FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

Submitted by Annette Callari, ASID: Chair Holder, CMG

If there is a child in your family, you are—no doubt—well versed in the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie the Cowgirl and a myriad of other eloquent characters.  The precious 18- month-old baby in my life watches Toy Story at least once a day–really.  These characters have become pretty important “friends” in his baby life.  So I find it quite impressive that Disney has found a way for Toy Story friends, plus princesses, fairies, and even talking Cars to become part of your home design!

What is this mystery product that can bring these characters to life in a home goods product?   It’s a durable, colorful, wood laminate floor covering with Disney characters imprinted right into the wood finish.   Headquartered in Adairsville, Georgia, Home Legend is the manufacturer, and they can claim 60 years of experience producing quality wood and laminate floor coverings.  Their brilliant idea to align with Disney has led to a playful collection of laminate floors that will win hearts and consumers’ dollars around the world. 

More than just an inspired marketing idea, the product itself has some powerful selling features:  creative design (of course), but add to that durability, ease of installation and maintenance, and the unbeatable combination of value, aesthetics and performance.

Let’s focus on one of their most popular styles– the “Disney by Home Legends” Andy’s Toys pattern.  The wood laminate planks come 7 9/16 x 47 ¾.  The blue printed floor can be installed on, above or below grade, making it a great choice for bedrooms, basement rooms, attic rooms or playrooms.  A sound-proofing foam underlayment is attached to the boards to improve acoustics and help with noise reduction. This is a click/lock product installation (suitable for DIY-ers) and can be installed over concrete or wooden subfloors.  The entire Disney collection from Home Legends is suitable for residential use only, but the warranty that comes with these products shows how much confidence the manufacturer has in its performance.  A 50-year wear, and lifetime structural manufacturer’s warranty are pretty serious endorsements.  Disney Cars Spin-out and the Disney Princess Enchanted Ball Collections deserve a serious look as well.  Pastel backgrounds set the stage for the character imprints, and the end result is beyond enchanting.

Disney may very well be one of the most recognized brands in the entire world, and teaming Disney with Home Legends goes beyond “inspired”.  To see the complete cast of characters etched into remarkable laminate floors, visit HomeLegend.com and get acquainted.  If you truly want to bring home a bit of the Magic Kingdom, you’ll find out exactly how to do that.

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

By Steve Cooper

The cherry wood flooring in your living and dining room looks fabulous. Problem is, the floor in the kitchen is looking a little sad. What to do?

More wood is one answer. But there’s an asterisk on this one. Do you want to expose your wood floor to spilled milk, water leakage from problem plumbing, and the sand, grime and other offenders so frequently tracked in from outside? And what about bathrooms and your front and back entries? Even woods toughened with hard finishes are vulnerable to everyday assaults at these spots.

Fake it. Pick a wood-look material that has a track record of durability in high-traffic and wet areas. Consider the options:

• Vinyl. With the sophisticated technologies of today, the graining patterns in wood-look vinyl are strikingly real. There is great variety in species and finish colors, and seamless sheet goods put up a strong defense against moisture. Kitchens and bathrooms are safe with this flooring. Go with a fiberglass-backed vinyl and you may even be able to put the floor down as a DIY project.

• Tile. Step up in style and durability with tile. Porcelain and ceramic tiles that mimic plank wood, parquet, and other looks are available. For a front entry, rich, woody tiles create a luxurious feeling while handling water, snow, and most other things tracked in during inclement weather.

• Laminate. Get the color and finish you want in a wood look, and also handle installation yourself. This material is good for the kitchen and entries. If installing in a bathroom, make sure the flooring is specified for wet areas. Stick with major brands, which offer consistent quality and better warranties than most off-brand imports.

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.

Wilsonart Flooring has developed a new lineup of ‘Classic’ High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Flooring in a rectangular tile format that reflects one of the hottest style trends in both residential and commercial interiors.

With the subtle, luxurious look of travertine, Wilsonart Flooring’s new Rectangular Tiles deliver the same high level of color and shade variation found in nature. The tiles are available in three desert-inspired colorations that blend beautifully with today’s interiors.

“The rectangular format adds the ‘pop’ of high style to traditional interiors,” says Tammy Weadock, Wilsonart Flooring marketing manager. “The characteristics of travertine turn a room into a place of tranquility and relaxation.” These new designs come with a 20-year residential warranty for wear, fade, stain and topical moisture and a 5-year commercial warranty for wear, fade and stain.

Sonora Sage

A complex mix of dark and light brown, cream with gold highlights, and taupe throughout. This combination blends warm tones of chocolate and cool tones of grey together in one material.

Sahara Gold

Cream and gold are fused with light and dark browns to create a coloration that addresses the more traditional honey tones found in oak cabinetry.

Mojave Breeze

– The lightest of the three tiles, Mojave Breeze incorporates the warm/cool color trend combination, using taupe mingled with cream, beige and brown. This light floor would contrast nicely with espresso stained cabinetry.

“All Wilsonart Flooring is made using High Pressure Laminate (HPL) construction, versus the other residential products made from thin low pressure or Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL),” explains Weadock. “In comparison, the HPL wear surface atop Wilsonart Flooring is 3-5 times thicker than DPL. This thickness translates into superior impact and dent resistance, providing assurance against the demands of everyday life: dropped cans, heavy furniture, children and pets. Every product in the Wilsonart Flooring portfolio is applicable for commercial environments and as such, it remains the best-performing laminate flooring option for consumers seeking unsurpassed durability for their home.”