FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

By Steve Cooper

Visiting a friend the other night, I was impressed with his new kitchen floor. This look of the place is sleek and modern, and the floor was a perfect match.

“It’s bamboo,” my friend said. Although I had seen this product in stores and at trade shows, I’d not seen it used in a real-world installation.

“Impressive,” I said. “The effect is similar to Scandinavian style. But it’s a little different. Somehow even more serene, if that’s possible.”

There’s something about the thin strands that give the floor its pleasing, natural character. It’s a little more showy than a soothing maple, which shows very little graining. Coming from Asia, my friend’s floor called to mind a truism that might have come from Asia: Gathering many strands gives strength to the weak.

Bamboo grows as strands because it is a grass, not a wood. This also allows frequent harvest. While it takes decades to grow hardwood trees that can only be harvested once, bamboo can be harvested every three years without need for replanting. The roots are still in the ground, so the plant just grows again.

Most of all, though, it is appealing in a contemporary setting. It looks smart and is a smart buy.

For more information on flooring visit the World Floor Covering Association’s Consumer Carpet & Flooring Guide.

Submitted by Steve Cooper

Molding for transition from one flooring material to another appears inconsequential. It hardly seems worth a blog post. That is, until you walk barefoot over a threshold that has been poorly designed. How does a bad transition make you yelp or squirm? Let’s count the ways.

1. Too narrow

2. Too high

3. A too-sharp edge

4. Splinters

5. Nails

You’ll know what’s wrong the minute you step on it. Your foot may glide across the transition but get creased by a sharp back edge. A nailhead may snag your stocking. Or the width will be so narrow that it’s slightly painful if the molding is stepped on squarely.

Wood-molding remedies are easy as long as the design gets attention prior to installation. Don’t let one be made so tall that you can stub your toe on it. Instead, have it built at least 3 inches wide, tapering down at each side. A 6- to 8-inch-wide transition may seem excessive, but it provides comfort. All nails should be set and the holes filled. For screws, countersink holes to eliminate a potential hazard.

If you are using metal or any other material for the thresholds, check for comfort before installtion by testing it with bare feet. Make sure no screw heads will be sticking up.

Let your installer know that you are concerned about comfort at transition points. This often goes unmentioned and, since molding is the last item during installation, it does not always get the attention it needs.

For more information on flooring visit the World Floor Covering Association’s Consumer Carpet & Flooring Guide.

Submitted by Steve Cooper

Back when I was a kid with a summer day to kill in San Bernardino, California, a favorite place to escape with my buddies was the Bamboo Forest. This small stand of bamboo sprouted along a hot-spring-fed stream near the once-glamorous Arrowhead Springs Hotel in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. Bamboo grew into a 20-foot-high thicket. The sheer weight of growth caused the tall plants to bend over—creating a hard canopy about six feet above the stream. It was a great climbing spot for young daredevils.

The Bamboo Forest got me thinking about bamboo flooring. Plyboo and Durapalm are floors produced by Smith & Fong, makers of flooring and plywood. Plyboo is made from bamboo and the Durapalm from coconut-palm trees. While installation and everyday performance of these floors are similar to hardwood floors, the looks are completely different. The unusual grain patterns in these materials are unusual and exotic, making them strong choices for rooms with modern designs.

Both materials are environmentally friendly. Bamboo is formaldehyde-free and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which assures that the product comes from a responsibly managed forest. No irrigation, pesticides or fertilizers were used in growing the bamboo.

Durapalm has it’s own bona fides. Old palm trees—those past their prime for producing coconuts—are the raw material for this flooring. The company buys these nonproductive trees directly from coconut farmers. The flooring is made without formaldehyde and installing it contributes points toward LEED certification for energy-saving, environmental design.

If you want a fresh look, these should be on your list. They offer character, durability, and an unexpected vitality. Step on it and get ahead of the curve.

World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) Provides Trend Report from Premiere Floor Covering Show

Anaheim, CA (PRWEB) March 11, 2009 — If the devil wears Prada, then the fashion-conscious demon must walk on animal prints, nude tones, layered looks and leather. For these are just some of the hottest trends in flooring uncovered by the World Floor Covering Association’s fashion scouts at this year’s Surfaces – one of the home market’s top international trade shows – which took place in Las Vegas in February this year.

WOOD AND BAMBOO TRENDS
There were no limits at Surfaces when it came to treatments in wood. High-gloss piano-finish floors that reveal your reflection were seen. As were innovative wood tiles in a surprising variety of whimsical shapes and sizes, including Tetris patterns, puzzle pieces, bricks and even fish scales! New wood surface stains now offer 0% VOC, no off gassing, are non-toxic and of all things, are even edible. Another new process extends the lifespan of hardwood floors with stains that run throughout the wear layer resulting in a highly durable floor that offers everlasting beauty that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Bamboo floors were also a hit at the show with one company presenting an assortment of oil-finished “woven” bamboo floors infusing cork strands for added dimension, anti-bacterial properties, soundproofing and insulation.

CARPET TRENDS
Carpet and area rugs were all about texture this year — from shag to loops to contemporary felt discs. Also fashionable are rugs and carpets bound with a hint of metallic fiber just to catch the eye. Animal and nature-inspired looks are also the rage, including panther and leopard skin, tropical leaf and flower patterns, tree textures and tribal designs.

In addition to eco-friendly products, manufacturers were paying close attention this year to allergen reducing products and manufacturing methods. One new line includes a broad selection of carpets that incorporates silver and zinc release, which offer the strongest anti-bacterial technology on the market. Another company debuted new friezes using dye-accented color choices achieved through an eco-friendly solution that saves water and is zero-effluent into streams.

One earth-friendly standout at the show was a new shag carpet made with 80% bamboo fiber yarn and 20% cotton. It has the look and feel of silk without the price tag.

TILE TRENDS
As in the wood and laminate categories, high sheen and transparent shine were the hot trends in the tile category. Long, thin rectangular tiles reminiscent of flowing streams were seen, as well as tiles made from authentic crystal and semi-precious stones. New heat slumped glass tiles impart a sculpted, embossed effect giving the illusion of raindrops on the surface, linen textures, crinkled fabric, sand and slate effects.

LAMINATE TRENDS
The hottest trend in laminates this year was highly reflective, glossy finishes in exotic wood formats, as well as stone looks with “natural” embossed patterns and beveled edging. A brand new introduction includes a hybrid product containing natural cork, leather and linoleum surface-treatments that are stabilized on planks.

RESILIENT TRENDS
New resilient products, including vinyl, cork, leather and linoleum, offered not only environmentally friendly introductions, but product launches that were also easy to clean and offered healthful benefits.

One new launch in the linoleum category achieved the Asthma and Allergy Friendly certification mark — which has never been given to a flooring product before. Another debut was a cork and linoleum hybrid called Corkoleum. It is an eco-friendly alternative to vinyl and laminate flooring that is resilient, warm, scratch and abrasion resistant, and easy to clean and maintain. 100% recycled leather planks were also presented in a broad spectrum of natural shades and textures — from glossy bright red crocodile to supple lizard.

“With today’s economic challenges, people everywhere are focusing more on their home environments and creature comforts,” said Christopher Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the WFCA. “Manufacturers across the globe have listened to customers and have delivered an array of introductions that are certain not to disappoint.”

The WFCA’s website – WFCA.org — offers detailed information about these flooring categories. In addition, the website provides answers to the most common floor covering questions. Visitors can also find detailed information and practical tips on every flooring category available, including carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic, porcelain, resilient, vinyl, cork, stone and area rugs. An overview of each category provides the pros and cons, a product catalog, manufacturing details, varieties and styles available, things to consider before purchase and how to prepare for installation.

When it’s time to buy floors, WFCA.org offers a searchable database of reputable WFCA retail members across the country. All a user needs to do is enter their zip code to receive a list of suppliers in their area.

The WFCA, official sponsor of Surfaces, is the floor covering industry’s largest advocacy organization, representing floor covering retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America. For more information about the WFCA, visit WFCA.org and WFCA-PRO.org.

It was only a matter of time before bamboo was used for other building materials than flooring. New to the market are bamboo cabinets and countertops.

Some features of bamboo countertops and cabinets:

• Bamboo is currently a popular choice due to its green properties and eco-friendliness
• Same durability as bamboo flooring – built to high standards of craftsmanship
• Cost effective
• Bamboo is a grass and not wood, it regenerates quickly
• Variety of colors offered
• Unique and original look your friends and neighbors are unlikely to have
• Offer more options for modern, contemporary and transitional styles
• Contributes to a healthier indoor air quality

Before you make a decision about what cabinets or countertops to choose, consider bamboo if it fits your design style. These can be a unique alternative that you can enjoy for years to come!

For more posts on bamboo – click here.