September 29th, 2008 in Flooring
There really are no negatives to cork flooring, says Ronit McGuthrie, Marketing Manager for Amorim Flooring. Ronit adds that you can install cork just about anywhere, except perhaps, the bathroom. “Kitchens are the most popular place, because the cork is so comfortable to stand on, reducing back, leg, joint, and feet fatigue. We do not recommend bathroom installation because of the variance in humidity.”
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:
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June 27th, 2008 in Flooring
The idea of acclimating hardwoods is a solution to a longstanding problem with finished wood products, especially flooring. In fact, it is not so much a solution to any problem so much as a move to work with the innate characteristics of wood instead of ignoring them. Inherently, wood is susceptible to changes in moisture content: when it dries it will shrink or contract, when the wood soaks up moisture it naturally expands. Acclimation is simply the process of allowing wood to adjust to what will be its everyday climate before installing the product.
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.
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June 25th, 2008 in Flooring
There are now so many different and beautiful flooring options for homeowners to choose between; it really helps to know what product you are looking for before you begin shopping. What about limestone flooring, what are its pros and cons, and how does it compare to other flooring choices?
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June 25th, 2008 in Flooring
The first decision to be made in your new tiling project is what type of stone to use. Understanding the qualities of, and differences between, each type of stone will make this choice an easier one to make.
Granite, of course, is the most popular of stones because of its excellent durability, bold colors and textures, and affordable price relative to other natural stones. It is granite's caliber and practicality that account for its popularity.
Marble, while more expensive and less durable than granite, is unrivaled in appearance and texture. It is the contrasts evident in marble that make it such a high-end, luxurious stone. Two main types of marble are polished and tumbled. Tumbled marble is just that; tumbled or blasted with water to provide the same array of colors as polished marble but without the glossy finish. This has the advantage of reducing the visibility of scratches and water spots so easily noticed on a polished, mirror-like finish.
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May 30th, 2008 in Flooring
Apart from sounding like marmalade, many of us have never heard of marmolueum flooring. What is it, and where can it be used?
Marmoleum is manufactured in England and is an all-natural product. Made from wood flour, pine rosin, linseed oil, jute, and limestone, it is a biodegradable form of flooring. Similar to linoleum, it is easy to clean and very durable. Linoleum was first popular in the 1950s, and is now considered to be more of a lower-end product. Marmoleum is in the linoleum family, but offers a greater amount of design and color choices. Because of its newness and novelty status, it is becoming a popular choice for many homes. Young families especially enjoy the easy to clean, soft and durable material.
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