While the kids might be enjoying time off school, the rest of us are hard at work – renovating the school! Throughout the summer, many school procurement teams may be using this time to begin some much-needed classroom enhancements.
This is an even greater concern as we manage the hygiene considerations of the pandemic. With this in mind, every piece of school furniture has a role to play – from encouraging distancing to preventing the spread.
So, where do carpets play a part? In this blog, our commercial carpet company lists the 5 best carpets for school renovations.
For the entrance
It’s the first area students, teachers and visitors see, so you’ll want your carpets to make an impression. When choosing entrance matting, it’s important to stick to the ‘six-step rule’. This generally assumes that people will not consciously wipe their feet when entering a non-domestic setting.
As such, you need to choose a Bespoke Entrance Mat that traps dirt, and can do so within six steps – which also affects the size of the matting you choose.
For the classroom
Arguably the most important area of the school, the classroom needs to be a place that inspires. This includes offering a multi-sensory experience. Heighten emotions with dramatic reds or bring a sense of calm with jade greens – as more than two-thirds of us are ‘visual learners’, we need to be careful about colour choices.
But likewise, we cannot overlook acoustics. Carpets can reduce airborne noise by up to 35%, so we always recommend a carpet tile with acoustic backing. The Supacord range offers bright colours and better acoustics, helping to reaffirm that multi-sensory experience.
For high traffic areas
Did you know that schoolchildren walk up to 15,000 steps per day? This calls for a heavy-duty carpet tile, particularly in areas like corridors. Not only should your carpets be durable; they should also be easy to clean. A lot of steps makes for a lot of mud!
Our Diamond range features a cobbled design for quick and easy vacuuming. It’s also available in a range of colours, from simple greys to dashing reds.
For the school hall
The school hall has so many purposes – from hosting assemblies and dinner times to those treasured school discos. So, you’ll want a flooring that’s just as flexible.
Turn your school hall into a sports zone, dance floor and performing arts centre all in one with our Expo Tiles. These can also be laid on top of hard floors for a carpeted effect.
For breakout areas
As we get past the worst of the pandemic, we should expect to see more ‘breakout areas’ in classrooms. These are generally relaxing spaces where students come to chat and explore creative ideas.
You can designate specific areas with coloured tiles from our Array collection. With colour fastness and impact noise reduction, they promote clearer thinking with a touch of style.
Looking for something else?
No matter what your school needs, we’ll find you a carpet tile that fits the bill. If you’re looking for something different or out of the ordinary, please feel free to get in touch.
Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet manufacturers with over 40 years experience in the education sector. To learn more, or request a free carpet sample, please contact 01924 406 161 or email sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
With social distancing in effect until further notice and, like many other institutions, schools must adapt to the ‘new normal’. Interior design within classrooms and workspaces need to change to allow improved hygiene and personal space. There is a lot of debate over how this will happen when schools fully reopen in September, but here’s what we predict will change.
Hygienic flooring
Although measures such as strict cleaning and distancing of furnishings are existing short-term solutions, long-term solutions are needed. The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity for schools to renovate their classrooms and workspaces. Studies suggest that Covid-19 does not linger for long on porous surfaces, like carpet, so many schools are likely to turn to this as the safest flooring solution.
Increased focus on student wellbeing
It’s been a tricky time for pupils, as they typically thrive in the classroom. Therefore, any space should be a place of creativity and inspiration. Carpet design can help create a perfect positive working environment. The carpet tiles in our Array range are available in 24 different colours, with bespoke designs available on request. So, pupils can be effortlessly motivated in their colourful surroundings.
One-way systems
Students will be directed throughout school and in classrooms with one-way systems. With increased footfall on the same path, the flooring must be high-quality and durable. Our Social Distancing Carpet Tiles remind pupils to follow the rules and help with wayfinding, making them a great solution. With laser engraved arrows, our range of bespoke tiles are especially useful for one-way systems and remind pupils and staff alike to keep a safe distance.
Focus on flexibility
The sooner schools are COVID-proof, the sooner pupils can return safely. Therefore, there is an increased focus around functionality, rather than cosmetic appearance. Flexibility is key, as spaces can become multi-purpose and adapted to suit different activities and varying pupil needs. All our carpet tiles can be easily lifted and moved, enabling schools to fully utilise classrooms and spaces to their highest ability.
Heckmondwike’s Social Distancing Carpet Tiles are now available to purchase, however, due to the current situation, we are unable to provide samples of the product. For more information or to purchase your carpet tiles, please call us directly on 01924 406 161 or email: sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
It’s that time of year again when teachers are ready for a well-deserved break and are counting down the days until the Easter holidays hit.
While many teachers might pop into school during the holidays to get ahead, studies have shown that students actually benefit from a teacher who has taken the time to relax and is more refreshed. And, it might not be the only thing students benefit from when refreshed.
The Easter holidays are a great time for the decor in schools, colleges and universities to be revived – especially the carpet. Taking the time to update the carpet in classrooms and communal areas can have a positive impact on both students and staff when they return for the new term as it can exercise their creativity.
It’s also a great opportunity to give the place a brand new look and feel – to breathe some life back into a room.
However, there is more to think about when choosing your new carpet than how it looks. In the education sector, almost all carpets need to be heavy contract rated to withstand the heavy footfall and general wear and tear.
Fibre bonded carpets are an excellent option as they tend to be anti-ravel, anti-fray and anti-static – making them ideal for schools and colleges using computers. They also help to absorb sound so can reduce noise and create a more relaxed atmosphere – another positive in learning environments.
Alongside this, many fibre-bonded carpets provide a cost-effective flooring solution not only at the point of purchase but throughout its life cycle. With its heavy-duty nature, the carpet will not have to be replaced as often, with many products providing a 10-year guarantee when used with advised cleaning a maintenance procedure – providing a large potential saving to the end-user.
Heckmondwike’s Supacord range still stands as a firm favourite for fibre bonded carpets within the education sector. It is a tried and trusted commercial carpet solution and is a smart choice for schools, colleges and universities in particular due to its durability and robust manufacture.
At Heckmondwike, we have over 50 years’ experience in providing a wide range of fibre bonded carpets and have a variety of colours and patterns available. So, if you’re looking to rejuvenate your school, college or university this Easter half term, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can contact your local area manager here, call us directly on 01924 410 544 or email us: sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
Heckmondwike FB, a market leading manufacturer of heavy contract commercial carpets, is supporting the future of flooring industry by sponsoring an apprentice across its National Floorcoverings Ltd group of companies.
The company is working alongside Hillside Contracts, a flooring contractor in Leicester to provide assistance to Kai Linton, a trainee floor layer.
Having started his course in September 2018, Kai is currently completing the first year of his two year apprenticeship, making him an important part of the future of the flooring sector. He is learning his trade through onsite training assessments and tutoring at Floortrain Training Centre in Doncaster.
With little assistance from local trade bodies or colleges, Heckmondwike FB’s sponsorship supports 17-year-old Kai in covering transport costs from his home in Nottingham to Doncaster, alongside the essential tools and equipment needed to carry out his work.
Heckmondwike FB and Hillside Contracts have worked together closely for over 20 years, with Heckmondwike FB providing the company with its full range of fibre-bonded carpets, including the company’s flagship product, Supacord.
Bob Mortimer, UK Sales Manager for Heckmondwike FB said: “From speaking to our customers in the flooring industry, we are well aware of the skills shortage within the sector and are eager to play a role in addressing the balance.
“As a company, education is one of our most important sectors, with millions of square meters of Supacord installed in schools, colleges and universities right across the country — so it’s important for us to give something back to the industry.
“Therefore, when the opportunity arose to support Kai in his development — we were more than happy to help.”
Chris Goode, Director of Hillside Contracts added: “In the current market, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit experienced floor layers, particularly when looking at commercial projects. Therefore, employing an apprentice guarantees our workforce is as skilled as possible for years to come.
“Working with Heckmondwike FB to support Kai was an easy choice to make. Alongside the financial benefits, the company provides us with sales support, alongside ensuring products are in stock as and when required – it really is a perfect fit.”
Teachers, students and all those working in the education sector are counting down the days until the Easter holidays in April, with the chance to get some well-deserved time off and to start planning for the next term.
However, within the education industry, Easter can be the perfect time to think about what needs freshening up in classrooms and communal areas.
For example, there will be many teachers across the country who will be popping into their classrooms to tidy up displays, re-arrange furniture and give their classroom a new lease of life, so that the students have something different to engage with when they return from the holidays.
However, would it not be much better if the classroom, school, college or university had a complete refresh from top to bottom?
With many in the education sector receiving at least two weeks holiday, Easter is the ideal time to think about larger-scale changes to small or large areas of an education facility, that only take a couple of weeks to carry out.
One such area is the carpet.
A new carpet can breathe life into any room, particularly if it is mixed and matched with the colour scheme of a classroom, or the educational facility as a whole.
However, there is much more to think about than how the carpet looks. In most situations, it needs to be a heavy-contract carpet, and ideally, fibre bonded, with such carpets delivering anti-ravel, anti-fray performance, alongside providing reductions in noise and the durability to manage hundreds, if not thousands, of students even day.
With tens of thousands square meters being purchased for the education sector every year, Supacord is the smart choice for schools, colleges and universities, a tried and trusted commercial carpet solution that is perfect for any requirement.
To discover more about having Supacord installed for Easter, contact your local area manager here.