garage is the ultimate way to add value to your home while adding a fantastic extra living space for a very small investment. A garage doesn’t have to just be somewhere to keep a car, it can be a fully carpeted home office, home gymnasium, or just a great open play room for the kids to play on those rainy days.

We specialise in a large range of carpet ideally suited for residential garages. Our garage carpet is manufactured to withstand the friction of car tyres and, because of the carpets resin-backing, it allows moisture to flow through the carpet to the concrete sub-floor,where it is quickly absorbed and evaporated. Aside from looking smarter and feeling more comfortable,these carpets also protect from oil and grease, resist condensation and are non-conductive.

Garage Carpet  is a superb way of extending the versatility of your living space and substantially adding value to your residential investment and lifestyle … without costly renovations or fancy decorating! Carpet is a convenient, low maintenance product – great for laundries and utility rooms, sleepouts and holiday homes as well. The fibre in these carpets can also be UV stabilised for outdoor use, eg decking and other wet areas.

So, why not convert your garage space into a fully carpeted multi-functional haven for work or play. Perhaps somewhere the kids can have fun out of your hair and out of the rain, or somewhere you and your family can all keep fit through winter. Benefits of Carpeting your Garage to re cap: Garage Carpet adds another room to your house Garage Carpet is safer than a wet & slippery painted floor and helps prevent concrete deterioration Carpet Garages are warmer & reduces noise Carpet Garages reduces dirt tracked into the home.

Visit  http://irvineinternational.co.nz/ProductDetail.asp?PID=653&SCID=63# or call us now on 0800 367 773

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Irvine International Floors offers optimal solutions to architects, interior designers and their client’s who want to apply that added bonus of specifing a fantastic designer rug or runner for a commercial project or for a residential fitout from a small area rug to a large hotel lobby size rug we have the ability to help.

We are the exclusive New Zealand distributors for several large rug ranges of quality woven, handknotted and handtufted rugs and runners.  Therefore we are able to supply the highest quality pure wool rugs and runners in the latest design trends and colours.

As a result of the ever-increasing demand for contemporary rugs of an extremely high quality, each and every year completely new, fresh and innovative rug ranges are launched to reflect the European design influences for the ensuing year.

We also offer a custom rug design service to provide a wide range of possibilities and can convert any design into a sensational and unique flooring statement. Or you can have a rug made of any of our broadloom carpet ranges .

Visit us at www.irvineinternational.co.nz/Products/Rugs/ to see a full on line rug range ready for you to view now, and with designer rug showrooms in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch you can see them for real, or call  and speak to our rug designer if you have any questions 0800 367 773

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Carpet shopping and carpet selection should be about varity, not just about displaying carpet that is in fashion at any current time. If you walk into the majority of flooring retail showrooms around the counrty you will be offered a very muted colour range currently and also there is a finite selection of carpet contructions.

Flooring retailers have a number of resason for having a reduced carpet range and alot of these are not know to the general public, one of the most commom reason for displaying only current colour trends is due to the limited amount of retail space they have in their flooring showrooms, even though they have access to all of our products they just don’t have the space to display every carpet, carpet tile and vinyl design that we have available to you in New Zealand. And remember if we haven’t got it, chances are we can get it in for you or custom make it!

Carpet dealerships are another reason for limited offerings in carpet retail stores with some ranges being limited to selected stores and or nationwide groups, thus limiting your chances of finding the perfect carpet for your next project

Flooring design showrooms in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington enables you to view the huge range of carpet, carpet tiles, designer rugs and custom design options all under one roof. We also have carpet distribution centres in both Auckland and Christchurch so we can provide a nationwide service for all sectors of the market. Supported with a substantial stock offering in domestic and commercial carpet, carpet tiles and vinyl, we are able to respond to your flooring requirements immediately.

Irvine International Floors is an approved floorcovering supplier to all quality flooring retailers including, but not restricted to:

Carpet Court nationwide, The Floor Store nationwide, Flooring Xtra retail chain, Hills Floorings, Smiths City stores, Guthrie Bowron home decorating stores and quality independent flooring retailers.

Visit our comprehensive range on our website, and for details of flooring Irvine International Floors approved retailers in your area.

Visit the below link to see our full flooring ranges, or call 0800 367 773 for more information.

www.irvineinternational.co.nz

This brand new carpet design trilogy of heavy duty commercial contract carpet tiles are the perfect addition to the already vast array of Irvine International Floors Nexterra carpet tiles  licensed by Environmental Choice New Zealand (ECNZ). Strategically and creatively positioned, On Point , Point of View and The Brights carpet tile options and combinations offer limitless space-enhancing design flexiblity.  On Point features one of The Brights as an accent stripe and consists of three accent line carpet tile pattern configurations.  You can also customise On Point carpet tiles by choosing any Point of View background colour with any accent line colour from The Brights carpet tile range. 

The Nexterra backing of these carpet tile ranges contains no PVC, in fact they are manufactured from 85% post-consumer recycled content, ie discarded plastic bottles ( PET Bottles ) and recycled windscreen glass.

These carpet tiles all contain Puralex, which is an environmentally friendly odour neutraliser that purifies and freshens the air indoors.  Puralex not only makes the air smell better, but independent testing shows it reduces total VOC emissions 25-40% by absorbing unpleasant odours in the room.

For more information visit: www.irvineinternational.co.nz/Products/Carpet-Tiles/Environmental-Choice-Licensed.aspor call 0800 367 773

The Brights

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On Point

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Point Of View

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Carpet custom designed for the biggest Fashion Fairground Grand Opening took place today, Friday 20th August at 237 Broadway Newmarket. The custom carpet for this stunning new store was produced by Irvine International Floors, patterned carpet in the fitting room areas added a huge impact to the overall floor finishes. This Irvine International Floors Axminster Carpet has been custom-designed by our in-house carpet designer and produced exclusively for Glassons. The romantic design and colours of this Woven Carpet were created specifically to match the desired ambiance and brand identity of this contemporary womens’ fashion store.

The total flooring solution from carpet design, carpet production and installation was organised by Irvine International Floors … so for your next flooring project make sure you contact us first, for an easy-to-purchase designer flooring  effect.

For more information visit: http://irvineinternational.co.nz/Products/Carpet/Custom-Design.asp or call 0800 367 773

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For most of us carpet is the largest chattel investments you make in your home, whether it is a new-build or refurbishment project. Like most large-ticket purchases, wading your way through the myriad of make and model options can be confusing if you don’t have a clear focus, and carpet is one of the more complicated products to research. Answering a few simple questions can narrow down the field to ensure you buy carpet that meets the specific requirements of your lifestyle and  the room in which you are planning to have carpet installed.

Carpet can be produced in many different ways and these options result in different surface textures, affecting the way a carpet looks and feels. Carpet construction methods can be tufted, woven or needlepunched. Most carpet sold in New Zealand is tufted, which means the carpet yarn has been threaded through a backing by hundreds of needles to form loops to a desired length. Tufted carpet can then be either cut pile or loop pile. Cut Pile means the tops of the loops are cut off to create individual yarn ends. Generally this carpet yarn has more twist which is set so the tufts won’t flatten. The harder the twist of the carpet yarn, the more textured it will look and the longer it will take to wear.  Cut Pile carpet is best suited to areas where underfoot comfort is important. Loop Pile is generally more durable than cut pile, however it is less-soft under foot and less comfortable. The carpet fibre loops are not cut or sheared, so the loops form the carpet surface and this is where the soil tends to stay, making cleaning easier. Level loop pile has a tight, pebbly surface. Multi-level loops produce interesting patterns that have enhanced soil-masking capabilities. Loop Pile carpets are best suited to areas where there is high foot traffic such as commercial environments.

Woven Carpet  is made by weaving the yarn and backing at the same time. The best-known types of woven carpet are Axminster Carpet and Wilton Carpet, their names being taken from the type of loom on which they are woven. Axminster is always cut pile but Wilton can be either cut or loop pile or both. 

When considering your budget, carpets which ensure high performance are generally more expensive compared with other carpet types.  They not only tend to wear substantially better than standard production carpet, they stay looking good for much longer and the overall life-cycle costs including professional cleaning will be far less. How should my carpet perform? Most of us want our carpet to wear well and stay looking good for many years to come. However an average household of 2 adults, 2 children and a cat and or a dog, demands much more from a carpet than the pet-less owner of a one bedroom apartment! 

Similarly, those of us with lots of north/west/east facing windows will be particuarly interested in purchasing a carpet which will not be susceptible to fade or deterioration from UV sunlight.

It pays to consider the total cost of the carpet plus installation.  There is often negligible difference in the installation costs of an expensive carpet versus a carpet at the opposite end of the scale in price, so stretching to the maximum of your budget will help you avoid the deception of false economy.

Please contact us on 0800 367 773 or at one of our Flooring Design Centres in Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington or go now to the carpet section of our website by clicking on the following link http://irvineinternational.co.nz/Products/Carpet/

Carpet warranties in New Zealand have some of the biggest traps in the building industry when it comes to selecting your next new carpet.

Flashy point-of-sale branding, warranty claims of up to 15 years wear and 15 year colour fast warranties all sound great - but you must dig deeper to get the real facts on the carpet’s life expectancy.

A client came into our Showroom the other day with a carpet sample (not one of our’s) and asked if we had a similar-looking carpet offering a similar wear warranty as that sample, ie 15 years. I asked  her what exactly was covered in that 15 year wear warranty.  She explained she wasn’t entirely sure, as she hadn’t read all the details in the warranty document she was given (as I’m sure is the case with most consumers). After a quick read of her carpet warranty it stated that the carpet she was considering was indeed warranted for 15 years against wear.  However, the manufacturer’s acceptable tolerance for wear was stated as being able to lose up to 40% of its face fibre over this period before it was considered eligible for claim against warranty.

We were both quite shocked that a warranty statement which sounded so compelling actually transpired to mean that a new carpet could lose almost half its carpet fibre over 15 years before it was deemed to fall within the terms and conditions covering the warranty. 

Compare this with our Irvine International Floors premium solution dyed nylon carpet (PSDN) that this customer prudently decided to purchase:  PSDN carpet also comes with a 15 year wear warranty, however our fine print states the carpet will not lose more the 10% of its face fibre over this period, ie 30% more margin extended to cover wear than the manufacturer of the original carpet sample brought into our Showroom by that customer.

Carpet stain warranties are another trap for the uneducated carpet buyer, many have been stating at15 year stain free warranty, but again the fine print excludes stains from foods that contain food colouring ( how many foods don’t have food coloring these days?)also exluded tea, coffee and even red wine arguably the most common causes for staining a carpet are excluded, so really how good is this carpets stain free warranty? I will post more detailed information on carpet stain warranties shortly.

For more information visit: www.irvineinternational.co.nz or call 0800 367 773

What is a Premium Solution Dyed Nylon (PSDN) Carpet?

Solution Dyed Nylon Carpet refers to how the colour of the carpet yarn is produced.  Solution dyeing involves injection of colour pigment into the nylon polymer while it is in a molten state, so that the colour becomes part of the yarn’s molecular structure. Simply put … it’s like a carrot and a radish.  SDN is like the carrot -  ie the colour  is all the way through.  Space or piece dyeing (as in the case of wool) are like a radish, ie the carpets yarn is white to begin with and then colour is only applied to the outside of the yarn, making it susceptible to fading and at risk of also being lifted during stain removal on this type of carpet.

Benefits of SDN Carpet

Solution Dyed Nylon Carpet (SDN) has precision colour uniformity and is exceptionally colour-fast and fade-resistant.  Dyeing before extrusion and makes the carpet yarn non-porous and therefore incapable of absorbing moisture.  This means that spills and liquid accidents cannot penetrate the fibre, but rather sit on the surface making them easier to remove – hence the term Stainproof carpet.   Because the colour is all the way through, harsh stains can be removed with what would normally be considered aggressive cleaning techniques, without fear of lifting the carpets colour along with the stain.  For example Stubborn stains on Premium Solution Dyed Nylon carpet (PSDN) can be removed with a mixture of 50% Bleach : 50% Water.  (NB:  Not all SDN carpet quality is such that it can sustain this cleaning method, so seek manufacturer’s instructions before attempting!)

In order to get the full benefits from Solution Dyed Nylon  Carpet, it is wise to check that the carpet backing is also solution dyed.  This ensures that it too carries the same stain-resistant qualities as the carpet, ie doesn’t absorb moisture, is resistant to mould and mildew, remains odour-free, and is rot and shrink proof.  The backing on all Premium SDN carpet ranges (PSDN) is also made from Solution Dyed fibre.  (NB: Carpet treatments such as Scotchguard are topical treatments only, and can eventually wear off the outside of the yarn after numerous cleanings.)

Non-Allergenic & Anti-Microbial Qualities

Dust in the air carries germs!  The more dust, the more allergens and contaminants.  PSDN carpet is manufactured from Bulk Continuous Filament Nylon (BCF) and will not shed or fuzz.  To further explain; wool from a sheep can only be produced in a finite length and then it must be joined to another length and so on in order to make a strand of wool suitable for the manufacture of textiles.  Shedding and pilling, which is a huge contributor to dust and allergens, occurs where there is wear and rubbing on these joins.  Because the nylon in PSDN carpet is man-made, it can be produced in lengths without joins (BCF), therefore no shedding or fuzzing will ever occur.  Carpet ranges made from PSDN are also anti-microbial, as they undergoe a unique pre-washing process (EcoWash) which effectively removes natural lubricating oils (used in the carpet manufacturing process), on which microbes may survive.

What should I look for when buying a Solution Dyed Nylon Carpet?

Not all Solution Dyed Nylon carpet is created equal!  Ensure that you are confident that the warranties associated with specific brands match your requirements, eg wear warranty, manufacturing defect warranty, UV Fade warranty, etc.

Premium SDN (PSDN) is manufactured from the finest Nylon which is heat-set to keep the fibre stable in order to withstand the weight of both people and furniture.  This means that it will retain its appearance and resilience for an extremely long time.  An effective test to determine the yarn quality of an SDN carpet, and therefore the quality of its appearance retention, is to rub a small section of carpet between your thumb and forefinger for 10-15 seconds to ensure the nylon polymers do not burst and matt together, always ask what the twists per metre are and as to see documentation PSDN has 280 twists per metre.

 
How Environmentally Friendly is the Manufacture of SDN Carpet?

Not all SDN carpet manufacturers are focused on Environmentally Sustainable manufacture.  If this is important to you, check that the carpet has been manufactured by a reputable company with current ISO14001 & ISO9001 certification.  This international standards qualification focuses on continuous improvements in production and many manufacturers with an environmental conscience engage independent contractors to monitor these improvements.
PSDN carpet ranges are manufactured by a fully certified ISO14001 & 9001 manufacturer.

Suitability

Long gone are the days of cheap and shiny synthetic carpets that squeak when you walk on them!  A good quality SDN carpet will have the look and feel of wool, but afford many more attractive benefits to the modern-day consumer.  Premium SDN (pSDN) carpet is an excellent choice for all traffic areas (residential & commercial) because it is durable, static-free, stain-resistant and fade resistant.

For more information visit: www.irvineinternational.co.nz or call 0800 367 773

Carpet Tiles have been having a second life in New Zealand for many years, thanks to the efforts of Irvine International Floors and their supporters around New Zealand, and thus reducing the amount of carpet and carpet tiles ending  up in land fills.

Where existing carpet or carpet tiles are to be replaced with Irvine International floors product, we offer a Carpet Take Back Service. This involves our managing the process of uplifting existing carpet or carpet tiles that still have life left in them, and finding a new installation environment in which they can be re-used right here in New Zealand.

The product which is being replaced is offered free to Community Groups and the role Irvine International plays is in co-ordinating its uplift and finding an appropriate benefactor. In addition, all our quotations for projects involving carpet tiles we include maintenance stock to cover the rotation and replacement of worn carpet tiles.

Irvine International Floors is in the practice of thinking globally and ‘acting locally’ that way we can make our country and the world a better and more sustainable place by providing this carpet take back scheme.

Irvine International Floors,in conjunction with Dominion Property Funds, recently offered approximately 900 square metres of used carpet tiles free-of-charge to members of the Christian Supply Chain for use on their commercial projects. Christian Children’s Camps ‘Camp Columba’ and ‘Chosen Valley’ were the grateful recipients, as well as Victory Outreach Church.

The 900 sqm of carpet tiles were uplifted during a refurbishment project in Penrose Auckland, which was being managed by Dominion Funds. The tiles were made from Solution Dyed Nylon and in extremely good order. Irvine International Floors arranged for the contractor to uplift the tiles and stack them on pallets ready for freighting. The Christian Supply Chain only had to pay the freight charges to their destination.

As Chris Jereb of Dominion Funds explains “It only cost a little more to have the contractors place the carpet tiles onto pallets,rather than throw carpet tiles into a waste bin”. “We didn’t incur any dumping fees and we were happy to supply a couple of car spaces in order to store the tiles.”

Daniel Bailey, Assistant Manager of the Chosen Valley Christian Camp, writes: “We are very grateful for the  carpet tiles. The room has become much warmer and we can now use it for various other activities too. So, thanks again Irvine International Floors for blessing Chosen Valley Christian Camp.”

Both Irvine International Floors and Dominion Property Funds are members of The New Zealand Green Building Council.

Dominion Funds, in conjunction with the Ministry for the Environment, Building Research, Kiwi Income Property Trust and Multiplex funded The NZ Green Star Rating System.Dominion Funds seek to actively align themselves with NZGBC suppliers that are not only gaining Environmental Choice Accreditation, but have hands-on practical environmental policies.

Visitour web site on the below link or call us on 0800 367 773 for further Information.

http://irvineinternational.co.nz/Irvine-In-The-Community/default.asp

Sustainability is a long standing focus for all of our floor coverings that Irvine International Floors produce, with a companywide drive to reduce waste and drive the use of post consumer recycled content in all flooring on the global market.

Sustainability has been an over used “marketing phrase” for so many carpet tile manufacturers and importers, focusing on Sustainable Green Wash over and above the key factors of actually reducing post consumer waste, removing PVC content from carpet tiles and failing to declare the truth of point of origin of their carpet tiles components.

Having company’s buying carbon credits to offset the fact that they are polluting the environment and then promoting the fact they are green, is starting to not convince the educated specifier, who is now asking more informed questions. 

Sustainable carpet tile question; “What is the better option for a New Zealand consumer concerned with the carbon foot print of a carpet tile and it’s shipping distance”? A recent project investigation may give the answer.

A major Architect did some serious digging after Irvine International Floors proved they had a smaller carbon transport foot print on a product coming from America, after an alternative carpet tile company he was considering emitted to the break downn on the transport and life cycle of their carpet tiles, which was substantially great than initially anticipated, as the product was only being shipped from Australia from wear the “CARPET TILE” was produced. Or so it seemed.

As it transpired the carpet from Australia had had a very long and environmentally expensive life cycle before it got to Australia, let alone before the carpet tile arrived in New Zealand. As the architect advised us the trip started in Atlanta where carpets yarn was made, then shipped to Asia where the yarn was tufted into carpet in roll form, then it’s next International carpet trip down to Australia where the carpet was cut into tiles and then backed,… final destination New Zealand.

Compare the above story with the Irvine International Carpet tile which used 85% post consumer recycled content from the Atlanta area, Carpet Yarn manufactured in the Atlanta region, then tufted, backed and cut into carpet tiles ( all still in the local  Atlanta region) and then one direct shipment directly to New Zealand.

Interior Designers, Architects and end users ask the questions and don’t get taken for ride, with the amount of green wash out in the market, ask all the questions you can of each component,.

Truely working for a more sustainable Planet with Irvine International. Vistit the below link and then call us on 0800 367 773 for further Information.

http://irvineinternational.co.nz/Environment/default.asp

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