FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

During the month of March we had quite a few reader questions and quite a few news and noteworthy events happen. Below is a recap with links to each post of the happenings of March 2009!

SOME READER QUESTIONS INCLUDED:

Cleaning laminate with vinegar – can vinegar be used safely to clean laminate floors?

Area rug padding – what types of area rug padding are out there and why it’s important.

Flooring for extreme temperatures – a reader wants a floor that can withstand extreme temperature changes.

Rubber Flooring – a cake decorator is looking for a soft flooring alternative for her business.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS INCLUDED:

Warmly Yours – introduces radiant heating for showers.

Wilsonart introduces laminate tile – a new lineup of classic high pressure laminate flooring that reflects the hottest style trends in both residential and commercial interiors.

WFCA color trends report - latest flooring designs take inspiration from fashion runways.

Shaw education on allergens and energy - this post talks about Shaw’s efforts to educate and debunk the many myths  about carpet regarding allergies and indoor air qualities.

OTHER POSTS INCLUDED:

Fabulous Find: Waterworks and Walker Zanger tiles - noteworthy products from Waterworks and Walker Zanger tile companies.

Highlight of rug info site called Rug Rag – the premier destination for information about area rugs.

Leather tiles – features, design options, durability, installation, maintenance and benefits of leather tiles.

Beaulieu’s Bliss carpet – get a cleaner feeling home with Bliss carpet by Beaulieu.

The meaning of colors - color were broken down into what they mean from a decorating standpoint as well as their tie to emotions.

How to deal with carpet issues – this post covered carpet issues such as crushed pile, shedding, snags and footprints and what should be done about them.

Top 10 things your housekeeper should know about your floors - tips such as why you should not drag furniture across the floors, what types of mops should and shouldn’t be used on hard surfaces, why walk off mats are important and more.

Do you have a topic that you would like to learn more about. Leave a comment!

Question:

We installed laminate floor in our home and have never mopped it, however I have damp clothed it w/a solution of the following:  in a 12 oz bottle I put in water and a cap of white vinegar – is this considered acceptable?

Answer:

For day to day maintenance an occasional damp mop, quick sweeping or light vacuuming with the hard floor attachments are usually all it takes to keep your laminate floor clean. Do not use soaps, detergents, or cleaners with wax because they may leave a film, dulling the floor. You can mix 1 gallon of water with 1 cup vinegar or ½ cup of ammonia per gallon of water. Laminate floors must never be waxed, polished, sanded or refinished and never use a wet or jet mop when cleaning.

For more information on laminate maintenance: http://www.wfca.org/laminate/care.aspx

Question:

I have several area rugs in my home over different types of floors. I am wondering if I need rug padding under every rug? If so, what kind and why?

Answer:

Rug pad is a very important part of the placement of area rugs for the following reasons:

• Rug pad keeps the rugs from slipping on hard surface floors
• It protects the finish of hardwood floors from the friction of the backing of some rugs as well as color transfer and staining
• Rug pad also reduces wrinkling of the area rugs
• Rug pad provides a cushioned feeling when walking on the rugs
• It can extend the life of your area rugs by preventing wear
• It allows you to vacuum your rug more easily

There are different types of rug pads for hard surfaces such as ceramic or hardwood and different types for carpet. There are premium pads for more cushion and there is a separate type of cushion for outdoor rugs. Some companies offer different rug pad for oriental carpets. There are also some types of tape that are designed to hold area rugs in place. A full padding works best as provides more of the assets listed above.

When purchasing area rug pad, you don’t want to buy or order the rug pad in the exact same size as your rug. You want at least a 1/2″ on all sides less than the size of the area rug. Pre-packaged rug pads already take this into account so you don’t have to do any trimming.

Another tip: Be sure and read the instructions to make sure you are putting the rug pad down in the correct fashion. Some rug pads have different textures on each side in order to either grip to the rug or provide slip resistance to the floor.

To locate a dealer in your area, click here.

Question:

I am writing to find out what kind of wood I should use on a floor in a house that has extreme temperature changes.    It is a vacation house in northern Maine that I visit for short times at any time of year. I do not leave the heat on when I am not there so the floor will go from 10 degrees or lower to 75 degrees or higher rather quickly.

What do you suggest?

Answer:

I would not use any type of hardwood flooring in a house with extreme temperature changes because of the rate that the floor will expand and contract. There is really no flooring type other than porcelain or natural stone (wood, laminate, vinyl or carpet) that can withstand temperatures lower than 55 degrees.

Reader Question:

I have a cake decorating business and I need a soft, I suppose rubber type, floor.  Right now, I have the puzzle piece rubber mats, but some do not fit together properly and stuff gets down in the cracks.

I was at an expo in 2008 and a couple of the booths had a rubber flooring that looked like a wooden floor.  It was so pretty.  One gal was supposed to find out where they had gotten it, but she never contacted me later and I don’t know what I did with her phone number.

Do you have anything like this?  I’d like it to be pretty thick, I have some feet problems (heel & arch), so I need something with some cushion.  I do spend a lot of time on my feet. Please write to me and let me know if you can help me, or what you might recommend for my cake room.

Answer:

This response is provided by Mark from Rubber Flooring, Inc.

What I can tell you is that interlocking tiles are manufactured in a variety of ways.  There are some that are waterjet cut for extreme precision.  These kinds of tiles will often appear virtually seamless and will have a very tight fit so that nothing can get down in the cracks.  They also tend to be a little more expensive.

There are other kinds of tiles as well that are molded and others that are punched out of sheets.  These usually do not fit as tightly together.  We have all 3 kinds on our site so I definitely understand your frustration with the tiles that don’t fit together as well.

As far as ones that look like wood flooring, I know of two options as of right now, foam mats with a wood like veneer.  We are actually going to add these too our site but have not done so yet.  You can find them here:

http://www.alessco.com/products/

The other kind I have seen is a more expensive two layer rubber and urethane overcoat system.  An example of that can be found here:

http://www.mondousa.com/mondousa_v02/index.cfm?action=advance&impostalingua=en

Also just a tip, there are options out there that are pretty thick but extra thickness does not always mean more cushion to be honest.  Many times with rubber flooring, extra thickness just means more durability which is important to say commercial gyms.  To compare cushion between brands effectively, I would recommend asking for the specifications of each brand and looking at compression ratio tests.  The more it compresses, the more cushion it has normally.  Also I would ask for samples.  Feeling the product in your hands is often the best way to check it out.  If you want, we can send you some samples of ours as well free of charge if you let me know your mailing address. I am also attaching our rubber flooring spec sheet so you can see an example of that as well.

One last Idea, have you thought about going to a harder surface in the kitchen like tile or even vinyl and then used kitchen mats over the top of that where you walk or stand?  That might be a decent solution and many times kitchen mats have more cushion and anti fatigue capabilities than many rubber flooring products.

Question: I just moved into a condo that appears to have very good quality laminate floors. I noticed that there are a couple of marks on the floors that I want to get rid of. It actually looks like the previous owner had a piece of furniture in the room that left sorme sort of dye on the floor. I have no idea how to remove the stain. I have never had laminate flooring and do not know what to use to clean marks left on the floor.

Answer: Good for you for checking to see what to do before putting multiple cleaners on the floor! Multiple cleaners can leave build up and films that are difficult to remove. If you know who the manufacturer is, I would use the cleaner that they recommend. Otherwise, I would use a cleaner that is specifically made for laminate floors. The dye could be from water that found its way onto the base of the furniture. Follow the instructions provided on the bottle of laminate cleaner and some elbow grease should be all you need!

Question: I have Wilsonart Estate Plus Laminate flooring – Kota Slate.  I am interested in using a new product called the H2O Mop which employs steam to clean and sanitize the floor.  They claim that this product is usable on all types of flooring, including laminate, with one caveat, that the floors are sealed.  It uses steam which is immediately sucked up, exposing the floor to minimum moisture.  I would like to know if this cleaning method would be safe to use on my flooring or if the steam or heat would be detrimental to it.  It looks to be very efficient in its cleaning.

Can you recommend this cleaning method for my flooring product?  Have you had others who have used it and shared their experiences?  It seems that you would like to recommend it to customers if it is a successful method for cleaning your floors.  All info regarding this mopping system can be found online.  It appears to be a better cleaning system than others (Bona)offered at this time.  I would appreciate any feedback/recommendations that you have.  Thank you.

Answer:

According to H20 Mop’s technical / customer service they confirmed that the product is safe on floors that are sealed, but they did say to be cautious with the joints of the laminate. They said if the steam can get down in those joints then it could cause delamination. They have heard reports of the laminate coming up or delaminating in the corners. This could also make the joints expand and contract leaving your floor warped or buckled.

Since laminate is such a low maintenance product, I would recommend following the advice on our website:
rather than taking the chance of harming your laminate floors. Although if you really want to use the product, they do recommend testing the mop in an inconspicuous area first.

Using a manufacture approved floor cleaner should be all you need to keep your floors clean and sanitized!

Q & A with the technical department at the National Wood Flooring Association:

Q: What species of hardwood are most likely to fade?

A: Brazilian cherry and American Cherry

Q:How much do these species change color?

A: They can darken up to 3-4 times their original color.

Q:How long will the floors discolor?

A: The floors will continue to discolor or age with time, but the majority of the aging happens within 3-6 months. The process slows down and that point, but still continues.

Q: If the floors change color in the first 3-6 months, is it best to wait to put area rugs down?

A: If at all possible, it is best to wait 3-6 months before putting area rugs down.

Q: What causes floors to fade?

A: Too much UV light can bleach the wood.

Q: Are there products that can be applied to the floor that have sunblock in them?

A: No, nothing can be topically applied to the floor. The finishes already have UV light retarders in them.

Q: What can help the fading of hardwood floors?

A: Low E glass windows and some types of window treatments can help protect the floors.

Q: What finish has the least effective retarder?

A: Oil Modified Polyurethane

Q: Is the discoloration considered a flaw?

A: No, some people call this an aged look or a patina and realize that it is a natural characteristic of wood.

Q: What can you do if you already have area rugs down and have discoloration?

A: You can move the rugs a couple of inces every month so that there is no stark color change or visible line.