Best Rugs Guide

Cork Flooring Video

Cork flooring has seen a boom in popularity in the residential market, providing both durability and comfort.  Although a somewhat expensive avenue when it comes to flooring, cork has many advantages that make it well worth the cost.  Cork is harvested from cork trees in several Mediterranean countries, and the trees only yield a crop once every nine years.  This makes the supply of cork very limited, driving up prices worldwide.  Cork flooring is comparable in price to ceramic tile.  The many benefits of a cork floor, however, make cork an attractive option. 

As the bark of a long lasting tree, cork has natural properties that make it resistant to moisture, insects, and wear and tear.  Cork is also comprised of over 90% air, allowing it to take shocks gently, while also quickly coming back to its former shape.  This ability gives cork flooring great resiliency, allowing it to cushion those standing on it while also maintaining stability.  As tree bark, cork flooring is also very tough against moisture.  Unlike a normal hardwood floor that may lose its shape when wet for extended periods, cork flooring can keep its shape without cracking.  Easy maintenance and clean up of spills will maintain cork flooring in prime condition for many years.

A cork floor will retain its beautiful finish for generations, with just a little care.  Suberin, a natural compound within cork, repels insects and prevents water damage.  Suberin is also fire resistant, and does not emit any toxic emissions when burnt.  The soft air containing structure of the cork also allows for great noise absorption, absorbing noise instead of reflecting it as hardwood is prone to do. 

With little maintenance, cork flooring is known to keep for many years, as it has in public buildings for a long time.  As cork flooring has grown in acceptance, the options associated with it have also multiplied.  Cork flooring today can be ordered in a great spectrum of colors, shades, and patterns.  Cork flooring can typically be installed by either gluing down portions, or using interlocking segments known as a “floating floor.”  Interlocking panels are a little more expensive, but you will save on installation costs, as well as improved general reliability.  Cork flooring is a great alternative to hardwood, and is found today in many affordable styles.

Get more on home flooring here Discount Flooring

When affordability and ease of installation are a priority, Bruce flooring provides just the right set of products.  With interlocking hardwood and laminate flooring products, Bruce Flooring is a favorite of “do it yourself” consumers.  The interlocking technology used in Bruce flooring products forgoes the need for messy and expensive adhesives.  With interlocking tiles, the consumer can easily do the installation themselves, saving a great deal in the process.

Bruce flooring offers a wide range of both hardwood and laminate flooring.  The Bruce flooring hardwood lineup presents an impressive array of wood species, patterns, and colors.  With a huge selection of potential colors and patterns, Bruce flooring can fulfill almost any design vision.  Hardwood flooring is a great addition to any home, and adds an immeasurable degree of value to the residence.  Hardwood flooring can last for generations if properly cared for over the ensuing years.  The primary concern in hardwood maintenance is the problem of water damage.  Moisture build up on the surface of the hardwood, or from the subfloor, can result in warping and cracking over time.

Preventing the exposure of the hardwood to moisture is the chief concern in maintenance.  Prompt clean up of spills and regular cleaning is an important part of keeping a hardwood floor intact.  When spills begin to bead up on hardwood floors, it usually means that the finish has worn through and must be replaced.  Be sure to do this soon, because the water damage can spread very quickly after the finish has worn away.  Cupping and crowning that results from water damage can be difficult and costly to repair, and requires time consuming sanding and planing.  Areas that undergo extreme temperature changes can also put a strain on hardwood flooring.

Laminate flooring is a wonderful option when potential water damage and a tough climate make hardwood less viable.  Made to resist water damage, laminate flooring maintains its appearance without too much work.  Pressure sealed against moisture from both the top and the subfloor, laminate flooring will provide years of great looking finish.  Best of all, laminate flooring can provide a very realistic hardwood imitation that is hard to detect.  This is great when the beauty of a hardwood is desired, but the upkeep issues involved are not as desirable.  Luckily, Bruce Flooring provides a great selection of both types of flooring.

More info on flooring here Bruce Flooring

Bamboo Flooring Video

Bamboo flooring provides another avenue for those looking for something other than hardwood.  Growing in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has many attractive features that make it a viable option for modern homeowners.  Although harvested primarily in China, bamboo flooring is now widely available in North America and Europe.  Many of those that adopted bamboo flooring early on point out its environmental friendliness.  The bamboo plant regrows very quickly when compared with the time it takes a forest to regrow.  In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows far faster than a forest.  When done responsibly, bamboo plant harvesting can be done without causing any permanent damage.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods?  High quality bamboo flooring provides a tougher surface than even the rarest and most expensive hardwoods.  Moisture does not affect bamboo in the way that hardwood suffers from water damage.  Where traditional hardwood may cup and crown because of water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem.  Bamboo flooring is engineered like a laminate and treated under extremely high pressure with a high quality adhesive.  This makes bamboo flooring extremely hardy and resistant to abrasion, where less treated hardwood floors may show scratches after a while.  Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past few years as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring can typically be installed at home without any professional assistance.  Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is produced with a tongue and groove construction, making them considerably easier to install.  Prior to laying down a bamboo floor, allow the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours.  Although bamboo flooring is very resistant to moisture, they do need some time to adjust to the new environment before installation.

What should be done to maintain a bamboo floor?  Maintenance requirements are fairly easy for bamboo flooring.  Be sure to clean the floor after installing it, using a mop with only a little bit of water.  Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation.  This will prevent a build up of dust that can dull the finish.  A mat used at the entrance way will keep out a great deal of dust and dirt.  Dirt and small rocks can easily scratch the finish, and a mat can do a great deal to prevent this problem.

Find more on flooring here Bamboo Flooring

Armstrong Flooring Video

As one of the largest flooring manufacturers in the world, Armstrong flooring provides an amazing array of products to consumers everywhere.  Armstrong is known as a reliable producer of linoleum, hardwood, tile, sheet, and laminate flooring.  Employing over 12,000 workers, Armstrong caters to a wide spectrum of consumers.  With such a huge selection of products, Armstrong has what consumers need for almost any conceivable flooring need. 

When it comes to hardwoods, Armstrong offers some of the best flooring in the world.  The Bruce brand hardwoods are known as a diverse lineup of several shades and textures, as well as high quality finishes.  With the revolutionary Armstrong “Lock & Fold” technology, hardwood flooring can be installed easily and without glue.  This allows hardwood flooring to be installed on a “do it yourself” basis.  This can potentially save consumers several thousand dollars in professional installation fees.  Armstrong hardwoods can be found in almost any species, color, shade, or pattern. 

Armstrong is also known as a producer of high quality laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring can act as a great substitute for hardwood in situations where hardwood may suffer from excess moisture or wear and tear.  Laminate flooring is also printed with hi-def technology that produces realistic patterns, offering both resiliency and aesthetic appeal.  This is a viable alternative to hardwood, offering another way to add value to the home. Armstrong laminate flooring is engineered with the Armstrong G3 Layer, ensuring years of resistance to stains and fading.  The laminate flooring is produced with the Armstrong Hi-Definition Print Technology, giving their wood patterns a very realistic touch.

Tile is another extremely durable product offered by Armstrong.  Where a great deal of foot traffic is experienced, tile can really provide the added durability lacking in wood.  Tile will not show scratching and abrasions as badly as a wood floor might.  Tile is both cheap and resists water damage, making it a very attractive choice in the kitchen or patio.

Armstrong offers a wide variety of vinyl flooring products, each with a unique pattern or shade.  Armstrong vinyl products are long lasting, while also delivering an attractive visual appeal.  Vinyl requires next to no maintenance and is not subject to water damage.  Furthermore, vinyl flooring can be found in just about any texture, allowing decorators to tailor their flooring to exactly their needs.  Armstrong flooring offers both durability and aesthetics for an affordable price.

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Bruce hardwood flooring is a popular choice amongst consumers due to the wide variety of solid, engineered hardwoods that are easy to install and known for their lasting beauty and elegance. With interlocking hardwood and laminate flooring products, Bruce Flooring is a favorite of “do it yourself” consumers. The interlocking technology used in Bruce Flooring products forgoes the need for messy and expensive adhesives. With interlocking tiles, the consumer can easily do the installation themselves, most likely saving thousands in the process.

Bruce Flooring offers a wide range of both hardwood and laminate flooring. Laminate Bruce flooring provides an upscale appearance with the characteristics of real wood and stone and the selection of hardwood flooring products that are available is impressive. With a huge selection of potential colors and patterns, Bruce Flooring can fulfill almost any design vision. Hardwood flooring is a great addition to any home, and adds an immeasurable degree of value to the residence. To ensure hardwood flooring will last the test of time, it is important to properly care for it. The primary concern in caring for a hardwood floor is the presence of moisture. The damage created by moisture can cause a hardwood floor to begin cracking or warping over a period of time.

This is an important factor for proper maintenance of most hardwood flooring products. Any spills on the floor should be cleaned up as soon as possible to help prevent damage to the floor or subflooring materials. When spills begin to bead up on hardwood floors, this can be a sign that the finish of the floor needs to be replaced. Be sure to do this soon, because the water damage can spread very quickly after the finish has worn away. Hardwood floors will need a solvent based cleaner and wax remover, that can help with both short and long term maintenance and work to minimize any damages from moisture. If you live in a climate that has severe changes in temperature throughout the year, it can be stressful to hardwood flooring and something you need to take into consideration before purchasing.

Laminate flooring is a great alternative to hardwood flooring when the climate conditions are rough. Laminate flooring requires very little maintenance because it is resistant to being damage by water. Pressure sealed against moisture from both the top and the subfloor, laminate flooring will provide years of great looking finish. Best of all, laminate flooring can provide a very realistic hardwood imitation that is hard to detect. This is wonderful when the elegance of a hardwood flooring is desired, but the maintenance issues involved are not as desirable. For every personality and design need, homeowners can find the product they need for either hardwood or laminate flooring that is manufactured from some of the top leading manufactures in the business, such as, Bruce Flooring products.