#1 – Slice of the Great Outdoors

Inspired by the cross-section of a tree, this rug has been constructed with “highly durable materials.” And who would expect anything less from a “Woody Wood” rug? The outer bark is created by cutting and burning the edges, and the piece is versatile enough for limitless applications. Said creator Yvette Laduk, “My designs aren’t meant to go through life unnoticed.”

#2 – Aerial Wonderland

It takes a village to raise this carpet to different heights. A group of 29 friends helped with the production of the “Rug with Landscape Relief.” The color range coupled with contrasting heights of each foam bar create an incredible landscape scene. Amsterdam designer Laurens van Wieringen said of his rug, “The energy put in this process is also evidently felt in the result.”

#3 – Comfort Food

http://www.productdesignproject.com/index.php/le-uova-di-leon-product-design/

Not that you couldn’t tell, but “Double Bull’s Eye” by Valentina Audrito was inspired by an egg. In fact, Audrito has an entire series called, “Le Uova di Leon,” emotionally stirred from the perfection and simplicity of the object. She not only created rugs, but also seats, beds, lamps and tables. For her, the egg symbolizes the “relationship between day to day and the cycle of life.”

#4 – Pure Squish

http://www.roadsidescholar.com/2007/10/28/lasa-rug-by-jab-anstoetz/

These rugs look good enough to eat. And comparing them to any other line is like comparing apples to oranges. Thousands of felted merino wool tubes extend from a woven wool base, making the combo cushy underfoot. A dark yarn core fills each cylindrical shape, presenting a contrast in color throughout. The Lasa Merino Wool Rug, which comes in five vibrant dyes, won the prestigious Reddot Award in 2006. In other words, buy a rug from Jab Anstoetz, and you’ve also bought his artwork.

#5 – Pieced Together

If you feel like you’re missing a piece in your home décor, check out this design. You just may find what you’re looking for. A recyclable mixture of synthetic and natural rubber, “PuzzlePercer” is a set of modular flooring. German designer Katrin Sonnleitner wants to make a difference on your floors.

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The truck drives toward your house and backs into the driveway. Beep…beep… beep! Gears grind and metal screeches against metal. The big slide falls out of the back and tons of wet, messy gray liquid slide toward your house. While you’re not looking, it oozes in through the garage, leaks into the living room and finally seeps around to the backdoor you left open. NOW WHAT? Is there any way to welcome this mess into your home? There is now, especially if you can imagine the joy of “walking on art.”

Concrete isn’t just for garage and basement floors. With the help of a specialty contractor, the cold, hard floor beneath your feet can be transformed into something fun, stylish, warm and stunning.

Talk to a specialist to see what’s out there to suit your taste and budget. Here are some of your options:

• Stained: concrete painted with specially formulated paint to adhere.
• Acid stained: acid applied to concrete. Creates a more natural look than painting, but colors may be limited and not as uniform.
• Etched: patterns cut into the concrete can be left unfilled or filled with a resin. Floor can be stained or acid stained before or after the cutting.
• Overlay: mortar applied in thin layers to existing concrete and formed into patterns, such as cobblestone or flagstone.
• Inlay: tiles placed into cut areas of the concrete.

If making your floor an enticing piece of artwork isn’t reason enough, Concrete Network begs to differ. Concrete flooring is eco-friendly for these five reasons:

• Design versatility
• Energy efficiency
• Easier breathing
• Economy
• Durability and resource conservation

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Sunken and uneven floors can mean big problems and big bucks to fix. To troubleshoot shoddy flooring in the home, look to the subfloor for answers. This is a likely source for those pesky and annoying problems. Wooden subfloors are built in three ways: Tongue and grove panels, plank subflooring, and OSB (Oriented Strand Board) glued and nailed to joists. With the correct design and proper installation, these modern designs are durable and trouble free. But if poorly installed, a faulty subfloor makes it impossible to maintain quality floors. Here are some common subfloor problems and solutions to help restore the floor.

Sinking Floor

This could mean that the subflooring was not installed correctly. If the floor feels soft or spongy, then the subfloor is not as strong as it used to be. Water or moisture may have started rotting the joist, causing certain areas of the floor to sag. You’ll have to take a look at it, either from the basement or by removing the flooring. The subfloor can be temporarily propped up with a floor jack and then pressure treated beams can be put in place to stabilize the floor.

Creaking or Popping

This is a familiar sound in many older homes. It’s usually far too easy to just overlook, but that wouldn’t be wise. A creaking noise can mean that the subfloor is not secured to the underlying joists. It could also indicate the wrong thickness of plywood or OSB was used. The recommended width is ¾ inch. In any event, you’ll have to remove the old plywood and replace it with thicker panels. If that’s not possible, install wider joist. This tactic serves the same purpose and should stop the noise.

Uneven Floor

The foundation or support walls may have settled and left you with an uneven floor. Another possibility could be water damage to the floor joists. My first suggestion would be to get the subfloor inspected by a contractor. Replacing floor joist, beams, and any other framing is complex, but a professional can fix it correctly. As far as leveling the floor goes, that can be a DIY project. You’ll have to rip out the old flooring and pour on a leveling agent. Wait for it to cure and then install the new flooring. All of this is much more than a day’s work, so finding an experienced contractor would be the first option.

We’ll connect you to qualified flooring installers, free!

Link:

http://onlinetips.org/wood-subfloor-problems

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The next highest percentage of voters took a completely opposite reaction. 36% of them believe laminate floors are cheap. On the flip side, some would argue that laminate flooring has made great strides over the years with new technologies. I tend to agree but at the same time it’s very hard to beat the warmth of real hardwood floors.

The remaining 22% say it is loud and clicky or they think it scratches easily and will not hold up to your family and traffic patterns. What’s most important about this survey? We’ll, it shows that consumers are torn between traditional products and cheaper alternatives.

Here’s the good and bad of laminate flooring. The product looks good, it adds quality and beauty to any room, and you can install it with ease. On the down side, laminate flooring can be difficult to keep clean. It has been known to streak if you don’t use the right cleaner. Maintenance of the floor is much more difficult. Common dents and scratches don’t repair as easily as they do with hardwood. Ultimately it’s a simple choice. In difficult economic times, laminate flooring will save you money and maybe that’s the best plan of them all.

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One way to eliminate these tough spots is to use a pressure sprayer. This high-powered cleaner should remove most grease and debris with ease. A steam cleaner can be just as effective. Another way to clean the floor is by giving your garage floor an acid wash. This surface preparation can be completed with a push broom and solvent. It removes contaminates while leaving your floor with a sand paper like finish. Once you’ve cleaned the floor your ready to apply a new floor.

Epoxy is a popular do-it-yourself makeover. Keep in mind, if your cement floor is sealed you’ll have to rent or buy a concrete grinder; this will prep the cement for the epoxy application. You’ll need roller brushes with an extension arm, plus the epoxy coating kit. Start by mixing the basecoats of the epoxy together. Then work in six-by-six foot sections, beginning in the furthest quadrant of the room. Once you’ve completed a section, toss in some color chips to give it that marble look. When you’ve finished the entire floor, let it cure for 24 hours. Apply a protective cover and you’re done. For more information on epoxy floors go to this website: http://originalcolorchips.com/store/.



• The G-Floor from Better Life Technology requires virtually no tools for installation. This polyvinyl laminate is merely rolled on to your garage floor. It adheres easily to cement and can be trimmed with scissors for a perfect fit. The G-Floor comes with a vapor/moisture barrier preventing oil and grease from seeping through. It’s also easy to clean; just remove it from the garage and spray it down with the hose.



• Sports Courts offer consumers another floor option. These manufactured modular floors have been selling strong for decades. A couple tips before you buy this type of tile floor. Look for polypropylene with at least a ½ inch thickness and make sure the floor has a combination of solid and drainage tiles. That way debris can be washed off the floor, helping it remain cleaner and dryer. The floor can be installed by the customer or the pros can do it for you. For addition garage floor upgrades check out these ideas from flooringnews.com.

Want to talk to qualified flooring contractors in your area? CalFinder can help. Let us connect you with free estimates from certified flooring experts.

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• Ceramic Tile. Although very attractive, ceramic tiles have a PEI rating of 0-3 and are not recommended for heavy traffic areas. They also absorb more water, which makes them less desirable for exterior applications. The water can either freeze, causing cracks, or lead to mold or mildew growth.
• Porcelain Tile. These tiles are very durable and many have a PEI rating of 5 making, them an excellent choice for both indoors and out.
• Natural Stones. These can include granite, slate, limestone, travertine, and marble. The PEI ratings vary with these, with all of them except marble being durable enough for floor use.

PEI ratings are broken down as follows:

• PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic)
• PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic)
• PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic)
• PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic)
• PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic)

If you are ready to install new tile in your home, then request free estimates from certified tiling and flooring experts in your area.  

• Tiling and Flooring Contractors in Eliot, Maine
• Tiling and Flooring Contractors in Avondale, Arizona
• Tiling and Flooring Contractor in El Jobean, Florida

Photo Credit: BaronBrian

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“The dazzling LuxTouch creation is a black marble tile inlaid with 95 brilliant cut diamonds, mother of pearl and abalone. The centre of the tile consists of a pitch-black agate circle inlaid with 19 diamonds and a mother of pearl flower petal pattern radiates outwards from the centre. Each of the petals is a single piece of mother of pearl inlaid with a large precious cut diamond and the black agate pieces between the petals are also inlaid with diamonds. The tile’s four corners are inlaid with mother of pearl and abalone shell, achieving a visually stunning counter balance with the radiating flower petals. ”

If you can afford these then obviously your not too worried about the economy so go get them!

Via Luxist

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Compared to wood, Ronit says cork is more comfortable to stand on because almost 90 percent of it is made of air pockets. “Compared to carpet, cork is more hygienic. Dirt, dust, and microbes can get trapped in carpets, whereas cork is a natural dust, insect, and microbe repellant.” Other positives to cork include the following:

• The harvesting of cork does not chop trees. Cork is the outer layer of the bark that is peeled from the tree and regrows every 9 years (rapidly renewable resource).
• Cork has the ability to maintain the temperature of its surroundings and stays warm to the touch, unlike stone and hardwood.

Wicanders Series 100 Cork Plank with Micro Bevel

Now, cork flooring has a new dimension in Wicanders Cork Plank with Micro Bevel, which is far narrower than standard cork tile. “The standard floating cork is 36” x 12.” Cork Plank is 36” x 4 3/8” wide, making it a product more in line with the North American trends and a similar dimension to hardwood flooring,” Ronit says. Here’s more about Amorim Flooring’s Wicander Cork Plank. It is:

• Micro beveled on all 4 sides, designed to fit the current trend in hardwood.
• Finished with Xtreme WRT. Xterme WRT is a water-based finish 4 times more wear-resistant than the standard urethane finish. The finish has tiny ceramic micro beads embedded in the surface, making it more resistant to scratches.
• Finished out of the box. You don’t have to apply an on-site coating before use, nor does the floor have to be maintained with additional coats of urethane over its life. Because of this, the flooring has a natural matte finish and does not have a slippery flat feel to it. It also reduces the life cycle cost.
• Available in 12 colors.

Check out the Wicander’s website at www.wicanders.com for more information about these unique cork floors! Also check out the updated blog about Wicander products and cork flooring.

Then, contact CalFinder for free estimates from flooring contractors in your area.

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Every home has felt the effects of wood’s moody lifestyle. If nowhere else than having to slam that front door in the humid, summer months. Even more critical to the look and feel of your home is your hardwood flooring. Problem #1 with hardwood flooring has always been its want to expand and contract, resulting in squeaks, cracks, and buckling from water getting into loose seams and wreaking havoc on the subfloor and beyond. So here are the basics of acclimation–a relatively simple process that can add several years to the life of the wood.

At its simplest level, acclimation is simply the act of storing the wood in its future home until it has had time to adjust to its new environment. After the wood has acclimated, then it is installed and, as long as that climate is not altered too dramatically, the wood should last in fine condition, maintaining the fresh and appealing look of new hardwood.

But it is not always that simple. There are several factors of which your contractor should be aware. Too often builders think that just setting the wood on the job site for a few weeks will do the trick. But different hardwoods react differently. For example, the saw cut of the lumber is important; plain sawn (horizontal grain) lumber will react roughly twice as much as riff sawn (vertical grain) lumber. Also, the thickness of the wood is a factor; a 3″ wide board will expand or contract half as much as a 6″ board. Furthermore, the wood may already be in good condition for installation when it reaches the job site and letting it sit under humid conditions will only cause unwanted absorption.

Therefore, the installer needs to know the moisture content of the wood at the time of delivery and the expected moisture content of its environment after installation. From this they can make an educated judgement as to how long the wood needs to sit, if at all, and install the hardwood at the proper time.

This does not end with the builder and installation either. The homeowner should also be aware of the moisture content and how that will fluctuate as the seasons change where you live. For long heating seasons, a humidifier built into the heating system will help regulate moisture content in the home and ease the stress on your hardwood.

In the case of a remodel or hardwood floor replacement, the task is a bit simpler because the home is likely already functioning at a consistently regulated level. In this case you will want to find a place out of the way to store the material inside the house and close to where the wood will eventually be placed. However, be aware of fluctuations in your home’s temperature, especially if you let the season dictate the climate inside your house.

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The Pros. Limestone has definitely stood the test of time, being used in households for centuries. Because of its historical nostalgia, limestone is great for creating a more rustic, country look. Although it requires more maintenance, with proper care there is no reason why limestone won’t last a long time, bringing natural and original beauty to your flooring.

The Cons. Limestone is a softer stone than granite or marble, and is not quite as durable. It is not recommended for heavy traffic areas as it will scratch and scuff easily. It can be sealed and treated to prolong the lifespan, but your options for placement are more limited than with other materials.

Limestone comes in various sizes of tile, and the colors tend to range in the neutral earth tones from beige to rust-reds. Many consumers love its simple beauty and unique look. Compared to other stone floors, it can be less expensive than granite or marble, but will require more upkeep. Request free estimates from professional flooring contractors in your area today to install your new flooring material.

Photo credit: Pattinson.co.uk

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