Cork Flooring Reviews – What You Must Know Before Purchasing

Cork Flooring Reviews – What You Must Know Before Purchasing

Today, more and more people are becoming more aware of the environment, making them find more ways to take care of the nature. When it comes to choosing the right flooring, cork flooring reviews provide helpful points for eco-friendly floor installation. With the numerous modern manufacturing techniques, it may be useful to know about cork flooring reviews in order to be informed about this kind of improvement for homes.

Cork flooring reviews discuss about the reasons why natural cork flooring is a better choice. For one, cork flooring is known to be an eco-friendly floor. Cork oak tree is used in the manufacturing process of cork flooring and once it is harvested, the tree is milled and processed in order to create sheets. Afterwards, these are oven-baked to make flooring tiles. This kind of floor is usually used in houses, offices and other light commercial establishments.

Cork flooring reviews also point out that cork flooring production requires strict regulation. The cork tree must be at least twenty-five years old before harvesting. This way, the bark of the tree can still grow back, resulting to more sources for floorings. This is one of the many reasons why cork flooring is a better choice when planning to purchase materials for your floors.

According to cork flooring reviews, this material is durable and resilient and can endure different kinds of impacts. It has microscopic air pockets, creating a surface that can return to its original status even after pressure or impact. In addition, cork flooring is the perfect choice for people who have pets at home but it is essential to make sure that their nails are kept short in order to prevent floor damage.

Cork flooring is known to be resistant to moisture as it contains suberin, which is a waxy substance. Suberin is the reason why floating cork flooring is best when it comes to moisture resistant. However, it is still best to avoid spilling fluids on the floor and letting it stand for a long time. Make sure to clean the spills right away if you want to maintain the quality and beauty of your floor.

Aside from moisture resistance, cork flooring is also insect resistant due to the suberin substance. This waxy element makes the material tough against molds, mildew and insect infestation. With this in mind, if your children are experiencing allergies, it is recommended to change your carpet into cork flooring.

Aside from acting as a good protection, the cellular structure or air pockets of cork flooring can also help confine heat, making the floor warmer and more comfortable even in barefoot compared to other flooring materials such as vinyl or laminated floors.

Additionally, the cellular structure of the cork effectively absorbs sound. Compared to other flooring materials that produce hallow sound, cork flooring absorbs sound well and can be useful for hallways and certain areas where echoes can be a concern.

Cork flooring has low maintenance and everyday dirt can be removed with just a broom. It is recommended to wipe the floor with a slightly damp mop at least once a week. Make sure to clean any liquid spills at once using paper towel or sponge and then dry the cork flooring with a mop. Remember to avoid using abrasive or harsh cleaners with this kind of flooring.

How to Remove Halloween Candy From Rugs

Fall is finally here, and Halloween is quickly approaching. For most of us, this holiday means funny costumes, trick-or-treating, bobbing for apples, and doing “the monster mash”.  Unfortunately, for some of us with “little ones”, it also means unsightly candy stains on your carpet. Well, lucky for you, here are some helpful techniques you can use to get rid of the icky mess those lollipops and gumdrops may leave behind.

As soon as you spot a sugary blob attached to your carpet, you should:

1. Scrape or blot up excess.
2. Apply detergent with a damp towel. Blot; don’t rub.
3. Apply water with a damp towel.
4. Blot; finish with a weighted pad of towels.

If that doesn’t work, try this:

1. Apply detergent solution with a damp towel; leave on for 3 to 5 minutes. Blot; don’t rub.
2. If stain is removed, finish with a water rinse. Blot then apply a pad of weighted paper towels. If stain is not removed, continue as follows.
3. Apply hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution; let stand for 2 to 3 hours under a weighted sheet of plastic wrap.
4. Repeat application of hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution and allow to dry under weighted plastic wrap until removal is complete.
5. Apply water with damp towel.
6. Blot; finish with weighted pad of paper towels.
7. To neutralize the area, apply white vinegar only after stain is removed.

Of course you can avoid this mess altogether by making the carpeted areas of your home “off limits” to candy-carrying kiddies. If the mess they make is too big for you to tackle on your own, you should call a professional carpet cleaner. This will prevent you from doing further damage to your carpet or voiding your warranty. America’s Floor Source offers carpet cleaning to anyone in the Columbus, OH area. To learn more, visit the Floor Care section of our website.

For more useful stain removal tips, check out the Anso Nylon Stain Center. They also have a pretty cool iPhone app you can use that will identify a stain and offer removal tips for that particular substance. Oh the wonders of modern technology. Happy Halloween folks!

(Stain removal information provided by Anso Nylon Stain Center).

Preparation for your Hardwood Installation

Avoid any bumps in the road to your home design project.  Use our installation guide for great tips on the transition of your old floors to the new.

 Installation Matters

 Today’s hardwood flooring is extremely versatile.  There are more ways than ever to install your hardwood flooring: nailing, stapling, gluing, floating or the new “click” (glue-less) fit, where the plank edges snap together like the pieces of a puzzle.

 At Flooring America, we have a “Points of Difference Guarantee”, meaning we stand behind our products and services.  Our guarantees protect you and your investment to ensure you a confident, worry-free and enjoyable shopping experience.  We believe that how your floor is installed will impact its performance and life.  We provide a warranted installation by a trained, professional craftsperson who will finish the job to perfection-GUARANTEED!

 Things to Do Before Installation

 We want you to have a clear understanding of the services we provide as well as to be aware of items you will need to handle prior to the installer arriving at your home.  After your purchase, items crucial to the smooth installation of your new flooring will be detailed by your sales professional in a pre-installation check list and may include some of the following:

• Verification of the installation date.
• Ensuring the removal of all “breakables” from the room.
• Determining who will remove furniture, appliances and the sub-floor, if needed.
• Arranging for the disconnection of gas appliances and icemakers.
• Determining if any change to the height of the floor require adjustments to doors in order for them to close properly.
• Ensuring the removal of items in storage areas and closets where the floor is to be resurfaced.
• Make certain drapes, wall hangings and pictures are removed from walls.
• Verify that your in-home temperature is appropriate for the installation.

 Installation

 Your local Flooring America store offers expert installation for all of the flooring products that we carry.  You can trust our installers to create a great-looking floor for your home.  Whether it’s a solid-color carpet or a detailed, custom tile design, our licensed and insured professionals will get the job done accurately and beautifully. 

We are so confident that you will be more than satisfied with our professional installation that we will be happy to correct any installation-related problems for free during the intended life of your floor.
Get started today and bring your colors, swatches, photos and ideas into one of our stores…Fairfax, Woodbridge or White Plains.

What Type of Hardwood Works for You?

 There are two different types of Hardwood Floors, Solid and Engineered.  Today we are going to discuss Solid Hardwood Floors.

Solid Hardwood is exactly what it says…100% solid wood.  There are three different types of Solid Hardwood and all three can either come unfinished or pre-finished.  Below are the three types of hardwood:

• Strip Hardwood Flooring

Although strip hardwood is always going to be the same width (1 ½ inches, 2 inches and 2 ¼  inches), the thickness of the wood can vary.  It starts at 5/16 of an inch.

• Plank Flooring

There are two thicknesses for plank flooring (1/2 inch or 3/4 inch), but the widths vary from 3 inches to 8 inches.

• Parquet Floors

Parquet floors do not look like your typical hardwood flooring.  They are patterns in individual wood slats. 

Solid hardwood is more susceptible to shrinking and expanding from excessive moisture and extreme temperature changes.  Please be aware that in the winter months, moisture may cause gaps between the planks…once the summer months come around, and the humidity is higher, the planks then expand back to fill in those gaps.  We recommend that you keep your homes relative humidity between 40-55%.  Because it is sensitive to moisture, we do not recommend that you install solid hardwood below ground level.

Solid hardwood should not be installed directly over concrete and should be nailed or stapled to the subfloor.  We suggest that you have the wood acclimated prior to installation.

The most popular types of Solid hardwood species are Red Oak, White Oak and Maple, but these are just the most popular…there are several different species of solid hardwood.

Do you want Prefinished or Unfinished hardwood flooring?

Prefinished hardwood is quicker to install because it does not have to be sanded or refinished.  It does not need to dry, so your house can get back to normal as soon as it is installed.

Unfinished hardwood takes a little longer to install and has to dry.

Types of Carpet

Today we will discuss the various types of carpets. Knowing carpet textures will help you determine where a carpet should be installed for maintenance and style purposes. The most popular type of carpet is the cut pile. The cut pile is a type of carpet whose loops have been cut out. Durability is maintained by choosing a durable fiber, increasing the amount of twist in the fiber and having a high density in the tufts. There are three types of  cut pile carpets: Frieze, Saxony, and Plush.

The fibers in the Frieze are twisted and have a very curly surface texture. This texture minimizes footprints and vacuuming marks, so it works great in high traffic areas. It is best used in playrooms or lounging areas because it has a casual look.

Saxony fibers still have a twist, but with a more level look, which is somewhere between casual and formal. It has a smooth surface that minimizes footprints as well, so it is perfect for less traffic areas that have a less formal look. It works well in your  home office or finished basement.

Plush is also referred to as a velvet cut pile and has a smooth, level texture. It is luxurious looking and creates a very sophisticated look, which looks elegant in a formal living room.

Level loop pile has loops that are all the same height, which the Berber style of carpet. It is very durable and works great in high traffic areas. It is most in offices or basements because it has a casual and relaxed look.

Multi-level loop pile has a few different loop heights, which create an interesting casual pattern and is very durable.

 Visit our blog again when we discuss carpet shapes and sizes!