October 2017 - Colors Wood Floors

Laminate flooring. Environment & Ecology

Laminate – the floor with a good ecological profile

Laminate flooring consist of wood mostly. Wood is one of our planet’s sustainable and renewable raw materials, making laminate flooring a product, which is light on resources and even recyclable. And that’s not all. Laminate flooring has a firm, sealed surface which ensures that dust and dirt simply cannot penetrate. That is why they are completely hygienic, easy-care and particularly good for allergy sufferers.

Ecologically produced
Laminate is ecologically produced without any addition of pesticides, organic chlorine compounds or hazardous heavy metals. Thanks to advanced production techniques, laminate flooring has all the positive environmental impact of wood products. But laminate offers more, because thinning material from forests and wood waste from the sawmill industry can be used to manufacture the wood fibreboard, which lessens the environmental impact even further.

The sustainable origin of the raw wood materials used is verified by recognized seals of approval, which also guarantee that – for the protection of human health and of the environment – all product components comply with the strict European Union Chemicals Regulation (REACH).

Protecting the future – respecting nature.
Laminate floors are mostly made of wood fibres and also wood pulp, in other words paper. As wood is a sustainable and renewable resource, laminate flooring is by all means an ecologically low-impact product.

Monitored production
Laminate flooring is manufactured in modern production facilities that are subject to emissions and environmental standards and in many cases have their own energy and heating cycles. As a result, laminate flooring has all the positive environmental impact of wood materials.

Environmental approach
The wood used to make laminate floors comes mainly from domestic and sustainably managed forests. This means there is no environmental damage caused by importing timber from all over the world. The production process uses not only logs but also wood waste from the sawmill industry, so to some extent laminate floors are already a recycled product.

What about formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is found naturally in wood and is also found in melamine resin, so laminate floors as any other product made of solid wood do contain formaldehyde. But there is no risk to health, because the formaldehyde in the melamine resin is permanently locked into the resin structure during hardening so it cannot be released into the air.

Same values as measured from wood in natural state
Numerous documented measurements of laminate flooring have yielded emission values that correspond to the formaldehyde emissions limit for wood in its natural state, which are far below the legally defined limits. In other words, laminate floors do not pollute the air inside a building with odorous or harmful substances any more than ordinary wood.

EPDs attest excellent life cycle assessment
One of the impressive features of laminate flooring is its excellent life cycle assessment with extremely positive values for primary energy consumption and global warming potential. It also excels when it comes to indoor air quality assessment. Proof of this can be seen in evidence-based EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). EPDs provide a strong argument in favour of laminate floors for anyone looking to choose a new floor with environmental impact and sustainability in mind, whether for private or public/commercial use.

Already in 2009, the EPLF was one of the first groups in the flooring industry to prompt the development of special Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and therefore paved the way towards increased transparency and product safety. And also Architects and designers already value tested environmental quality. Interior design products which have a positive environmental impact and can demonstrate this in specific EPD are now increasingly being used in the commercial construction .

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Asthma triggers: Are hard flooring surfaces better than carpet?

My daughter has asthma. Should we replace the carpeting in our home with vinyl or wood flooring

Reducing exposure to asthma triggers is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent asthma flare-ups.

Carpeting can be a reservoir for allergy-causing substances (allergens) that trigger asthma. Carpeting in the bedroom can be especially problematic because it exposes you to carpet dust throughout the night. Hard-surface flooring such as vinyl, tile or wood is much easier to keep free of dust mites, pollen, pet dander and other allergens.Steam cleaning carpet on a regular basis can help reduce the presence of dust mites and other allergens in your home. If that isn’t enough, replacing carpeting with hard flooring may be a good idea.

If you do put in hard flooring, keep in mind that all synthetic flooring initially releases gasses known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can worsen asthma. In most cases, products stop releasing VOCs after several days. However, some products release more VOCs than others do. You may want to look into low-VOC flooring if this is a concern.

It might be worthwhile having your daughter see an allergist for allergy skin testing. There may be individualized steps you can take to reduce allergen exposure once you know exactly what your daughter is allergic to.

The Benefits of Waterproof Flooring

In the last few years, many major manufacturers have come out with waterproof flooring, which has addressed many concerns homeowners have had with laminate, real wood, or other glue down products. Prior to this, when a homeowner wanted a durable, scratch resistant, and low maintenance floor, she would turn to laminate. While laminate has these attributes, it is certainly not waterproof. Laminate is essentially a wood or tile “print” put on an HDF core or what I like to call glorified cardboard. If water or any other liquid sits on laminate for an extended period of time, the core board will expand and thus ruin that plank. If the liquid is spread over a larger area the homeowner will have several planks that are ruined.

Enter vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl has come in sheet or roll forms for years. The main problem with this archaic form of vinyl is that it is very easy to scratch and tear. Once she has a tear in a sheet of vinyl, the entire sheet is “damaged” and can only be repaired by replacing it in its entirety. Therefore manufacturers have condensed the vinyl and cut it into planks and tiles. These new planks and tiles are four to five times harder than their sheet good counterparts. So not only are they very difficult to damage, but if they are damaged by knife falling in just the right way or a high heal dragging across them, the home owner can simply replace one plank or one tile.

In addition, vinyl is completely impervious to water and other liquids. However, when these products first came out, they required adhesive to install them. While very durable and scratch resistant, if water or other liquids got between the vinyl tile or plank and subfloor, the moisture would cause the adhesive to break bond with the materials and thus most times both the flooring and subfloor were ruined. Because vinyl tiles are generally installed in kitchens and bathrooms where there are ice makers, dishwashers, toilets, and sinks all hooked up to water lines, this was definitely a concern. To address this, manufacturers have added a click-together system to these products very similar to that of laminate. Instead of the sides and ends of the planks or tiles simply butting to each other and having to be held in place with adhesive, the new locking mechanism has made it possible to install the products without adhesive. So, now we have impervious vinyl that does not require adhesive- thus WATERPROOF FLOORING. If liquids are spilled on the surface of the vinyl, the planks or tiles will not expand, discolor, or ruin. If liquids get between the “click together vinyl” and subfloor, the homeowner can simply unclick the floor, dry or replace the subfloor, and click the vinyl floor back together.

We at Jack’s Tile and Carpet carry waterproof vinyl plank and tile products from many manufacturers including Shaw, Mohawk, and US Floors. We have over a hundred styles and colors available which will be sure to meet your style and performance needs. Please visit our website or give us a call to have a complimentary in home consultation in which we can bring products to you, measure, and discuss your style and performance needs in the comfort of your own home.

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Flooring Trends

Check out some of the newest technologies and reclaimed materials that are becoming the hottest products in flooring.

The economy may be keeping a lid on spending, but when it comes to flooring, it’s driving trends. That’s because today’s cost-conscious consumer is more demanding of value than ever.

“There’s definitely been a shift from spending to savings,” says Chris Davis, the president and CEO of the World Floor Covering Association. “But that doesn’t mean consumers aren’t buying flooring: it means they’re looking for value and comfort. They might not be moving up right now, but they’re still into feathering the nest.”

Flooring manufacturers are getting the message. As a result, they’re keen on providing more bang for the buck — reining in high-end marketing and concentrating on products that are sensible, low-maintenance and easy on the budget.

That means bringing more innovation and variety to the perennial low-cost champs: resilient vinyl and carpeting.

This increasingly popular, low-cost and low-maintenance vinyl flooring comes in a variety of colors, styles, and textures. The luxury vinyl featured here is made to look like top-quality wood at a fraction of the cost.

Choices for resilient vinyl flooring include a spectrum of styles, colors, textures and patterns. Add in vinyl’s easy-to-clean characteristics, comfort under foot and family-friendly stain-resistance, and the result is increasing popularity with value-hungry shoppers.

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What to do if your child draws on your floor!

Kids might say the darndest things, but they also do the darndest things.

Case in point: drawing on your floors!

With nine nieces and nephews myself, trust me when I say that I’ve seen my fair share of little ones going wild with markers across the house.

In today’s post I want to show you that when your own prince or princess decides to go Picasso on your floors, all is not lost. There are easy ways to clean up their artistic endeavors, and it’ll differ depending on the type of floor you have.

Cleaning Stains off Floor Tiles

If your little one has decided to write you a love note on the kitchen floor, cleaning it up is a cinch. Simply grab a clean cloth, apply some diluted bleach to it and lay it over the stain. Let the cloth stay in place until it absorbs the marker off your tiles. Simple right!?

Bonus Tip: When cleaning tiled floors, opt for a chamois-type mop over your standard sponge mops. The latter tends to push water into the grout between your tiles and can make them harder to clean.

Cleaning Stains off Laminate Flooring

One of the best things about laminate is how easy it is to take care of day-to-day. It only needs a quick vac and damp mop to keep its lovely look intact. But if your little one has gone to town on it with a texta, the good news is that cleaning it up is just as simple. Just add a little vinegar to some water. Dampen a cloth with the solution, and apply a little elbow grease to the stain to lift it right off of your laminate. Too easy!

Cleaning Stains off Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Generally, texta or crayon stains from your lovely little artist are really easy to lift from Luxury Vinyl. Definitely steer clear of harsh cleaners here because they’ll do more damage than good. All you’ll need to wipe marker off the vinyl is some warm water and a little mild cleaner. Something like some dish-washing liquid will do the trick. The one thing you should ensure with Luxury Vinyl is that you don’t wet it too much. Also avoid harsh scrubbers like steel wool. A gentle approach on all fronts will work best!

Cleaning Stains off Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is becoming a really popular flooring choice and with good reason; It’s eco-friendly and super durable! Not only is it easy to care for day-to-day, but cleaning up marker is a headache-free experience as well. To remove marker from bamboo flooring, simply make up a vinegar and water solution and apply a small amount to the floor. A spray bottle might be a good idea here to ensure you don’t dampen the bamboo too much. Spray a little onto the stain and use a cloth to lift it out. Ensure you dry the area immediately with a paper towel and you’re done!

Cleaning Stains off Carpet

It’ll depend on your carpet type, but in general cleaning marker stains out of carpet is also an easy task. Start by getting onto the stain right away. That’s the best way to ensure it comes out easily. Next, Dampen a cloth and blot, blot, blot. Avoid scrubbing the carpet as this can rub the stain in further. Instead, blot in a circular motion until the stain is lifted. Then dry with a paper towel. Keep in mind that every carpet type is different, so it’s wise to phone your local Choices Flooring store to get their advice on cleaning the specific carpet type you purchased.

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