FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

By Steve Cooper

Look what they’ve cooked up in a lab: the best flooring science can deliver.

The current crop of resilient flooring is proof that flooring science is continually evolving. Today’s advanced floors are easier than ever to install, maintain and live with through the years.

Exhibit A is Congoleum’s latest flexible resilient sheet flooring, called AirStep Evolution SDS. The characteristics of this flooring shows how fast floor science is advancing:

• Design. As with so many flooring lines today, Evolution offers a number of desirable design choices. They have the look you want.
• Comfort. There’s a reason this material is called AirStep. Leg fatigue is a thing of the past when you walk on this cushioned surface. It’s also warm and quiet.
• UltraTec™ Premium Construction assures that the floor will lay flat—no curling at the ends as with some other resilient flooring. Evolution is so stable that it lay loose. That is, it can be simply set in place in some situations, rather than installed with adhesives. It’s a great choice for do-it-yourselfers.
• Stain resistance. The SDS in the name stands for Stain Defense System. Silver, nature’s own antibacterial protection, guards against bacteria, mold, and mildew. No chemical cleaners, detergents or polish are needed for cleanups. Simply wipe up messes or use a damp mop.
• Environmentally friendly. The material has been certified compliant with national and state standards for off-gassing by FloorScore, a third-party certifier. Breathe easy.
• Lifetime warranty. Evolution is backed for life against material defects and wear.

Homeowners can count on this and other current flooring technologies to give them years of carefree, durable wear. The men and women in the lab have your back—and your flooring.

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

By Steve Cooper

Suppose you’ve got a floor problem in a guest bathroom. The current look is very mid-1980s—not your style. And the subfloor seems to have been installed by contractor who didn’t own a level. Time for a change, but what’s best the best choice for a contemporary look on a tight budget?

The answer used to be traditional sheet vinyl, which was felt-backed and fairly rigid. But for many the better choice is now fiberglass-backed vinyl. This newer flooring will give you enticing color and design choices, is nicely cushioned (as your feet will notice), and is moderately priced. The biggest advantage, however, is that in many situations, you can probably put the floor in yourself and save big. 

Traditional sheet vinyl needs to be glued to the floor, which is a job best to left to professionals. Also, vinyl made the traditional way resists flattening out after it comes off rollers, making large installations difficult for the inexperienced.

When vinyl is backed by flexible fiberglass, it is almost like a rug. It goes down flat and stays put. Though it can be glued in place, permanent installation isn’t required. A fiberglass vinyl floor can simply be cut to size, placed over the old floor, and held in place with tape around the perimeter.

Because installation is a relatively easy task in many rooms, fiberglass vinyl has proven a huge hit in the marketplace. While it may not be first choice for every room in the house, it is an excellent pick for bathrooms, laundry rooms, small kitchens and utility rooms. It’s been a real discovery for renters, because they can pick their own design, then take it along when they move.

Cutting the sheet for a small rectangle is probably within most homeowners’ abilities. Professional installation may be required for rooms with complicated perimeters, which makes cutout a challenge. Also, because vinyl comes in 12-foot sheets, there must be a seam in larger rooms. Seams are also a job for the pros.

Image: Mannington’s Sobella™ – Colorado Forest

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.

Submitted by Steve Cooper

For flooring to be great, there must be a host of reasons for buying it. Your new floor must be gorgeous. It has to keep your feet smiling as you walk across it. It has to promise durability. But, ultimately, there has to be one overriding, deal-making reason for forking over the cash. For most us—the folks with pets, kids, occasional spills, and problems with grimy shoes—first on the list of gotta-have qualities is cleanliness. If a floor won’t be super easy to maintain, it won’t be easy to live with. A new entry in the vinyl flooring category hits all the right notes: Armstrong StrataMax floors.

Stratamax comes in 60 stone and wood looks that feature vibrant colors, natural textures, and visually realistic looks. It also has a patented wear surface called CleanSweep that is engineered to make your life easier. It needs no waxing, polishing, or buffing, and will resist stains from mustard, shoe polish, lipstick, and even driveway sealants (should they be tracked in). Sweeping or light vacuuming and an occasional wash is all that’s needed to keep the surface spotless.

There are, of course, other strengths. StrataMax is soft and forgiving under foot, yet it won’t tear, rip, gouge, or indent during normal household use. And it has earned FloorScore Certification through the Resilient Floor Covering Institute. This means it will meet or exceed low emissions standards and will not adversely affect indoor air quality. It even qualifies for some LEED points when building an environmentally friendly house.

StrataMax is one of the flooring greats—easy to live with, particularly in kitchens and baths.