Carpets & vinyl, supplied & fitted
Gourley’s of Antrim — family carpet fitters since 1978.
The right floor depends far more on the room than on the trend. A room-by-room guide to choosing flooring that lasts.
The short version
- Kitchens: sheet vinyl. It copes with water, dropped pans and chair legs.
- Bathrooms: sheet vinyl, in a slip-resistant grade if the room gets properly wet.
- Halls and stairs: a heavier carpet with good underlay, or vinyl in the hall itself.
- Living rooms and bedrooms: carpet, chosen on comfort rather than durability.
People often choose flooring the way they choose paint, room by room and mostly on looks. That works fine in a bedroom and causes problems everywhere else. Here is a practical run through the rooms that cause the most head scratching, based on what actually holds up in homes across Antrim and Northern Ireland.
The best flooring for kitchens
Kitchens need a floor that copes with water, dropped pans, chair legs and constant traffic. Sheet vinyl does this better than anything else at the price, and a cushioned grade is noticeably kinder to stand on if you cook every day. Laminate is popular but it does not love water, and in a family kitchen that eventually tells.
The best flooring for bathrooms and en-suites
This is the one room where the answer is close to universal: sheet vinyl. It goes down in one piece, it is warm underfoot compared with tile, it is safe when wet if you choose a slip-resistant grade, and it is straightforward to replace. Carpet in a bathroom is a decision people usually only make once.
The best flooring for hallways and stairs
Halls and stairs take more traffic than anywhere else in the house. If you want carpet, go heavier than you think you need, and put decent underlay beneath it. If you want a hard floor in the hall, sheet vinyl handles grit and wet shoes better than most alternatives and is easy to keep clean.
A common and sensible compromise: vinyl in the hall, carpet on the stairs and landing. You get the practicality where the wet comes in and the comfort and quiet where you walk in bare feet.
Living rooms
Living rooms are where you can choose on comfort. Carpet is warmer, quieter and softer underfoot, and it makes a noticeable difference to how a room sounds. If you have dogs or light-coloured plans, ask about stain-resistant ranges rather than ruling carpet out.
Bedrooms
Carpet, in most cases. Bedrooms are low traffic, so you can choose a softer, more luxurious carpet than you would dare put on the stairs, and it will still last for years.
Utility rooms and back halls
Vinyl, without much debate. It is the room where the washing machine leaks, the dog comes in wet and the boots get kicked off.
See it in person before you decide
Photographs flatten colour and hide texture. Our showroom on Massereene Street in Antrim holds over 200 rolls of carpet and vinyl, so you can see the actual material in daylight and take samples home. We supply and fit across Antrim, Ballymena, Randalstown, Ballyclare, Crumlin, Toome, Belfast and the surrounding areas, and the measure is free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best flooring for a kitchen?
Sheet vinyl, in most homes. It is waterproof, it copes with dropped pans and chair legs, and a cushioned grade is comfortable to stand on. Laminate looks similar but does not handle water as well over time.
What is the best flooring for a bathroom?
Sheet vinyl, ideally a slip-resistant grade. It is laid in one piece so water cannot get underneath, it is warmer than tile, and it is simple to replace later.
Should I put carpet or vinyl in a hallway?
Either works. Vinyl in the hall handles wet shoes and grit better, while carpet is warmer and quieter. Many homes use vinyl in the hall and carpet on the stairs and landing.
What carpet is best for stairs?
A heavier, denser carpet than you would use in a bedroom, with a good underlay under it. Stairs wear faster than anywhere else in the house, so the extra grade pays for itself.
Free measuring across Antrim & Northern Ireland
Over 200 rolls of carpet and vinyl in stock. Measured, supplied and fitted by our own team, serving Antrim, Ballymena, Randalstown, Ballyclare and Belfast.
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