Cork flooring has been popular over the centuries and the trend for it has come back time and again. The impression that it has made on the mind of people is an ever-lasting one.

Cork Flooring and its History

If we look back at history, we will see that cork has been applied for centuries in a variety of uses. It has been used as bottle stoppers, especially in the wine industry. It has also been used by fishermen as fishing net floats. Compared to that the use of cork for flooring purposes has been pretty recent. It was during the last years of the nineteenth century that cork was used for flooring mainly because of its resilient qualities. And it remained a very popular form of flooring being used in several public buildings, including Chicago’s First Congregational Church, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, and Lafayette College in Easton, PA. The world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright made Cork flooring popular in housing designs.

With the introduction of easy to maintain flooring during the 1950s, the interest in cork flooring waned. Materials like linoleum and vinyl had a wide range of colors and patterns, and it allowed people to create bright and colorful rooms. But cork having made such an impression already in the public’s mind, it was again back in vogue during the 1970s.

Cork Flooring Today

Today, cork is back again and the reasons are environmental as much as nostalgia. The concerns for limiting the damage to the environment and preserving the natural resources are priorities for many today. Using cork flooring for their homes is definitely a better option than to go for hardwood flooring. Cork is made from the bark of cork oak tree, which is renewable. Since it’s renewable, hence it’s not causing any harm to the tree and there is virtually a limitless supply of the material. There are trees over two centuries old that still produce the bark, which can be used to make cork. So it can be classified as a ‘green’ product.

Beyond being environmentally friendly, cork has other attributes that make it a very good option for flooring. It is non-toxic, resists mold, mildew and insects and is anti-microbial. As flooring it is hypo-allergic, flame retardant and does not produce static electricity. Care and maintenance of cork floors is also much easier today. This can mainly be attributed to the newer techniques of manufacturing.

Tania Penwell provides information on cork flooring and other DIY topics for A1 Wood Flooring – your guide to finding and caring for beautiful wood floors.

Flooring of any sort, probably takes more abuse then any other decorating feature of your home. The pets race across the floor to attract attention and bond with the family members and the kids respond with all kinds of toys in tow. And your flooring, well it’s expected to endure all and still add beauty and class to any home environment. Can a Mesquite Hardwood Floor meet this challenge?

Well first it might be important to understand how all lumber is tested for durability. Of course durability in itself can imply many different things from impact resiliency expected in a baseball bat to the environment ability of planking on a wood strip canoe to survive weather issues, but in this case we are being very specific.

Durability of a wood used for a hardwood floor is in reference to its compression, or dent resistance. It is a measure of the amount of force required to push a .444 inch diameter steel ball half way into a piece of wood. It is referred to as the Janka Rating.

In layman’s terms it is a way to measure the hardness of a particular wood. It gives the consumer some idea on how easy it will be to scratch any particular floor while moving furniture around, or corralling the children.

Wood Flooring Hardness Rating: Mesquite Hardwood Flooring?

Mesquite lumber is rather unique in that it is the hardest of all typical North American woods. It has a Janka Rating of 2345, putting it well ahead of the normal species of flooring like red oak and hard maple with an under 1500 Janka wood floor hardness rating. Mequite wood then is almost double in dent resistance.

For the consumer this suggests that a mesquite wood floor will certainly handle the abuse without showing signs of wear as quickly as some of the more traditional woods.
If you would like the more basic consumer test without having to rely of a set of lab generated numbers just lift up a box of hardwood flooring. Mesquite will weigh in at more than three pounds per square foot of three-quarter inch thick hardwood flooring. Then lift up an equivalent box of oak or maple hardwood. The weight should give you some idea. The heavier the wood then obviously the more difficult it will be to damage.

Note that when discussing a wood floor hardness rating, Mequite is ranked harder than all North American species but this is not meant to suggest that it is the hardest wood species on the global flooring marketplace. We can find wood floors like IPE that rank well above 3,000 so keep in mind that this scale is relative!

This is only one of the advantages of Mesquite Wood Flooring and you may wish to research it further to get a more complete understanding of what you have in the way of design options and other appealing wood characteristics that make it a great hardwood flooring to survive the dog, the cat and the kids.

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects.

She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her wood crafting knowledge at theWoodBox.com

Marble tile flooring offers a lot of advantages when you choose to use it for your home. Marble tiles have been used extensively in places that were not only noted for affluence, but also in places that needed an effective tile flooring that helps maintain the room’s elegance and functionality at the same time. Marble tiles are able to denote tasteful and regal beauty without sacrificing its practical uses in the architectural structure.

Marble tiles for flooring are very appealing to people since no two marble tiles are ever alike. Each marble tile’s vein-like virulet designs are unique and different, especially since these patterns are sometimes applied using varying colors and size. This is why marble tiles are used in a variety of ways in the décor and functionality of the house.

The different kinds of marble tile flooring actually helps in determining where such a tile will be placed, and for what purpose it is going to be used. The quality of the tiles, including its natural beauty helps create an array of different kinds of marble tiles, with different colors, patterns and textures.

One type of marble tiles are either glazed or unglazed. Marble tiles that are glazed helps improve the marble tiles ability to resist water stains since the surface of the tile is very hard and smooth. This enables the tile to become easier to clean and maintain. There is no need for waxing the surface since the surface has a hard surface finish, which means that it is able to keep its natural shine without the added help. Glazed marble tiles also comes in a variety of colors, all of which can be given either a high gloss, satin, matte or dull finish, and may be smooth or textured, depending on your preferences.

Marble tiles which are unglazed are more scratch resistant, which helps it maintain its natural and clean appearance. Nobody would like to have scratch marks on their floors, especially those which are difficult to remove. Unglazed marble tiles, however, are more prone to stains since it does not have the hard surface finish that glazed marble tiles possess. This is why this type of marble tile needs constant care, which is why you may need to apply a sealer or wax on its surface to help protect it.

Tile sizes also offer different kinds of marble tiles, such as the 12 by 12-inch paver, which is normally used for large scale areas, up to the tiny mosaic marble tiles which are used to make grids of tiles. These types of marble tiles are usually sold pre-arranged on a webbed backing.

Whatever the kind of marble tiles, it should have a nonskid, stain proof surface. Keep in mind that marble tiles for flooring should be functional as it is decorative. It would be wrong to place a marble flooring tile that offers little to no slip-support by being non-slip. It would defeat the purpose of having a functional floor marble tile if it is slippery. This probably is the most important factor that would determine if a marble tile can be used for flooring.

Vanessa A. Doctor

TileNet.Net Marble Tile Granite

Vanessa A. Doctor from http://www.Jump2top.com, a SEO Company

Persian rugs are robust works of art that. Even when worn, they can be restored to their former glory. The old adage that a stitch in time saves nine can be no more accurate than when speaking of handmade rugs. A minor repair can save a rug from a magnitude of work months or years down the line. Frayed edges or worn fringes are often the first signs of wear on a rug and taking preventative steps can considerably add to the lifespan of your investment.

Reza Cheshmehdoost, a Persian rug specialist reveals:

“A little bit of damage to a rug might not be noticeable but given time the wear and tear can spread. This can cause expensive or even irreparable damage to occur.” For instance if the sides of a rug starts to wear or unravel the repair is fairly straight forward, however, if left long enough the rug’s pile or foundation can start to lose integrity meaning the cost of repair can extrapolate.

Given enough time, damage to a rug can become irreparable, if parts of a rug have to be completely re-woven the best answer is to send it back to its origin but this is expensive and time-consuming, it’s not always a valid option if the rug wasn’t extremely valuable to begin with.

When it is an option worth considering is when the rug is particularly valuable or holds great sentimental worth, but even then an exact repair cannot be guaranteed. Reza has recently sent a Nain rug to Iran to be repaired, an 8 month long process but a wait that he hopes will be worthwhile.

The owners of the rug had rolled and stored it but water managed to get to the bottom of the roll, affecting the border on one side. The rug (a 6.5m long Nain) was of very high quality as well as holding sentimental value to the owners, although expensive they chose to have the rug repaired professionally back at source. The border was so heavily water damaged the foundation and pile was simply crumbling away. We sent it back to Nain where it will be unwoven and re-knotted in the affected areas.

Here are several pieces of advice which should help to keep your handmade rug in top condition:

• Use a suction vacuum rather than a brush-head
• Keep the rug dry at all times
• Do not use abrasive chemicals when cleaning your rug
• Always use a professional to clean silk rugs
• Perform a spot-check or color run test before attempting to clean your rug
• Have the rug professionally cleaned every few years
• If keeping rugs in storage for extended periods roll rather than fold and KEEP DRY
• Try to air your rug every now and again, this helps to remove moisture and wards off any pesky moths or insects.

If you’re installing acoustic flooring in your home, what should you look out for?

Where is Acoustic Flooring Used?

This type of flooring is used mainly in domestic homes, as part of refurbishment or new-build projects. It a legal requirement, and part of the UK Building Regulations that flooring has to meet certain regulations regarding noise emissions and how far the noise travels. As well as helpin to reduce everyday noise, such as voices, TV and footsteps, sound insulating flooring can also be used for home cinemas, or for music practice rooms.

What is the Purpose of Acoustic Flooring?

The main purpose of installing acoustic noise reducing flooring within a building is to reduce sound and the impact transmission of sound between floors, and between rooms. Soundproofing a home to create a quieter environment, is important, and ensures that those who occupy a building are not inconvenienced by the actions of others due to airborne or impact noise.

Floating Acoustic Flooring

Floating flooring mixes structural boards and overlay boards. It can be used over concrete or timber or directly over timber joists, and provides an excellent surface for the application of the final floor finish.

Flooring Battens and Cradles

Resilient Flooring Battens and Cradles enable the construction of service voids to reduce the impact of sound transmission between floors, ceiling and wall bars. These give excellent acoustic performance by virtually decoupling the ceiling from the existing joists and significantly reducing airborne sound transmission.

Accessories for Acoustic Flooring

To ensure that your sound reducing flooring performs everything that is expected of it, there are a range of flooring accessories to choose from which can ensure that your flooring is properly fitted. These accessories include perimeter sealing, flanking strips, panel adhesive, joist strips and fixing isolators for use at door thresholds, access hatches and stair treads.

What to Look for in an Acoustic Flooring Provider

When looking for an acoustic flooring provider, make sure you choose a company with experience in the design and manufacture of acoustic flooring for a similar project to yours. It may be worth asking for a list of client testimonials, so you can ensure that the company has the credentials to carry out the project to your satisfaction.

Before you hire a sound control flooring company for your new build, or refurbishment project, it is important to make sure that they are fully regulated by the relevant authorities and that their work complies with the necessary building regulations. The UK Building Regulations Part E is concerned with noise transmission in the home, and in the workplace.

Now you know more about the legal implications of not having soundproof flooring, and the benefits that a more sound-efficient home can bring, if you’re involved in building design, construction or refurbishment, isn’t it time that you gave acoustic flooring more thought?

It is not uncommon for jaws to drop at the sight of brand new hardwood floors; the difference that hardwood makes to the appearance of a home’s interior is simply stunning. If you are considering a new hardwood floor installation for your home, you should take the time to reflect on some of the following points; they’ll assist you in making the best decisions for your individual needs and desires.

First of all, where you are located is very significant when you are deciding on hardwood flooring. The reason for this is the climate outside your home can have a negative affect on the materials that are used indoors unless properly conditioned. To further clarify, if you live in a very hot climate without air conditioning, you will be limited in the types of supplies you can use for hardwood flooring. If you aren’t careful about this, you can end up dealing with floors that expand and contract with the climate and subsequently become ruined.

Another thing to consider is whether you want the flooring to be professionally installed or if you would prefer to do it yourself. Installing hardwood flooring is something that can be done by the homeowner and it commonly is; however it is recommended that you are aware of all the procedures involved before taking on such a task.

If you think you might not be able to handle the entire process of installing hardwood floors, you are better off avoiding unfinished work and using engineered or laminate flooring.

If you’ve gone with flooring that isn’t pre-assembled and ready to be placed, there will be a lot of dust and other mess created during installation so it is highly recommended you take every measure to protect your belongings by either removing or covering them. It is also advised that you close and tape all vents in the room to prevent the dust from traveling to other rooms through your ventilation system.

The amount of wear the floors are going to experience should influence the color of hardwood you decide to go with. Lighter colored woods will not be able to endure busier areas. If you’re having hardwood floors installed in a corridor that receives a lot of traffic, a dark color will last the longest.

You also need to be wary of the quality of the supplies you will be receiving. Ending up with poor quality wood can be avoided by thoroughly checking your order at the lumber yard yourself. Failing to do so could end up in you signing for product that you can’t or don’t want to use in your home.

As you can see, installing new hardwood flooring is a lot more work than it may look like; It is indeed a process involving many steps requiring at least some education and skill. Installing hardwood floors also involves incredible attention to detail and is a tedious and time consuming project. This means you should be patient in thoroughly researching the steps involved and be prepared to follow them vigilantly.