FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

 This week is all about beautiful showers and baths and the details that make them unique or give them their beauty.

Things to notice about this shower:

• The large format tile is used to make the shower appear larger
• The tile is turned on the diagonal to give an added design element and make the shower appear even larger
• The seat is made from a solid surface slab. This is important because it does not have grout lines that will crack from water constantly hitting the surface.
• The seat being a solid surface also helps with the design on the shower. It would be difficult to keep all of the grout lines together if the seat were to be laid with tile or a different size tile would have to be used creating unnecessary distractions from the overall design.
• There is not only one decorative metal band, but there are two. This makes it appear as though there is one larger design element (decorative band)
• The soap dish and corner shelf are not white. They are made of a resin material made to look like stone. This helps the accessories blend into the shower more rather than take away from the overall design and beauty of the shower.
• This shower also shows off a tile gorgeous range of color. This is a good example of why you want to ask to see more than one sample of a tile like this so that you get an idea of how much range of color is in the tile before it is installed.
• The hardware on the shower door handle blends nicely with the earth colors in the tile and the door being frameless removes any extra metal trim that would detract from the design of the shower.

This is a well done shower installation with a simple yet stunning tile design. This shower will give the owners of the home a bath with a beautiful design that is not so busy that they will grow tired of it quickly.

This image is of a beautiful slate floor. The purpose of sharing this floor with you is to show you the natural beauty and range of color in natural stone. Slate happens to be one of the best examples of a large range of color.

When shopping for slate, some retailers might show you one piece of tile. It is very important to ask to see more samples so that you will know what kind of range of color to expect. If you see only one tile, you might think that your whole floor will be that one color instead of the myriad of colors that are characteristic of a slate floor.

Even though this floor has a lot of different colors, you may hear that slate floors are neutral colored floors. This is because there are so many colors in the floor that it goes with everything! One great feature about these floors and floors with a lot of range of color are that they hide dirt and traffic really well!

Not all slates have this much range of color – some are more uniform in color.

Also note the grout color: since there are so many colors in the floor a neutral gray grout was chosen. For more tips on choosing a grout color, click here.

Flooring samples come in all different shapes and sizes. For example, carpet samples come on what are called deckboards (left) in order to showcase as many color ways as possible. Hardwood samples generally come a little larger with several boards on each sample. and tile samples come in the form of one piece of tile with each piece being its true and actual size. These samples are all assembled for a particular reason – all are designed to help give you the most accurate representation of what the actual product will look like when it is installed in your home.

Here are some important things to know about flooring samples:

Carpet:

• Carpet samples that are on deckboards are meant to showcase the many colors offered. Larger size samples are intended to be used in conjunction with this type of sample.
• The smaller swatches on deckboards are to show the general color field. The larger swatches that are available (usually 13.5″x18″ and 27″x18″) will give a more accurate color representation.
• With neutral colors, the smaller swatches will appear darker on deckboards than the actual product when it arrives and is installed.
• As with all samples, they are made at different times than when you order your flooring material. Because of  the different environmental conditions during the time the product is made, the samples will not always “match” what you order exactly.

Hardwood and Cork:

• Hardwood and cork are natural products. Therefore, they will have ranges of color and graining.
• Multiple boards or planks are usually shown on sample boards to give you an idea if that particular hardwood will have ranges of color and visible grain.
• As with all samples, they are made at different times than when you order your flooring material. Because of  the different environmental conditions during the time the product is made, the samples will not always “match” what you order exactly.

Tile:

• Tile samples are usually shown by the piece. It is a good idea to look at several different tiles together to see if the tile has any range of color.
• Some showrooms show grouted panels of tiles so that you can see the range of color. Know that the grout color chosen for these samples is not the only choice and different grout colors can make the overall installation look different.
• As with all samples, they are made at different times than when you order your flooring material. Because of  the different environmental conditions during the time the product is made, the samples will not always “match” what you order exactly.

Vinyl and Linoleum:

• Larger sheets of the actual product are generally used for samples. Some are smaller and some are larger. Larger samples are helpful for patterned goods.
• Look for catalogs to show pictures of the floor installed in a room so you can see how the overall pattern will look.
• As with all samples, they are made at different times than when you order your flooring material. Because of  the different environmental conditions during the time the product is made, the samples will not always “match” what you order exactly.

Equally as important to know, samples will appear differently in the flooring showroom than they will in your home. A showroom is likely to have florescent lights where your home is likely to have incandescent lighting. Ask if you can check the samples out from the flooring showroom and take them home to look at them with your surroundings.

When looking at samples, it is best not to look at the sample only a few inches from your face. Set the samples of the floor (where it will actually be) and walk away at least a few feet to get a good look at the product. Very rarely will you spend your time with your face only a few inches from the floor!

Don’t be shy – ask for larger samples. Ask for samples to be ordered that you can take home or samples that can be checked out from the showroom.

Zodiaq® Terra Collection is a countertop series with the natural beauty and durability of quartz offered by DuPont. DuPont remains committed to the environment by creating this product that is composed of at least 50% pre-consumer recycled glass. It is easy to care for and has a variety of modern, up to date colors.

The newest colors are: Calm Springs, Warm Taupe, Mossy Green and Moroccan Morning.

Like all DuPont™ Zodiaq® colors, the Terra Collection can help contribute towards U.S. Green Building Council LEED® points for Materials and Resources (MR) Building Reuse, MR Regional Materials, Environmental Quality (EQ) Low Emitting Materials – Adhesives and Sealants.

DuPont™ Zodiaq® is 93% pure quartz crystal, which gives Zodiaq® a natural depth and radiance without the imperfections common in unimproved stone. And because quartz is one of nature’s strongest materials, Zodiaq® is also incredibly durable and resists both heat and scratches. Custom-fit to your exact specifications and virtually maintenance free—Zodiaq® is perfect for your home, naturally.

DuPont was one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals nearly 20 years ago, and since then, they’ve broadened their commitment beyond internal footprint reduction to market-driven targets. They’re excited about the future of sustainable design and hope to be a part of your next sustainable design project. For more information on the sustainability goals of DuPont, please
click here.

Mohawk Key Contributor to “Extreme Makeover” Going Green

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Atlanta, GA, September 16, 2008–Instead of “move that bus,” it was “move that Mohawk truck!”

In a scene that could have been right out of “Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition,” Brock Built Homes, WSB-TV, Mohawk Industries, and others celebrated the construction of Brock Built’s Going Green “The Green House,” with an open house for participating companies.  Attendees lined up across the street and were treated to their first look at the home when a Mohawk tractor-trailer moved out of the way, revealing the unique charity project.

Going Green “The Green House” features a variety of green and environmentally sound building technologies.  The home was constructed by Brock Built of Atlanta and will be showcased in WSB-TV’s ongoing “Going Green Georgia” series, which shows viewers the things they can do to live a green lifestyle.

The Brock Built “Green House” will be the subject of a WSB-TV (Atlanta’s highest rated station and ABC affiliate) special primetime television program on September 17 (7-8 PM EST).  The TV special will kick off an online auction for the house, with the proceeds going to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  Bidding will begin at $350,000, and bids will be taken online from September 17 through October 3.

Mohawk Industries is a long-time supporter of WSB-TV’s “Going Green Georgia” initiative, sponsoring awards for the “Green Champion of the Week.”  Mohawk contributed SmartStrand® carpet made with DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer to “The Green House,” while DalTile, a Mohawk sister company, contributed the ceramic tile.

“We are proud to support Brock Built in this project, and we are continually delighted at the interest in green building that WSB-TV has created with its ‘Going Green Georgia’ program,” said David Duncan, Vice President of Marketing for Mohawk.  “We think it is especially important that this home project is teaching people new ways to protect the environment while raising needed funds for a very important organization.”

Going Green “The Green House” home is now open for tours.  Tours are available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 until 5pm, and on Saturdays from 11am until 5pm.  For directions to the home, and to learn more about the home auction, visit www.brockbuilt.com or www.wsbtv.com.

To learn more about other Mohawk green programs, visit www.mohawkgreenworks.com.

Shaw Floors Selected for Good Housekeeping Green House

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Dalton, GA, September 17, 2008- With gas prices rising and global warming on the minds of so many Americans, ideas for greener living are becoming increasingly important to consumers. In July, Good Housekeeping, the magazine that helps 25 million readers a month make informed choices on a wide range of products, unveiled The Good Housekeeping Green House, which will be the first LEED-certified single-family home in Harlem and the most environmentally-friendly private residence in New York City. The home features Shaw Floors including recyclable Anso nylon carpet and recycled Grand Canyon hardwood.

To ensure the interior design was as eco-friendly as the structural modifications, Good Housekeeping partnered with established eco-home lifestyle and design expert Robin Wilson, who specializes in providing the smartest and most efficient solutions for a healthy home. As the magazine prepares for the 100th birthday of the Good Housekeeping Seal in 2009, the house is the physical manifestation of Good Housekeeping’s commitment to “green”, according to the publication.

“The Green House is the tangible evidence of the work we’ve been doing for several years to advise and help our readers make sense of the green—and green-washing—products in the market today,” said Rosemary Ellis, editor in chief of Good Housekeeping. “The Green House also delivers ideas and examples of the changes our readers can make in their own homes that will have a substantial impact on the environment.”

The Good Housekeeping Green House is a stunning four-story brownstone on Harlem’s West 122nd Street — a chic, urban example of the newest lifestyle trends and family-friendly home design complete with all of the key environmental hallmarks, including low-flow plumbing, skylights with solar panels, denim insulation, tankless hot water heaters, no-VOC paint, recycled hardwood flooring and recyclable carpet.

The house features a full-floor master-suite, which includes a spacious terrace, lavishly designed bathroom, and his and hers walk-in closets, as well as a “children’s floor” with two bedrooms, two baths and space for playing and schoolwork. The parlor floor features an open kitchen and living space, including French doors that lead to the back yard, designed by a landscape architect specializing in truly “green” gardens.

The magazine sought input from non-profit environmental organization Global Green and oversight and third-party verification from Steven Winters Associates, one of only 18 LEED residential consultancies in the U.S.

The Good Housekeeping Green House is filled with beautiful Shaw Flooring. The entire first floor and master suite features Shaw’s Grand Canyon hardwood. The first wide-width solid made 100 percent from mill byproducts that would have normally been burned or sent to landfills, Grand Canyon utilizes a technologically advanced manufacturing process. The process alternates the solid grain pattern and combines it with a state-of-the-art gluing process which creates this 8” premium solid wood flooring that is less susceptible to cupping, crowning and warping during and after installation. Grand Canyon has hand beveled edges and ends, Lifetime Structural Warranty and 5 Star, 25 Year Finish Warranty.

The bedrooms, stairway and area rugs within the home utilize Shaw’s Anso nylon recyclable carpet from the Style Solutions collection. Style Solutions embodies the appealing look of high-end carpet styles that are created to coordinate with exotic hard surfaces so popular today. Species, plank widths, trims, stone’s colorations and surface texture all work together with luxurious carpeting to provide beautiful flooring combinations. The collection showcases rich two-toned carpet colors such as chocolate and blue, velvety fabric-inspired textures and upscale sculpted patterns. All Shaw Anso nylon products contain recycled content and can be recycled back into nylon again and again at the company’s Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility in Augusta, Ga.

For more information on Shaw Floors, visit www.shawfloors.com.

The size of the grout joint can dramatically change the way your overall tile installation looks. It is important to use the right size grout line for technical reasons and also for aesthetic reasons. For example, if you are using a marble or natural stone tile and the grout joint is too large, it can make the marble look fake. Natural stone is cut with such precision that the typical rule for natural stone is to set the tiles with a 1/16″ grout line. When each tile is more uniform, you have the luxury of using a smaller grout line. When tiles are fired in a kiln, there is no guarantee of the precision and uniformity of the edges.

Often, the size of the grout line is left up to the interior designer or the tile contractor. With their experience, they generally know the appropriate size grout joint for each different tile. Larger grout lines are needed for tiles with less than perfect edges so sometimes you can ask for a certain size grout joint, but your tile contractor may recommend that it be a little larger for a more professional looking installation.

There is no right or wrong answer for what size your grout line should be, but below are some guidelines:

• Natural stone – 1/16″ or 1/8″
• Tile with a rectified edge – 1/16″ or 1/8″
• Regular tile – 3/16″, 1/4″ (safest bet) up to 3/8″ or 1/2″
• Saltillo or Mexican tile – 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/4″

Also, it is important to know that there are two different types of grout: sanded and unsanded. Sanded grout is used in joints that are 1/8″ or larger and unsanded grout (natural stone and glass mosaics) is used in joints that are 1/8″ or larger. Salitillo or Mexican tile has its own type of grout.

For advice on how to choose a grout color, click here.

 There are many different edge treatment styles when it comes to solid surface countertops (granite, Corian, marble, quartz, etc). These edge treatment styles can give definition and personality to a countertop and the room the countertop is in.

When shopping for solid surface countertops it is important to look at actual samples of countertop edge treatments. It is also important to know that more detailed countertop edges may come with a higher cost and longer lead time.

Some examples of edge treatments are:

• Demi Bullnose
• Full Bullnose
• Eased
• Quarter Round
• Ogee
• Custom Edge

Before making a decision on your countertop, be sure to see the different samples of edge treatments as well as pictures of installations with those treatments to help make the most informed decision possible.

Floor Talk! is celebrating its 1 year anniversary!

The mission of the floor Floor Talk! blog is to offer another valuable tool from the WFCA (World Floor Covering Association) that helps consumers make informed and smart choices when it comes to flooring.  Our goal is also to help those that have made flooring purchases learn more about what they have purchased as well as how to maintain their purchase.

Over the past year, Floor Talk! has offered:

• Answers to reader questions
• Maintenance tips and hints
• Advice on color trends for the year
• Findings from trade shows
• Green products and information

The most popular blogs of the past year have been:

• How to choose a grout color
• The right way to clean ceramic tile
• 2008 color trends
• The difference between vinyl and linoleum
• How to maintain hardwood flooring
• Exotic hardwood

We have thoroughly enjoyed finding the latest products to share with you, reporting on what’s hot and what’s not, sharing pictures of beautiful floors from around the world and more. We love hearing from you and writing about what you want to know -so keep the comments and questions coming!

Thanks for all of the support for a wonderful year and we look forward to another great one!

Question:

“What should I know about the manufacturers of area rugs? In the purchasing mode, I would like to find out who are the ones I should be looking at because of their quality and reputation. For instance, what are the differences between Karastan and KAS?”

Answer:

How long a company has been in business is often a good indicator of the quality of their product, and reputation for customer service before and after the sale. Most vendors offer a range of price points, but please do not confuse price with value. Natural fibers like wool and cotton, and the labor intensive processes of hand dying and hand knotting are time consuming, and therefore more expensive than many of the synthetic products and automated processes. The adage “You get what you pay for” still holds true and an accurate indication of value requires and apple-to-apple comparison.

I wanted the opinion of someone in the rug business for this question and I trust the opinion of rugsale.com to answer the question because: they are a division of Kaoud Oriental Rugs which has been in business for over 54 years and have found the following vendors to be there; Nourison, Momeni, Dalyn, Kas, Shaw, 828 International, Couristan, and Chandra. The broad range of styles these vendors offer have gotten many favorable comments from their customers.