The Design Versatility of Cork Flooring

I love cork flooring! It's warm and resilient, and it comes in a wide variety of fashionable colours and patterns. We carry Eraco's Solida brand of cork in our showroom.

Cork flooring is not new. It has been used in high traffic public buildings for over 100 years. Also, Frank Lloyd Wright used cork flooring in some of his residential projects in the 1930‘s, and they’re still in use today. Just recently, one of my clients put cork flooring throughout her entire house (all 3500 square feet!), and she has a dog and 4 kids!

I prefer Solida's glue-down cork tiles to the floating click-together cork planks. I realize that floating cork is easier to install and is good enough for such areas as living rooms and bedrooms; however, sealed-on-site glue-down cork tiles are completely water-proof, so they can be used in bathrooms and kitchens without fear.

Glue-down cork tiles also come in a wide variety of patterns, sizes and colours, for a truly custom look. A popular size right now is the 24" x 24" large square as well as the 12" x 24" rectangle with bevelled edges. Another popular look is the 12" x 6" smaller rectangle done in a herringbone pattern.
You can do borders and inserts in accent colours and in a variety of sizes, to help tie together various elements of a room for that WOW factor!

What I also like about cork flooring is that it’s anti-microbial, hypoallergenic, and environmentally sustainable. Cork is the bark of the cork-oak tree, which is harvested by hand every nine years, without killing the tree. In fact, some cork oaks are several hundred years old!

I like the way cork looks next to other natural materials such as hardwood or bamboo. In fact, I often specify cork flooring for areas that are adjoining existing hardwood floors. Sometimes I even mix and match the two; for example, cork flooring on stairs with hardwood bullnoses can look great together.

I have a beautiful selection of cork samples to show you, in various patterns and colours. I also have highly skilled cork installers that can transform your floor into a work of art!

Linoleum: A Natural Alternative to Vinyl Flooring

Many people get confused between linoleum and vinyl sheet flooring.  Real linoleum, also known as Marmoleum or Marmorette, has been around since 1863 and is made from natural raw materials.  It contains linseed oil, wood flour, powdered cork, pine resin and ground limestone.  It also has a natural jute backing.

Vinyl sheet flooring is made from polyvinyl chloride. Its main advantage over linoleum is that it comes in a wider variety of patterns and colours; it is 12 feet wide ( linoleum is 6.5 feet wide), and is easier to install.

Natural linoleum is a much more durable product than vinyl sheet flooring. It is highly resistant to heavy rolling loads and foot traffic; it resists cigarette burns and staining from chemical spills; it is anti-static and repels dust. If well maintained, linoleum can last well over 60 years!

Linoleum used to be more difficult to maintain than sheet vinyl because it required regular waxing. Now, it comes with a protective "Topshield" coating, so waxing is no longer needed.  Just make sure you clean it using a PH balanced product, or it might discolour.

Linoleum comes in a wide variety of vibrant colours. Borders and shapes in contrasting colours can be cut into it for a custom look.

Linoleum has traditionally come in sheet goods only, but it now also comes in a glue-down tile format as well as a floating click plank. We carry  Marmoleum tiles as well  Marmoleum Click.

Marmoleum Click was the first flooring product to be certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation as being Asthma and allergy friendly.

Linoleum in its various formats, offers many opportunities for a custom look. It is a natural and sustainable product that will provide many years of strength, beauty and durability.

Image Credits:  apartmenttherapy.com 

The Magic of Bio-Based Smartstrand Fiber

I have to tell you about the biggest fiber advancement of the last 28 years. It's a Mohawk exclusive and it's the biggest innovation since Dupont introduced Stainmaster in 1986.

Smartstrand combines key benefits of nylon, olefin and polyester into one fiber - Triexta. It has the dyeability and resilience of nylon, the stain resistance of olefin and the softness of polyester. It is available in a wide variety of colours, textures and styles.

Smartstrand's stain resistance is engineered in. It is not a treatment applied to the fiber that will eventually wear off.  No matter how many times you clean it, the stain resistance will not disappear.

Smartstrand has a stain resistence that handles problems other fibers can't match, including red wine, mustard and bleach. Tough stains can be removed with just warm water and a mild detergent. That is why all of our Smartstrand carpets offer a lifetime stain resistance warranty!

I was amazed when one of my coworkers poured red wine on a Smartstrand carpet sample, left it there for 2 weeks, then washed the stain completely off using only warm water. Wow, I was sold after that!

Smartstrand's Sorona polymer has a strong environmental story: 37% of the fiber is made from renewable resources such as corn sugar. This reduces reliance on petrochemicals. It requires 30% less energy in its production than nylon. Greenhouse emissions from its production are 63% lower than from that of nylon. Just think: one gallon of gasoline is saved for every 7 square yards of carpet produced - that's huge!

The newest Smartstrand innovation is the Silk Series. It is luxuriously soft yet extremely durable. Once you touch it you won't want anything else!

Smartstrand is the carpet of the future. With the price of oil going sky high, I foresee more and more carpet being produced with this amazing fiber.

If you'd like more information about Smartstrand, check out the link below:

http://www.mohawkflooring.com/flooring-products/carpet/smartstrand.aspx