In a world where time is more and more at a premium, customers are increasingly preferring a ‘one-stop shop’ approach to buying, instead of going to several different contractors where problems can arise and, indeed multiply, simply as a result of the number of people involved and the question as to who has overall responsibility. One company that has benefited from this approach is TT Carpets & Ceilings.
Located on the edge of the Lake District, in Milnthorpe, this family owned and run business supplies every type of flooring you can imagine, from carpet to vinyl, Altro to Vanguard, any type of suspended ceiling products – exposed grid, tongue and groove or plasterboard – hygienic and decorative wall cladding for industrial kitchens, domestic bathrooms and wetrooms. The company can also provide and install ceiling lighting and air conditioning.
Mark Postlethwaite, director, explains: “My father started the business as a flooring company and on a number of occasions, noticed that while he was doing the floors, nothing was happening with the ceilings and so he started to offer a range of suspended ceilings. Today, while we have extended the range of services that we offer, flooring is still the largest part of the business. We have a separate domestic side that operates within about 1½ hours of the office, although obviously if the job is big enough we will travel further.”
One of the largest activities at present is hygienic cladding, where the company is an Altro Whiterock Premier Supplier. This cladding is increasingly used in commercial kitchens, swimming pools and changing rooms and also in operating theatres used by vets. It is also used in clean areas in hospitals, including showers and kitchens. TT carries out a lot of work in Barrow, installing wet rooms for the local authority in sheltered accommodation and care and retirement homes since the continuous floor and wall arrangement means that no shower tray is required and so it is easier for disabled people to use in safety. Similarly, for Anchor Homes, TT provides all of the carpeting and ceilings in the main areas.
Another area that is proving increasingly successful is the work in hotels in the Lake District. Here, the company was originally called in to replace the floor covering but then pointed out that, while all of the equipment was being removed, it was a sensible time to replace the wall covering. By employing their own plumber and electrician, the Company can offer a turnkey solution and is now finding that, once the domestic flooring rush has died down after Christmas, the hotel work is waiting as they can close the kitchen for a week without losing too much business. To find out more, telephone 01539 562898.
