Bad Advice Comes Cheap

A friend of mine picked me up from the airport the other day, and the conversation eventually ended up about flooring.  Imagine that.  It seems like every conversation I end up in turns to flooring at some point or another…

Before I knew Ken, I guess he bought and installed some travertine on his own which is no surprise because he seems like a real do-it-yourselfer.  Prior military myself, like Ken, I can say confidently that most of us are the same way, and we like to have straight answers as well, which is why we research the devil out of something.

In Ken’s case, he definitely sought advice, but the problem came when his advice was incorrect.  My question is how can you know the advice is correct if you have no basis from which to judge it?  In other words, if you are a complete novice, how do you know the person giving you the advice is any more knowledgeable?

Ken’s story was just fine, and it sounded like he did a great job.  He said he lucked out by finding a guy who knew everything about tile installation at Home Depot or Lowes.  He even told him how to decrease sag in the thin set by adding Styrofoam insulation beads to the mix.  WHAT???????  What a great way to void your warranty and eliminate the longevity of the installation!  My gosh, you may as well install it using Elmer’s Glue or construction adhesive.

Here’s the scoop.  You do not use thin set to install travertine (a natural stone) in the first place.  Thin set is just that—it is thin set!  When you set stone, you have to use a medium bed mortar, or stone setting materials.  Come on people.  You big box guys give me a ton of work; unfortunately, it is always cleaning up your messes and bad advice.  Thin set mortar is used under ceramic and porcelain where thinner layers of mortar are required because the weight of the tile is nominal compared to stone.  When setting stone, you have to have a mortar that does not sag; otherwise, you end up having major difficulties as you move along keeping them level.

Adding Styrofoam beads to a mortar, against the manufacturer’s directions, does nothing but interfere with the chemical bonds created by the Portland cement once you add the water and the curing process begins.  You can throw candy in some whip cream, but it doesn’t make a milkshake.  In this case, if Ken had followed the directions on the bag, he would have realized he was using the improper setting materials in the first place because thin set states very clearly that it can only be used to set ceramic tile.

You can see from this story that bad advice really does come cheap.  Cut a corner, save a dime, reap a lifetime of unhappiness, sometimes….

The problem with showers…and the right fix…

OK, so what is all the fuss about getting a custom shower?  It is a fair question, not without merits.  A custom shower is an investment, and it is not one to be taken lightly.  Did you know that in comparison to a rain forest, your shower receives more water on a yearly basis?  In fact, the dishwasher in your home probably does not process as much water as your shower.  Given these facts, ask yourself how much it is worth to ensure you have the right materials first and, not least importantly, the right technician second.

Have you ever seen an improperly assembled, custom shower?  When you do, you will never forget it because behind the wall is a black, nasty mess.  If you are on an upper floor, the first people to realize you have a leak will be the people below you, but if you live on the ground floor, you stand a good chance of never knowing it unless the mold starts infiltrating the inside of the shower or you decide to replace the existing tile.

You may wonder how anyone can install a leaky shower.  The correct answer is that no one installs a leaky shower if they do it right!  Properly installed, a moisture membrane prevents all water from penetrating the surrounding walls and touching the studs.  The problem some tile mechanics have is that they never learned to properly prepare a shower for tile.  Many installers continue to believe that the materials used in the shower are actually waterproof when in fact they are not.

Most installers believe that concrete board and backer boards are waterproof.  This is an extreme misconception.  The boards are designed to stay together in water and not fall apart, but they absolutely do not keep water from passing through it.  There are a few water proof boards on the market.  Georgia Pacific makes one call Denshield, and it actually has a moisture membrane on the front of the board.  When you use the other boards though, you have to install a moisture barrier between the board and the studs.  Many installers are ignorant of this fact.

Another tool for you to think about is a shower system.  Shower systems are sold and marketed by certain companies to integrate with your tile in any set of circumstances.  The two main ones that I know of are Schluter Systems and Wedi.  Since our work involves Schluter extensively , I will spend my time talking about it.

The Schluter System comes with a preformed tray to place in the bottom of the shower.  Since one of the hardest tasks for an installer is providing the proper gradient to the drain in order to prevent puddling, Schluter Systems rectified this with a pre-sloped pan.  You would not believe the amount of people who overlook the necessity of a pre-slope underneath the normal shower pan.  In fact, since it is not part of the building code in some parts of the country, it is not done at all most of the time.  The pre-slope that I am talking about actually includes filling the place where the shower is located with a sloped bed of rocks or cement prior to the plumber’s installation of the rubber pan.  The rubber pan actually sits on top of the bed, and once the pre-slope is installed, water actually will run down the face of the pan into the drain.  Done without the pre-slope, the water will sit in the pan creating a moist donut shaped area around the drain where fungus and mold will love to hang out.

Once you install the tray, the Schluter kit comes with a special integrated bonding flange for the drain as well as a slip in drain that is square for ease of integration into the tile floor.  Once the tray and flange are in place, the installer simply applies the Kerdi on the walls, floor, and curb to produce an orange looking shower before tile goes in.  The key to the entire system is Kerdi which is an orange polyethylene film bonded to a layer of fleece on the front and back.  The fleece provides a bonding surface to stick to the wall and to stick to the tile.  The polyethylene layer provides 100% water tightness, even in an overlap situation.  Schluter tested their system with a four to six inch overlap and documented no seepage; therefore, they do not require you to use entire sheets of Kerdi at one time.  You simply seal it by overlapping the sheets a minimum of four inches.

Once the Kerdi is installed, the shower is ready for tile.  Place the tile in position, install the drain, grout the tile, and you are ready to take a shower.  The Schluter System really is the best on the market.  For more information on Schluter Systems, visit www.CarpetOnePanamaCity.com or www.schlutersystems.com.  Sign up for more information and to be on our mailing list.

You can buy these products at Carpet One Floor & Home which is an authorized reseller of Schluter Systems.

The Truth About Laminate Flooring

I was talking to a woman the other day about laminate floors, and the topic of thickness came up.  She asked, “Aren’t the thicker boards higher quality?”  Her question centered around how the thickness of a board of laminate affects the quality of the product.  It is a great question which deserves more than a cosmetic “yes” or “no” answer.  In fact, at first glance, one may say that the thicker one is better, there is more board there, but does that really matter?

It pays to look first at how laminate is made.  While laminate may look the same on the surface, it is made primarily in one of two ways.  Direct Pressure is the most prevalent method in the industry and is used to mass produce millions of feet of laminate every year.  High pressure laminate is a much more refined process taking longer to create and costing more money to achieve.  While the two processes are entirely different, the construction and layers are parallel.

All laminate has a backing that is the same thickness as the finish layer, and likewise, every laminate has a core board that gives the laminate board its structural stability as well as the ability to having a locking system by which to connect the boards together.  The core board consists of wood pulp mixed with resin and compressed.  Both the finish layer and the backing layers adhere to the core board in their respective positions

What is in the finish layer?  The finish layer consists of a photograph of an actual piece of wood, or stone, with various layers of melamine, aluminum oxide, or any other proprietary blends which give laminate its legendary scratch proof reputation.  The process through which the three parts bond together brings us back to the two processes discussed earlier: direct pressure versus high pressure.

Most manufacturers use direct pressure for a reason: It is highly cost effective to create thousands of feet of product in a cycle very quickly.  The energy used to create direct pressure laminate is substantially less as it is done at lower temperatures than the high pressure processes, and the materials used to make the direct pressure laminate are also less in that the high pressure layers are two to three times thicker than its direct pressure counter part.

In the direct pressure process, the layers of laminate come together in a continuous process through a set of rolling presses that apply the backing and photo finish layers simultaneously.  In the high pressure process, workers stack each layer of backing and photo finish layers by hand much like a quilt or blanket.  You can see these layers in the photograph above.  Once the workers finish the blankets, they stack them together, sandwiched between metal plates, in a hydraulic press.  They roll the presses into an oven, and the laminate bakes at high temperatures under constant pressure until completion.  Once completed, the layers of laminate are adhered to the core boards and cut into individual planks.  The result of the high pressure process is a highly durable product.  In fact, although you would not know it, countertops are the most widely used recipient of high pressure laminate, and currently, Wilsonart is the only manufacturer to product high pressure laminate for floors.

High pressure laminate is rare in the flooring industry, and it becomes more rare everyday.  In fact, Wilsonart announced recently that they intend to exit the flooring business entirely by December 2010 due to market conditions.  As you can imagine, high pressure laminate costs substantially more to produce: more materials, more energy, and more labor.  While Wilsonart pioneered the use of laminate in commercial applications, they could not effectively parlay the success into the residential sector primarily because of the cost, and even though a home owner stands a higher chance of having a floor that will last a lifetime with a high pressure design, it is a difficult concept to grasp when cheaper home center laminate is available.  Direct pressure laminate rolls out of facilities at a rate of thousands of feet at a time, and as the supply increases the price naturally comes down.

All of this leads us back to the original question: Does the thickness of a core board determine the value or durability of the laminate?  What do you think?  The answer still is not that simple, and sometimes the answers are definitely mutually exclusive.  The cheapest laminates certainly come thinner than normal.  I have never seen a 6mm laminate of high quality.  Alternatively though, I see many direct pressure laminates with 12mm core boards, and when compared to an 8mm High Pressure laminate, the 12mm laminate is certainly not high quality.  Why make something so thick if it does not affect the quality?  Because customers sometimes like to see thicker….Sometimes thicker just looks better I suppose.  I am also sure that it may make a difference in sound under foot; however, I have never noticed a difference.  As always, buyers must beware of every marketing technique by reading the information, looking at the warranties, and asking plenty of questions.

As always, for more information, check out our website for more information about anything involving floors.

Resista Carpet @ Carpet One Floor & Home® |Panama City,FL

 

Resista™ SoftStyle
Silky smooth comfort with a twist … repels stains like water off a duck’s back! Treat yourself to the superior softness, stain resistance, and lasting beauty of Resista™ SoftStyle carpet. Special soft-to-the-touch yarn technology gives it an extraordinary silky soft feel, while tighter twists and heavier weights offer exceptional toughness.
Made to look beautiful no matter how you live, Resista™ SoftStyle features a 10-YEAR NO EXCLUSION STAIN WARRANTY against ALL food and beverages, which covers most accidental household stains that most other warranties exclude such as coffee, red wine, and fruit punch. Plus, with over 60 coordinating colors in three different themes, Resista™ SoftStyle is designed to complement and enhance your lifestyle throughout your home. Trust Resista™ SoftStyle for soft comfort and lasting beauty that’s a step ahead of anything else.

Carpet One Floor & Home® |Panama City,FL

Earthscapes Flooring from Carpet One Floor & Home |Panama City,FL

 

Earthscapes
Strong and beautiful with a soft touch … the perfect floor for today’s living!
Imagine flooring with the beauty of natural hardwood or tile, yet with all the resilient durability and maintenance-free convenience of vinyl - that's Earthscapes. With its revolutionary construction, it offers unmatched dimensional stability and protection against everyday wear and tear. A unique combination of luxurious cushioning and an easy-care top layer that’s amazingly comfortable to walk on, Earthscapes is also water-resistant, reduces impact noise, and feels warm underfoot. And that makes it ideal for your kitchen, family room, laundry room or anywhere you spend a lot of time on your feet. While its attractive designs and patterns mimic wood or ceramic, easy-care Earthscapes costs much less and is easy to install. Plus, it’s backed by outstanding warranties.
Step up to Earthscapes vinyl ... and discover a whole new level of beautiful flooring!

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Relax, It’s Lees Stain Proof Carpet |Panama City,FL

  LEES®
Relax, it’s Lees® … a carpet like no other with a warranty to match!
Discover the perfect combination of beauty and worry-free toughness. Lees® carpet is designed to fit the world you live in with ground-breaking stain protection and lasting construction. Available in a range of styles and colors for every taste and need, Lees® carpet features Ultra 25® with Scotchgard™ Protector – stain protection so strong it’s backed by the exclusive “NO EXCLUSIONS” ULTRA 25® STAIN WARRANTY which covers stains other carpet warranties don’t: pet stains, grease, mustard, coffee, cola and more. That’s beauty with peace of mind.
In addition, the patented ExtraLoc® backing has double the density of standard carpet construction for extraordinary stability and strength. Count on Lees® carpet for unmatched beauty and performance in your home.

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A Little About Carpet One Floor & Home

WHY CARPET ONE FLOOR & HOME?

With over a thousand stores worldwide, we not only have enormous buying power, but we have partners in all of the major brands, mills, and manufacturers. We've done the research for you. Just tell us your needs, and we'll satisfy them beyond your expectations. We offer the largest selection of carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, vinyl, area rugs and more - and you'll always find the best products and great savings... everyday.

ONLY THE BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU.

Our exclusive brands like Relax, it's Lees® , Bigelow®, Good Housekeeping™, Hanover Hills™ Hardwood, Rustic River Hardwood, Bellisima Tile, and Mirror Lake™ Laminate set the industry standard for beauty, style, and quality. In fact, every floor we offer has more than surpassed our own high standards of performance and comfort.

WE'RE YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT WHEN IT COMES TO FLOORING.

Expertise is what we offer you on so many levels. Our sales professionals are trained to ask the right questions, guide you through our easy-to-understand selection systems, and work with you to create exciting solutions. Flooring is our first language.

SELECTAFLOOR™ DOES MOST OF THE WORK FOR YOU.

Wait until you see our SelectAFloor™ system. It's the perfect tool to navigate through the many flooring products, warranties, and colors to find what ultimately fits your needs and lifestyle. If your hectic home or work schedule still won't let you come to the store, you can purchase a beautiful new floor right online using the easy navigation. Request samples to see how they look in your room, have your rooms professionally measured for free and have a certified installer come to your home to have your new floor installed. The entire process can be completed without even entering the store

PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH.

We believe in flawless execution every step of the way, so our work continues even after you've left the store. We are experts in flooring installation, and we stand behind our work with a "Life of Floor" warranty. After all, this is your home we're talking about.

WE ARE YOU AND A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

Each Carpet One® Floor & Home flooring store is locally owned and operated. We are your neighbors. We work and live in your community and understand your needs. So you can expect integrity, the very best personal service, value, and warranties.

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Bigelow Carpet Since 1825 |Panama City,FL

  Bigelow®
Big Heritage. Big Style. Big Value. The perfect combination to fit your needs.
Want a big reputation for quality? America’s carpet brand since 1825, Bigelow® has earned generations of trust for ingenuity and expertise in making top quality carpet that will enhance your home.
Want big fashion that’s in step with your tastes? Bigelow® delivers with great designs and innovative textures that give you beautiful, trend right style. Bigelow® is classic but with a twist - taking tradition to the next step.
Want a big deal? With outstanding guarantees for long wear and performance, all at a price that makes sense for your busy world, Bigelow® is value without sacrifice. See why Bigelow® is the big name in carpet you can choose with confidence.

Carpet One Floor & Home® |Panama City,FL

Flooring Basics Area Rugs from Carpet One

Fashionable. Functional. Versatile. Area rugs serve a wide variety of purposes in home décor. They can be used to tie the look of a room together much as a scarf pulls an outfit together. They can help define separate spaces within a larger room or add a touch of warmth and color to a hardwood or tile floor. They can also serve as a link between rooms. And these are just some of the possibilities.

Because they serve such a wide variety of roles, area rugs come in all shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Be it wild or subtle, extravagant or simple, these rugs are an easy way to express your decorative flair.

While there's no installation per se, larger area rugs usually require the movement of furniture. The amount of care needed to help maintain the beauty of these rugs will vary according to rug's material and construction as well as the specific usage.

Recommendations
The first rule of choosing an area rug is to understand that really are no rules per se. Since much of the selection process is based on your own personal taste and sense of style, we simply offer some general guidelines instead.

Size Guidelines

• Room size rugs should leave a border of 18" to 24" on all sides.
• Dining room rugs should measure at least 4' longer and wider than the dining room table, so chairs will not fall off the rug when pushed back from the table.
• Hallway rugs should leave be approximately 2" to 4" narrower and 18" to 24" shorter than the hallway.
• Other area rugs will vary in size according to need.

Design Guidelines

• Try using different patterns that use some common colors in the same room for a coordinated look that is also fresh.
• Don't get boxed in by traditional rectangular or square rugs. Consider oval and round shapes as a way to inject new life in a room.

Wear Guidelines

• Consider traffic patterns, exposure to spills and other wear factors when choosing area rugs.

We have a huge selection of area rugs in varying sizes, styles and colors. Fill out the form below and we'll contact you to set up an in-store appointment to help you find your perfect rug! Or, simply stop by the store at your convenience. Click here for directions

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Good Housekeeping Carpet Featuring Resista |Panama City,FL

Good Housekeeping™ featuring Resista™
Tough stain resistance with beautiful style … durable carpet never looked so good!
Looking for an exceptional value in carpet you can count on to bring lasting beauty to your home? You’ve found it in the revolutionary stain resistance and unparalleled performance of Good Housekeeping™ carpet featuring Resista™ fibers.
The latest in advanced generation stain repellency, Resista™ gives this Good Housekeeping™ carpet a 10-YEAR NO EXCLUSIONS STAIN WARRANTY against ALL food and beverages. Plus Good Housekeeping™ carpet featuring Resista™ is made to the high standards of a name you know and trust. Evaluated and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, it has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. For beauty, performance and value, depend on Good Housekeeping™ carpet featuring Resista™.

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Flooring Information from Carpet One

Flooring Information You Can Rely On

Quality flooring is the hallmark of a refined home. We are committed to bringing our customers flooring information about the finest brands in the widest selection of colors and styles available to fit your specific flooring needs. Turn to Carpet One Floor & Home to deliver the look you desire at a price you can afford.

If you are in the market for new flooring, look at Carpet One Floor & Home for flooring information solutions. Carpet One Floor & Home has been in business for over twenty years and with over one thousand locations throughout the United States and Canada there is sure to be a Carpet One Floor & Home near you to suit your needs. As the name implies, Carpet One Floor & Home is a retailer of carpet but we also have flooring information on hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, resilient flooring and area rugs. Not only does Carpet One Floor & Home provide quality flooring but we also pride ourselves in superb customer service.

Carpet One Floor & Home's dedication to excellence is evident in our customer service policies and convenience. If you are one of the many who don't have time to shop several different stores, rest assured that you are getting flooring information that includes the best possible price for both the flooring and the installation. You can even get samples, purchase your order and schedule installation without ever coming into the store, an incredible convenience when shopping for carpet, tile or hardwood flooring.

First, you need to determine which flooring options will best suit your room. You can pick out samples of tile, carpet, vinyl or laminate flooring and place them in your home to see how they would look. Once you make a decision, their flooring professionals will come into your home for a free estimate and an accurate measurement. Their professionals are highly trained and experienced so you can expect a professional installation of the flooring you choose. In addition, all Carpet One Floor & Home's flooring is 100% guaranteed. If you are not satisfied with the installation of your flooring, Carpet One Floor & Home will replace it completely free of charge.

Pricing is a factor in everything and Carpet One Floor & Home has you covered there. Because of our size, we have enormous buying power with some of the largest carpet, tile, hardwood and other flooring manufacturers in the world. The savings then gets passed on you for the best value in flooring solutions. You can even get financing options to ensure you get the flooring of your dreams and it's easy on your budget.

There are over one thousand convenient locations throughout the United States and Canada, we are sure to have a store near you. However, you can also choose carpet, tile and hardwood flooring by contacting the store and speaking with a design professional who will help you navigate the process of choosing the ideal flooring for your home.

When looking for flooring information you want the best selection possible all in one place. Carpet One Floor & Home delivers. For carpet you can choose from a variety of styles and designs. Hardwood flooring is available in various grains and wood choices. Laminate and ceramic tiles can be found in different colors and patterns. For those high traffic areas, resilient flooring is the ideal solution and no matter what you choose, area rugs are a great accent pieces.

For the best in flooring options, price and quality, Carpet One Floor & Home is the answer. Not only will you get an abundance of choices, it's backed by a guarantee that will ensure your satisfaction. We are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and will assist you in picking out the flooring that is best for you.

Below is a list of some of the products and services Carpet One Floor & Home offers. Products and services will vary by location.

Information on Types of Flooring

Area Rugs

Bamboo Flooring

Carpeting

Ceramic Tile

Concrete Flooring

Congoleum Flooring

Cork Floors

Hard Wood Flooring

Laminate Flooring

Linoleum Floors

Vinyl Sheet Flooring

Commercial Flooring Information

Commercial Flooring

Commercial Flooring Installation

Residential Flooring Information

Residential Floor Installation

Bathroom Floors

Kitchen Floors

Flooring Services Information

Floor Tile Installation

Hard Wood Flooring Installation

Flooring Underlayment

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Bigelow Prestige |Panama City,FL

Bigelow® Prestige
Reinventing the classics … performance with an elegant twist!
Building on the big quality, style and value of the trusted Bigelow® brand, Carpet One Floor & Home is proud to offer you an extraordinary development in beautiful carpet for your home -- Bigelow® Prestige.
Bigelow® Prestige is the ultimate collection of artistic patterns, beautiful wovens, warm wools, and natural fibers from a timeless favorite. Far more than just carpet, it is a masterpiece of superior craftsmanship and fashion designed to transform any room into something quite special.
Step up to Bigelow® Prestige carpet and dress your home in exceptional elegance.

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Green Select…For the Environment |Panama City,FL

Carpet One Green Select
Helping protect our environment is everyone’s business!
At Carpet One, we care about more than just floors. We care about the community and its environment. We know there are lots of things we can all do to make them cleaner, greener, and healthier.
Today we face numerous environmental challenges, including global warming, energy deficiency and the depletion of our natural resources. Though we may not see the effects today, we must always be thinking to the future.
Our Green Select initiative represents our commitment to making our environment better through our relationship with our communities, our customers, our suppliers and our employees. One key example is our Green Select Labels. We’re continually working with our vendors to produce flooring that meets our strict eco-friendly standards.
To earn a Green Select label, the product must currently be recyclable, contain a minimum of recycled material and/or be made from a natural, sustainable, quickly renewable resource. A key example is our Montado Cork flooring. Beautiful and durable, MontadoTM is 100% natural cork flooring made from a naturally sustainable resource, so it’s good for the environment.
Look for other exclusive Green Label flooring at Carpet One, including Mirror Lake laminate. Plus, ask about green select tips to practice every day. Join us in trying to protect our environment.
Working together we can make a difference.

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Wilsonart Flooring—Panama City, FL

High Pressure Laminate Story

Laminate – the Wilsonart Difference. (HPL) is manufactured at 1400 PSI of pressure. In comparison, Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) is manufactured at 300-500 PSI. Even though both laminate types are made of the same basic materials, the pressure used in the manufacturing process helps determine both hardness and performance. HPL Advantages:

• Superior wear resistance – fewer scuffs and scratches

• Superior static load capacity – no dimpling

• Superior impact resistance – no denting

• Superior design clarity – higher sheen levels

• High in-carton product integrity – less damage in handling, less damage during installation, no chipped corners

Tap-N-Lock Installation System
The Dent Test

The following test was used to show the difference between Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) and High Pressure Laminate (HPL). Laminate flooring planks were laid on Wilsonart 2-In-1 Pad and placed on concrete. A simulated can weighing 396g (the weight of a 14 oz. can of soup) was dropped vertically from a height of 36 inches (standard countertop height) onto the floor’s decorative surface. The resulting damage was cross-sectioned and photographed at 10x magnification.

Beauty, Durability & Details

The world waited a long time for laminate flooring and now that it is here, homeowners are finding it has many important performance advantages over other types of flooring:

Wood
    * Easily damaged by sunlight
    * Susceptible to scratches, burns, dents
    * Swells, warps and spots with prolonged water exposure
    * Requires routine waxing and/or finishing

Vinyl Tile
    * Easily damaged in high traffic areas
    * Requires regular waxing and buffing
    * Yellows and discolors with age
    * May require extensive subfloor preparation prior to installation
    * Limited range of designs and colors

Carpet
    * Signs of wear and traffic patterns become visible over time
    * Retains odors, mold, mildew and other allergens
    * Difficult to clean, easily stained

Ceramic
    * Costly, labor intensive installation
    * Difficult and expensive to repair/remove
    * Grout is easily stained, requires regular maintenance
    * Hard, unforgiving surface increases injury risks

Sheet Vinyl
    * Yellows, dents, curls and tears
    * Easily stained and scratched
    * Requires careful subfloor preparation
    * Even minor subfloor imperfections telescope through to surface
    * Limited design options 600

Three Great Collections, One Great Installation System!
Laminate flooring has become an increasingly popular choice for homeowners. Yet not all climates or home environments are conducive to laminate flooring installed without a bonding agent.

Wilsonart Flooring’s BlueFusion® Adhesive is a critical part of any residential installation where there are extreme or wet conditions, or in lieu of acclimation:

• Extreme Conditions: In areas with relative humidity below 35% or above 65%, BlueFusion provides extra protection against shrinkage or expansion and helps minimize the effect of climate conditions.

• Wet Areas: BlueFusion is the perfect solution for areas where there is a greater chance of moisture exposure. A Type 2 PVA Adhesive, it is water resistant and will prevent seams from swelling.

• No Acclimation: BlueFusion eliminates the need for flooring to be acclimated prior to installation. And you can use your floor immediately after installation, so there’s less disruption to your household!

BlueFusion – A Whole New Dimension of Strength and Moisture Resistance
Installing Wilsonart Flooring with BlueFusion Adhesive results in up to four times stronger seams and up to 10 times the moisture resistance of other leading laminate flooring installation systems – yet it adds virtually no time to the installation process. Plus, other products may require up to two days of curing time – while Wilsonart Flooring is ready to be lived on immediately.

“An “A+” On Every Test
The TONKA® Truck Test
TONKA® Toys are meant to last, even at the expense of every surface they come in contact with. We make our floors with high-pressure laminate which is manufactured at 1400 PSI of pressure, so they are less inclined to dent, scratch or otherwise suffer from rough play. Take that, TONKA.

The Crayon Test
Children don’t always color inside the lines – nor would you want them to. So when young Rembrandt’s art strays off the paper, don’t despair. Just dampen a rag with Wilsonart Flooring Cleaner and wipe it away!

The Puppy Test
Kids and puppies go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, with Wilsonart Flooring on duty, keeping things neat and tidy couldn’t be easier. Spills and spots disappear simply by spritzing with cleaner and wiping them away. And because the floor is scratch resistant, tough puppy toenails are not a problem either.

The Scooter Test
It doesn’t matter how many times you say, “Don’t…” Kids will be kids and scooters will find their way into the house. Not to worry, though. Wilsonart Flooring just rolls with the punches.

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Resista Soft Style

  Silky smooth comfort with a twist … repels stains like water off a duck’s back! Treat yourself to the superior softness, stain resistance, and lasting beauty of Resista™ SoftStyle carpet. Special soft-to-the-touch yarn technology gives it an extraordinary silky soft feel, while tighter twists and heavier weights offer exceptional toughness.
Made to look beautiful no matter how you live, Resista™ SoftStyle features a 10-YEAR NO EXCLUSION STAIN WARRANTY against ALL food and beverages, which covers most accidental household stains that most other warranties exclude such as coffee, red wine, and fruit punch. Plus, with over 60 coordinating colors in three different themes, Resista™ SoftStyle is designed to complement and enhance your lifestyle throughout your home. Trust Resista™ SoftStyle for soft comfort and lasting beauty that’s a step ahead of anything else.

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Schluter Ditra

Schluter Ditra is a product used to provide a membrane that prevents the transmission of cracks up through the surface of your ceramic tile installation.  It is a great solution where doubt exists about the stability of the tile setting surface.  It is authorized for use by the Tile Council of North American (TCNA) as a cleavage membrane and is a foolproof solution to prevent the wholesale failure of your tile floor in that it provides a stable, lasting foundation for many years to come.

I like the product so much that I used it on my back porch, and the product’s promises have been kept for over three years without cracks in the tile.  I say this knowing full well that there were cracks already in my porch; therefore, I had a reason to install Ditra first.  As an add on to your tile purchase, it adds cost, both in materials and in labor, but consider the cost of not using it should your foundation shift.

The most common tile complaint that I see is from movement of the substrate upon which the tile is installed.  A customer may ask, “Isn’t there something the installer can do?  Did he use cheap materials?”  The answer is an unqualified no in that, he could have installed a cleavage membrane, if it was paid for.  The tile industry recognizes the reality that substrates shift and cause cracking; therefore, there are many methods on the market to address the problem and mitigate its effects.  Ditra is just one of the answers.

Measured against the value of long term performance of the floor, versus short term cost, Ditra may be an option worth pursuing, but there are other less expensive options.  Just keep in mind that you frequently get what you pay for when you decide which product to choose.  A good company will be able to give you a good, better, and best style option for you to choose from in order to keep you within your budget.  Just ensure you ask plenty of questions, and watch the video below to learn more about what causes cracks in tile.

 

The Advantages of Buying From a Brick and Mortar Store Versus the Internet Bohemoth

I’d like to say that the brick and mortar store holds all the cards in the match up against the big box stores and internet clearing houses, but it just isn’t so.  Unlike the internet mavens, the brick and mortar locations have things like real people and real overhead.  Take all that out, and you have one good looking price, but is it the only thing?

Brick and mortar stores are one of my favorite topics because inevitably it comes up when we are talking about price.  Generally, the conversation starts because the customer is concerned that they can buy product X over the internet at so much less than in a real store.  It may be true, but is there more than meets the eye?  I suppose if you plan on doing everything yourself, and you don’t mind accepting responsibility for the entire process, then the deal may be much closer to stopping there.  What happens with all of the unknowns?  For instance, what if the product never comes, what if it’s not what was promised, what if there is a problem with the color, what if there is a problem with the quality, what if there is a problem during installation, what if the flooring gets damaged during installation and you need more, what if you mess it up while you are cleaning it, and the list of questions goes on and on…

I certainly acknowledge that internet mavens have the price advantage, if indeed they are buying the same things, but are they???  It is a funny question, because we as individuals believe the best in everyone.  We automatically assume that the person on the other end of the computer is who he says he is, and the product is what he says it is.  In fact, when it comes in the boxes, and the manufacturer’s label is on the outside, doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?  Perhaps, but not necessarily.  Do you know the conditions in which it was stored, and what has the flooring been subjected to in a warehouse half a country away?  And what about the phone tech who took your order?  Does he even know what he’s doing, and is he trustworthy with personal financial data?  In the internet society where we buy millions everyday this way, these questions are almost moot…

One thing you cannot get from an internet company that you can from a brick and mortar store is service.  Without a doubt, when you have a problem, you will have an easier time getting support from a brick and mortar store, because you can camp outside with a picket sign if you can’t get resolution to your problem.  Most often, you will find that most brick and mortar companies want to preserve their reputations enough to satisfy all their customers.  Individual reputations in a marketplace are invaluable, and those with poor reputations rarely stick around for more than a year or so.

When completing your installation, if there are problems with the material or the installation, a local company has relationships with the suppliers and installers to hold them accountable, and they can efficiently fix them.  They know who to call, and they have the numbers.  Have you ever tried to get an installer you hired directly to come back and fix something?  If you have, it is a tricky operation because most of the time, they are doing another job that is actually going to get them another check at the end of the week.

The local store is going to provide more control over the material, and it is a place that you can walk into and see.  Products like hardwood are very particular with where they can be stored, and at what temperatures as well.  Who says the internet company is even telling the truth?  Nowadays, there is no shortage of them out there, and they can close and set up shop in a matter of minutes, and you never know it…

I can relate a couple of instances from my own personal inspection experience.  One job I went to look at involved a customer who purchased the wood over the internet to save her money.  She hired an installer based on the recommendations of her condominium maintenance guy.  The installer left her job a mess, she couldn’t get him to come and fix it, and when she called me to inspect it, she had puddles of water sitting on top of the wood from the condensation from the windows.  Was  moisture test even done?  Of course not.  The installer left no expansion spaces and left huge gaps between the wood and subfloor because the floor was not flat enough in its current state to accept a hardwood floor, let alone dry enough.

In another case, a man called to have his floor inspected because he thought the wood was defective.  It wouldn’t go together properly.  Upon arrival, I read the instructions, showed him how to do it, and the floor was fine.  Lastly, and my favorite by far, I received a call about wood from a major internet retailer who actually has brick and mortar stores as well.  They purchased it from the branch store and attempted to glue it down.  The problem was that the glue down method was not a recommended method for their 3/8” solid hardwood product.  Further, when they ordered the product a second time, the branch told them yet again to glue it down, but to use a moisture vapor barrier first, and sold them the wood and glue.  After beginning the second installation, they discovered that the floor was cupping, not only on the floor, but also out of the box.  Well, hmmm.  Defective material combined with defective advice, a deadly combination.  It’s been three weeks with no resolution.  One angry homeowner and a very frazzled contractor trying to finish the home.

The best solution for all the issues above is to hire a local person with a local reputation.  Even when a national company has a branch store, they are not the most knowledgeable, mainly because they have no training.  Find a company with a lengthy history, call the Better Business Bureau, check with the Chamber of Commerce.  I’m sure you will find that once you do your research, you will be much happier with your results….

Glass Block Flooring

Glass block floors flood dark interior hallways with light, infuse old spaces with new ideas, and add a unique accent to traditional flooring materials.

Picture: A glass block floor panel creates an unexpected accent on a traditional wood floor.

Glass block floors add a unique accent to wood, tile, stone, and concrete floors. Consider them a dual purpose floor: Glass block panels enhance a living space by illuminating both the walking surface of a room as well as the ceiling surface of the room below. While typically found in contemporary residential and commercial designs, properly planned they also add a modern touch to more traditional homes.

Options

Glass block panels are bought either as a kit that includes hollow glass pavers and an aluminum or pre-cast concrete frame, or as prefabricated and ready to install panels. The framework for the panels is available in standard shapes (usually square or rectangular designs), or can be custom ordered in unique configurations. In general, glass panel kits are more appropriate for interior applications where weather and water will not be constantly encountered. Prefabricated panels are factory sealed against moisture, and are better suited for use in decks or other exterior-facing applications. The glass pavers (the glass block portion of the floor) must be specifically designed to serve as a flooring material. Home center-stocked glass block used for windows and walls does not have the proper strength for flooring applications.

To install a glass block panel, an opening must be cut between floors. Here, a panel from Circle Redmont has been secured to a specially made framework of 3/16-inch by 1 1/2-inch angle iron.

To assemble a floor panel, the glass blocks are set into the concrete or aluminum framework and sealed against moisture (each manufacturer has its own assembly process). The panels are designed to act as load bearing system, and properly installed can easily withstand the day-to-day rigors of family traffic. When used in an exterior facing application, glass block panels are thermally efficient, with an insulating R-value equal to that of double pane glazing on high-performance windows.

The glass pavers are available in a range of sizes, usually from 6-inch to 12-inch squares. Many manufacturers suggest that glass block pavers be bought in a sandblasted finish. This improves slip resistance and diffuses light sources for a glare-free surface. Additionally, when used in private areas like bedrooms and bathrooms, sandblasting the glass blocks ensures privacy.

Light from above illuminates rooms below. The low profile of the glass block panel requires additional finish work around the ceiling opening.

Installation

Glass block floor panels are manufactured by a handful of companies in the United States including Circle Redmont and IBP Floor Systems. While the panels come with detailed installation instructions, proper assembly and mounting is a job best left to professionals. Because a glass block floor panel will not generally fit in between existing floor joists, the joists must be cut and a support frame built into the floor. Glass block panels are extremely heavy; a 4-foot by 4-foot panel can weigh up to 300 pounds, making installation at least a three person job.

Text by Jessica Ahnert
© 2001 BobVila.com

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When Did Good Enough Become The Standard?

OK, so I'm walking through a brand new development on the beach tonight at a business function, and as always, my eyes are drawn to the floor like magnets. It seems that everywhere I go now, I critique the floors, like some kind of obsession. I can't help it, it's what I do. To top it off, I'm a Marine, and Once a Marine, Always a Marine! So I have an eye for detail. I couldn't help but notice that one of the most expensive developments on the beach had some very shoddy workmanship.

Last week, we were up in Virginia, and I had the opportunity to walk in a mall that was huge. The Fair Oaks Mall on the west side of Washington DC has so many wings and levels that it would take a GPS probably to navigate all the way around. Once again, critiquing what I saw, I couldn't help but notice they had the prettiest floors of any commercial job that I had seen. The floor was gorgeous, no high or low spots, the grout was even, the transitions were professionally done. I've also been in quite a few hotels on business travel lately, and like always, I'm seeing the floors for what they are. The thing is that in larger areas, the jobs are so much more professional, and yet, what makes the difference?

I honestly do not know why anyone would pay the prices they do in this town and not demand the best for what they get. Every development on the beach ought to be luxurious, yet when you walk into them, the amenities and finishes frequently leave much to be desired. I know because we have gone into them for individual condo owners after their purchase to replace the brand new materials installed by the developer.

Lack of quality angers me, and so I've taken it upon myself to learn more and more about this profession so that we can do a better job. I was up in Maryland last week for a carpet certification class where I worked with installers of carpet who had been doing it for over 30 years. The critical thing that I learned is that the ability to do a job right is more a frame of mind than a reality. For instance, take two installers, both having installed for 30 years, and one chooses to do everything by the book, even helping to create the "book", yet the other has developed shortcuts throughout the years and made due with what he has been given. The one who has made due may produce a quality product, and he can tell you why he does every detail, yet his product does not last as long. Why? If he were in a different environment, or if his customer knew the difference, or if there was a standard to be upheld, or if he even knew the standard, then he would produce a better product because he wanted to. The only difference in the two installers is the environment in which they were brought up, and the professional atmosphere where they learned their skills.

It amazes me that both have 30 years of experience, and one tells you something is possible to be done right, yet the other denies it. I see it everyday. I learned early in my business to categorize installers by their capability and to allow only those willing to follow the rules to complete the most technical jobs. It doesn't work any other way because an installer who works over his head always finds himself in trouble. Put a man in a job that fits him, and you will be satisfied every time.

For the time being as I look around our community, I will remain puzzled as to why we can't see a professionally accomplished commercial jobsite.

Carpet One Green Select

Helping protect our environment is everyone’s business!  We care about more than just floors. We care about the community and its environment. We know there are lots of things we can all do to make them cleaner, greener, and healthier.

Today we face numerous environmental challenges, including global warming, energy deficiency and the depletion of our natural resources. Though we may not see the effects today, we must always be thinking to the future.

Our Green Select initiative represents our commitment to making our environment better through our relationship with our communities, our customers, our suppliers and our employees. One key example is our Green Select Labels. We’re continually working with our vendors to produce flooring that meets our strict eco-friendly standards.

To earn a Green Select label, the product must currently be recyclable, contain a minimum of recycled material and/or be made from a natural, sustainable, quickly renewable resource. A key example is our Montado Cork flooring. Beautiful and durable, MontadoTM is 100% natural cork flooring made from a naturally sustainable resource, so it’s good for the environment.  It doesn’t stop at cork though, we have endless options of bamboo, reclaimed hardwood, river wood, etc.

Beyond that, I want to hear from you.  Tell me what these products mean to you.  Do they matter?  What interests you the most??

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