Flooring Basics Tile

Versatile. Beautiful. Distinctive. With its wide range of materials and colors, tile's offers endless possibilities for creating your vision for a room. In addition to it's variety of decorative design options, tile is very durable and easy to maintain.

There are a number of common tile materials, which each offer their own unique characteristics. Natural stone, such as granite or limestone, is naturally formed so no two pieces are exactly alike. This helps create floors that are elegant and distinctive floors. In either glazed or unglazed styles, ceramic tiles are a popular choice for attractive, long-lasting floors. Glass, mosaic and metal tiles provide opportunities for fresh creative expression in flooring design.

While it requires careful installation, tile is a preferred choice for high traffic areas, like entranceways, and places where moisture is an issue, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Recommendations
Durable, easy to maintain, and water resistant, tile flooring offers a number of advantages for use in practically any room in your home and even outside. While the choices are nearly limitless, there are a few key things to consider.

Natural stone tiles
Granite —its high density resists bacteria and moisture, which makes it ideal for kitchens, outdoors and high traffic areas.

Marble —not as tough as granite, it's best suited for bathrooms and lower traffic areas.

Limestone — this softer stone is decoratively versatile, but not recommended for high traffic areas.

Slate — Naturally slip resistant, it's hard and durable which helps make a good looking, long lasting floor for any room.

Ceramic, Glass and Metal
These tiles are all versatile and can be used in a variety of rooms, although glass and metal are primarily recommended as accents.

Tile floors are heavy, so it's critical to make sure the sub-flooring is sturdy enough to support the weight. In addition, tile floors can also be chilly (not a bad thing in warm climates) and sometimes slippery.

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The Beautiful Guarantee™ for Hardwood

Titanium, Platinum, and Gold SelectAFloor™ floors carry The Beautiful Guarantee™ Replacement Warranty. If at any time after installation and during the terms of The Beautiful Guarantee™ Replacement Warranty you wish to change your new hardwood for a different SelectAFloor™ style or color, your Carpet One Floor & Home® retailer will replace it free with another SelectAFloor™ hardwood style or color of equal or lesser value. Should you wish to replace your flooring with a SelectAFloor™ hardwood upgrade, you may do so by paying the difference in retail price.No monetary compensation will be paid if a lower priced hardwood is selected.

This is a one-time only replacement. Simply call your Carpet One Floor & Home® retailer within the time frame of the warranty and indicate you wish to choose another SelectAFloor™ hardwood under The Beautiful Guarantee™ Replacement Warranty. This is a replacement warranty and does not apply to matters covered by other warranties.

Replacement includes material and labor. Labor to move furniture,permanent construction (built-ins such as cabinets and bookcases),equipment, or electronics is the responsibility of the customer.

No replacement will be made with respect to hardwood that has been subjected to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration, or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lightning, or any other casualty event. This warranty applies only to the original purchase of a Carpet One Floor & Home® style hardwood floor that has been professionally installed by a Carpet One Floor & Home® retailer or Carpet One Floor & Home® authorized independent installer.

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Small Business Health Insurance Update

Well, there is hope for the business owner.  I received this update from WJHG via twitter yesterday, and it addresses the ability for self employed people to get health insurance without respect to pre-existing conditions.

If you have any experience with health insurance, then you know what a debacle it can be sometimes.  For one, it is expensive, and second, it is sometimes unattainable, especially if you are unhealthy.  What a system we created for ourselves.  Without getting into the who’s and what for’s, I’ll just say that I’ve experienced our current system first hand, and I know that it is barely affordable in its current state.

In the State of Florida, insurers are required to provide individual policies to self employed people without respect to pre-existing conditions.  Of course, no one says how much that will cost, but I suppose any element of protection can be worth the price, given the opportunity.  Previously, the only way to have insurance and not eliminate your pre-existing condition was to get on a group policy, but they don’t give group policies unless you have a minimum amount of people.  If you owned your own business, and it was just you, you pretty much had no way to insure yourself against illness if you have exhibited the symptoms before, or at least had it treated.

I am curious to see what the cost will be for a typical policy because I am fairly certain it will be exorbitant.  It is not really a surprise though; someone has to pay for it don’t they?

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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….

Flooring Care & Maintenance Hardwood

Like any floor covering, real wood floors will show signs of wear overtime, depending on the size and lifestyle of your family. But by observing a few precautions, and using the cleaning and maintenance program recommended by the manufacturer, you can expect years of beauty from your wood floor.

Never clean or mop your hardwood floor with water. Do not use any wax or cleaner that must be mixed with water such as oil, soap, or paste wax products; or other household cleaners that contain lemon oil, tung oil, or ammonia as this may damage your floor and result in a loss of warranty.

Water can dull the finish and permanently damage the floor. To help eliminate fine particles of dirt and grit that act like sandpaper and will scratch any floor, vacuum or sweep daily. The vacuum head must be a felt or brush type. Be certain that the wheels of the vacuum are clean and do not damage the finish. DO NOT USE A VACUUM WITH A BEATER BARHEAD.

Remove spills promptly using a soft cloth and cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to keep pet nails trimmed and paws clean and free of dirt, gravel, grease, oil, and stains. Place protective pads beneath furniture legs to reduce scratches and dents. Use a dolly and protective sheets of plywood when moving heavy objects, furniture, or appliances. Some objects may be too heavy to move across a hardwood floor under any circumstances.

Certain types of casters on furniture may damage hardwood flooring.Barrel-type wheels (a minimum 1" continuous width is recommended) or wide, flat glides are best for protecting your hardwood floor.

A humidifier is recommended to prevent excessive shrinkage of wood floors due to low humidity levels. Wood stoves and electric heat tend to cause very dry conditions. In damp conditions, proper humidity levels can be maintained with an air conditioner or dehumidifier, or by periodically turning on your heating system during periods of high humidity in the summer months.

Exposure to the sun and its UV rays accelerates the oxidation and aging of wood and fabrics. This causes the stain and/or wood to fade and/or change color. It is recommended that you rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly.

Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on the floor. Spike or stiletto high-heel shoes may cause denting and related damage to hardwood floors due to the extremely high compressive force they generate. Such footwear can produce dynamic loads in excess of1000 pounds per square inch, even when worn by someone of slight or average build.

As added protection, use dirt-trapping walk-off mats at all exterior doors to keep sand, dirt, grit, grease, and oil off your hardwood floor.

General Terms and Conditions may apply, see warranty section for details

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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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Flooring Basics Hardwood

Elegant. Tradition. Adaptable. Since colonial days, hardwood flooring has been prized for its color, grain and lasting beauty. Find out more about why this flooring choice is always in fashion.

Rich in appeal, hardwood flooring enhances virtually any decor style with its sense of natural strength and its variety of finishes. Casual or formal, modern or classic, hardwood is right at home in any home.

Generally, there two types of hardwood flooring— solid or engineered. Whether it's a strip or plank, solid hardwood flooring is a single piece of wood, which can easily be customized and can be re-sanded to change finishes. Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, is made of 3 to 5 layers laminated together with grains running at different angles. While engineered hardwood looks like solid hardwood, it is actually more structurally stable and can be used anywhere, even places like basements where moisture may be an issue.

Properly installed and sealed, hardwood flooring requires minimal care to maintain its good looks. Simply vacuum regularly and wipe weekly with a damp mop. And, since it's sealed it can't absorb spills, so it won't stain.

Recommendations
While you can add an elegant appeal to most any room with the rich, traditional color and texture of hardwood flooring, there are some guidelines to follow in deciding which type of hardwood to select or whether to choose hardwood at all.

Since colonial times, solid hardwood has been a preferred choice for enhancing formal rooms and hallways with a beautiful, inviting ambiance. It's also an excellent choice for areas where you may want to change looks at a future date, since it can sanded and refinished to meet changing tastes.

However, solid hardwood is not recommended for installation below grade (basements) or in rooms where excess moisture is present, such as kitchens, baths, saunas, and enclosed porches. It also tends scratch easier than engineered hardwoods, so careful consideration should be given to use with large pets.

Engineered hardwood is a perfect alternative virtually any place solid hardwood is used, except where you might want to change the look since engineered hardwood generally cannot be sanded and refinished. In addition, engineered hardwood is especially recommended for use below grade in basements and other areas where scratch resistance and added longevity are important. While it tends to resist moisture better than solid hardwood, it still may not be the best choice for kitchens and bath.

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