Vinyl flooring basics.

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While nothing can match the beauty and warmth of wood flooring, wood floors have some real disadvantages.

Because wood and water do not mix, wood is a poor choice for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other settings with a lot of moisture.  Wood floors will fade in direct sunlight.  And although the cost can be amortized over a lifetime of use, wood flooring is very expensive.

Vinyl flooring, on the other hand, is ideal for areas where spills are common.  It’s easy to install and care for.  Although it’s very durable, it’s kinder to your feet and your glassware than hardwood floors.  And best of all, compared to wood flooring, vinyl floors are really inexpensive.

Types of vinyl flooring.

There are two main kinds of vinyl flooring.  Inlaid vinyl floors are impregnated with color granules that are baked into the material.  This results in a richer color that resists fading.  Printed vinyl flooring applies ink to the top of a sheet of blank vinyl.  So over time, the pattern may wear and the color may fade.

Vinyl flooring comes in a variety of thicknesses with different backings.  Some vinyl flooring is backed with felt, and others are backed with another layer of vinyl.  The main difference is in how the flooring is installed.  

Sheet vinyl comes in rolls that are 6’ or 12’ wide.  The sheets are cut to length after the room is measured.  Vinyl tiles come in either 12” or 18” squares.  Self-adhesive vinyl tiles are a snap to install.  And if one if damaged, it’s easy to replace.   The squares can also be mixed and matched to create an interesting pattern.

Caring for vinyl floors.  

Most vinyl flooring has a no-wax surface, so all that’s required to keep them looking good is occasional dusting and going over them with a damp mop from time to time.  One of the key advantages to vinyl floors is that spills can simply be wiped up.  If you’ve ever dropped a plate of spaghetti, you know what a benefit this is.

If you’re installing vinyl floors in a high-traffic area, upgrade to a floor with a urethane surface coating.  This will reduce scuffs and scratches more than the basic no-wax finish.  For commercial settings, vinyl flooring with an enhanced-urethane wear layer will provide even more scuff resistance.

There are products made specifically for cleaning vinyl floors available in the cleaning aisle of your local grocery store.  In most cases, they are added to the mop water and don’t need to be rinsed.

Using antique oak flooring to create a one-of-a-kind room.

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Oak flooring ages beautifully.  The patina that comes with age as the wood and its finish darken imparts a timeless elegance that can give a room warmth and character.

If you don’t want to wait a century for your oak floors to get that gorgeous luster, you can buy antique floors that have been salvaged from old barns in the American northeast and mid-Atlantic states. 

In addition to the rich finish, antique oak flooring usually has some nail holes, saw marks, and cracks that add even more character.  There may even be worm holes and other traces of insects.

Because barn builders weren’t concerned with appearance, the oak they used was a lower grade than what most home builders use today for flooring.  So the wood originally had more knots and coarse grain patterns than clear grade lumber would have.   Some board may have a beautiful ripple-grain effect known as “tigering.”  All in all, these little peccadilloes  make antique oak flooring truly unique.

With antique flooring, no two floors, or even boards, will be exactly alike. 

Uneven sizes also add to the appeal.

Unlike traditional wood floors which usually have planks that are all the same width, antique wood floors often use planks ranging in width from 3” to 12”.  The boards are often random in length as well.  And since the original finish is uneven – giving the boards much less uniform color than a traditional wood floor – antique wood flooring makes a strong statement.

Instead of the neutral palette provided by a new, red or white oak floor, an antique oak floor will provide lots of drama and visual interest.

Since most antique oak floor boards are a little uneven, most have beveled edges to minimize the differences.  Another option is to buy boards with a worn edge that replicates the wear that would occur naturally over decades of use.

Although the old boards are milled to modern specifications with tongue-and-groove joinery, those looking for an even more rustic look can use visible square-head nails to install the boards.

Where to use antique oak flooring.  

Conventional oak floors can be used to enhance virtually any decorating style, adding warmth to modern interiors or sophistication to traditional ones.  Antique oak floors work best with early American, country, rustic, or lodge-style decors.

Because genuine antique wood flooring is recycled, it’s environmentally responsible too.  Most reclaimed flooring is solid, but some manufactures offer an engineered antique wood floor which is suitable to use over concrete sub floors.

Learn more about conventional wood flooring.  Or learn more about oak flooring.

How to make sure your bamboo floors are really green.

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In theory, at least, bamboo flooring is a very green product. Bamboo is easily renewable – it matures in as little as three years, and it doesn’t have to be replanted after harvesting.  If the root system is left in place, the stalks will simply regenerate on their own.
 
Bamboo doesn’t require much in the way of fertilizer or pesticides.  And it’s harvested by hand without gas-guzzling, polluting farm equipment.
 
What’s more, an acre of bamboo produces more carbon dioxide than an acre of hardwood forest, so it’s better for the planet.
 
Given all that, it’s understandable that many consumers choose bamboo floors for environmental reasons.  But before you buy bamboo flooring, you should understand some areas of concern, and make sure that the bamboo floors you invest in align with your objectives.

What you should know before you buy bamboo floors. 
 
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has established principals of responsible forestry that members must follow in order to receive their certification.  This makes it relatively easy for consumers to know that the hardwood floors they are purchasing were grown, harvested, processed, and distributed responsibility.
 
Unfortunately, there’s no certification process for bamboo forests, most of which are in China.  And when it comes to responsibility, there’s a pretty big disparity among bamboo floor producers.
 
Because bamboo flooring is selling so well in the United States, many Chinese producers are using fertilizers and pesticides to maximize their output.  In some cases, they’re harvesting the bamboo before it’s fully mature.  And the use of adhesives that contain urea formaldehyde in the lamination process or finishing is pretty common.
 
Formaldehyde emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that are hazardous to human health, especially to those with asthma or other respiratory problems.
 
As a general rule, the less expensive the bamboo flooring, the more likely it is to contain dangerous amount of toxic chemicals.  There are manufacturers who do not use urea formaldehyde or use low-VOC compounds for bonding and finishing.  And reputable wood flooring companies will be able to provide you with specific information about the amount of VOCs emitted.
 
Don’t install inexpensive bamboo flooring until you know whether or not it complies with American VOC emission guidelines.  You certainly don’t want to risk making yourself or your family ill in order to save a few dollars.
 
Although bamboo is touted for it’s hardness, bamboo that’s harvested before it’s completely mature, steamed to create a darker color, or processed with cheap compounds will not stand up to much wear and tear.  Although bamboo floors are generally less expensive than hardwood floors, bamboo flooring is an investment that you should be able to amortize over many years of use.
 
To check the hardness and finish of a bamboo floor, scrape the face of the flooring with a quarter.  If the finish flakes off, don’t buy it.  If it passes that test, see if you can mark it with a fingernail.  If it scratches easily it probably won’t be durable enough to stand up to every day traffic.
 
To extend the life of your bamboo floors, use area rugs to protect them and clean them according to the manufacturers recommendations.

Learn more about bamboo floors here.   Or learn about other kinds of wood flooring here.

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