Why Use Commercial Bamboo Flooring In Your Home

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery

Bamboo Flooring by Duro Design

When revamping the floors in your home, you will want to give careful consideration to the beauty of bamboo flooring. However, you may find that there are different types of bamboo flooring – residential and commercial. If you are tough on your floors – moving furniture, wear high heels, have children running about, or just walk heavy in general – you will definitely want to go with commercial bamboo flooring in your home.

Commercial bamboo flooring is more expensive, yes, but it may end up reducing future costs later on. By investing in your floor now, you will save money by not having to replace it in the future. Commercial bamboo flooring is created for harder and tougher use than your typical bamboo flooring. Even though regular bamboo flooring is durable and strong, with commercial bamboo flooring, you get the added strength and durability of woven strands.

Typical bamboo flooring is created when the bamboo stalks are cut into strips, which are then glued together under extreme pressure. This leads to a solid plank product. For commercial bamboo flooring planks (typically called strand-woven bamboo), however, both smaller pieces and strips are woven together, molded, and then pressure-glued together at high-intensity levels in order to create a more durable product.

When bamboo strands are actually woven together, you get this commercial grade flooring that has become the economical choice for those folks who want to make an eco-friendly statement, but still want a beautiful durable product. If you invest just a little more in your flooring now, years later you will not have to deal with the headache of moving & displaced furniture and avoiding the area under construction. Choosing the right flooring up front will save you both time and money later.

Both products are created for high traffic areas, but strand/commercial bamboo flooring scores higher on the flooring durability scale than your typical bamboo flooring does. Both will look beautiful in any home.

For all of those homeowners who want the glossy and smooth finish to last for years to come, the choice between commercial bamboo flooring and typical bamboo flooring is clear.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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Allergy-Free Floors

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a child or family member who has allergies to dust, pollen, and other common allergens, you are probably wondering how you can make your home more allergy-free. Some homeowners consider a whole-house air purifier, others choose certain kinds of bedding, and still other homeowners choose to battle allergies with sprays and spritzers.

But you may be overlooking one of the sneakiest causes of indoor allergies: your flooring!

That’s right. Many homeowners choose carpeting and fancy rugs to brighten up a room and create a warm environment underfoot, all the while sneezing and wheezing. All carpets and rugs are safe havens for allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust. Even if you take your shoes off at the door to avoid letting plant pollen in, pet dander from beloved pets and every day dust can settle in the fibers of carpet and rugs; when stepped on, these allergens erupt from below right up to our noses. Those with allergies may also experience watery eyes and hives – in addition to sneezing and congestion.

Vinyl flooring can also be a culprit when it comes to irritating your body’s defensive systems. Vinyl can be created using dangerous and noxious chemicals, which can put out irritating fumes. These fumes can tickle the nose and set of a storm of sneezing. Dangerous chemicals in carpet and vinyl tiling can also exacerbate asthma symptoms. In addition to the creation process, certain adhesives that are used to glue carpet and vinyl flooring in place can cause irritation as well.

A few great alternatives to carpet, rugs, and vinyl flooring are stone tiles, bamboo flooring, and ceramic tile. All three of these flooring options can be seen in high-end homes all across the United States – and you certainly cannot beat the durability of stone or ceramic tile.

Both of these flooring options are strong and hold up in many different home environments. If you’re looking for an earthy alternative in areas that see a lot of foot traffic (the entryway, the kitchen, the bathroom, or in a finished basement are all great examples), ceramic or stone tile are wonderful and allergy-free choices.

For areas like a living room, bedroom, or other area where you prefer the look of wood, go with bamboo flooring. This option is sustainable, renewable, and durable. Not to mention allergy-free! The allure of bamboo flooring is sure to draw admirable looks through clear and non-watery eyes.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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How Green Is Your New Floor?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery

Fun, fun! You’re going to install a new floor in your beautiful home, your castle. You’re spending time with the flooring consultant and your interior designer and want to choose a floor that is perfect for your house.

If you choose hastily, your new floor may leave you with regrets on down the road. Flooring, if chosen incorrectly, will haunt you, your family, and your guest for years to come. Do you or your family members have allergies? Do you enjoy allowing noxious fumes to linger in your home like a business deal gone south?

Green floors are a flooring option that is both environmentally friendly and one that comes with few regrets. Let’s take a look at a few of the flooring options in order to evaluate which options are the greenest ones for your home.

Vinyl
While it is true that vinyl floors will not need harsh chemicals for cleaning this common flooring option, harsh chemicals are used in the construction and the installation. This can mean that you will be feeling (and perhaps even smelling) the effects for years to come as the chemicals break down over time.

Carpet
Another common option is carpet. Carpets and rugs, especially ones that come from Asia, can also contain chemicals that are emitted into the air. These chemicals can be especially irritating for those people who have allergies or who are sensitive to certain smells. Additionally, you will need to replace carpeting after the padding has worn down or when the fibers become too dirty to be cleaned. Shipping from overseas also gobbles up lots of fuel, which means carpet made overseas is less green than its domestic competitors.

Cork Flooring
This flooring option is at the top of the green flooring list. Cork flooring is created by harvesting the bark of the cork tree and processing into a flooring sheet or tiles. Don’t worry though, the bark of the cork tree will be replenished in another nine years, allowing for another harvesting. Cork trees themselves can live for around 200 years, giving farmers many years of cork bark. Cork floors are also made from used wine and champagne corks, which might otherwise be thrown into a landfill. This flooring option is completely renewable and a great choice for those who want to mind their eco-conscience.

Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is yet another brilliant green flooring that has been making a big splash on the luxury flooring scene. Bamboo is a type of tall grass that matures in only five years. The grass stands are woven together to create a strong and durable floor with a smooth, glossy finish.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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What is Carbonized Bamboo Flooring?

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery

By now, you have probably heard of the new luxury flooring option of bamboo. This eco-friendly flooring is available to consumers who are choosy about what kind of flooring product is installed in their homes. Bamboo flooring maintains a smooth, yet glossy appearance that can be stained to just about any color tone you desire.

But there is a different kind of bamboo flooring that has been creeping onto the luxury flooring scene—carbonized bamboo flooring. While you may not know what it is, this treatment of bamboo flooring has slowly gained acceptance in the world of luxury flooring.

Carbonized bamboo flooring is created by taking strips of bamboo and boiling them. This heating process changes the processes of the natural sugars within the bamboo fibers. When this process is completed, you have a different type of bamboo product.

Carbonized bamboo flooring is mainly done in order to achieve a different type of color within the bamboo strip. Naturally, bamboo is a light tan – almost yellow – color. You can compare this coloring to the color of straw. This kind of flooring can lighten up a room, surely, but it is not for everyone or every flooring situation. Some people want a deep, rich hue to add elegance to a room.

Manufacturers will use the carbonizing process to broaden the amount of options available to homeowners and interior designers. After this process has been completed, you will find many different flooring options available – from dark tan to a rich, dark mahogany color.

However, there is a negative side effect. As bamboo is carbonized, it will lose some of its strength –up to one third of its strength, actually. However, the rest of the treatment of carbonized bamboo flooring works to re-strengthen it. Part of this re-strengthening treatment includes the application of an aluminum oxide finish. You will want to consider very carefully where you place carbonized bamboo flooring in your home, as it is probably more suited for an area that doesn’t get too much traffic, like a dining room or a study. If you are still concerned about the strength of bamboo, be sure to get bamboo plants that are strand-woven, which is the stronger bamboo option. This means that the actual fibers of bamboo are woven together, creating a stronger product than typical bamboo flooring planks.

Carbonized bamboo flooring is a beautiful way to personalize your home, and is a great choice for those choosy homeowners who want a greener flooring option.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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Beautiful Green Floors

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery

Nowadays, a lot of people care about the environment. They have found that it is important to care about new growth and expansion of the plant kingdom and our animal kingdom brothers & sisters. You can see efforts to reduce the amount of plastic that is being used in grocery stores by shoppers bringing their own reusable bags – there are even different designs you can choose from in order to make your own personal design statement.

Other folks are making a concerted effort to recycle glass, paper, aluminum, and plastics at home. Many cities are even getting in on the act, offering free recycling programs to residents. You can also find many compost piles in homeowners’ yards. This compose is then put to good use in home gardens, with many consumers choosing fresh ingredients from right outside their doors – whether it’s in a home garden or bought from the local farmer’s market.

Perhaps you want to do more for the environment. Have you been fortunate in life and want to somehow give back? Ensure that you are making the most environmentally friendly choice when it comes to decorating your domicile? Then you will definitely want to investigate green flooring options.

Green floors are both environmentally friendly and exquisitely beautiful in their own right. For those consumers who are choosy about what goes into their homes, green flooring is an excellent option that will have all visitors marveling at the beauty underfoot.

Cork flooring and bamboo flooring are both environmentally-friendly products that can be used residentially; both choices are functional, durable, and utterly renewable. Cork can be used where ever you desire a soundproof floor, such as in a basement or on a stairwell.

Bamboo flooring can take on the look of hardwood, so you may want to consider using this elegant flooring option in rooms such as a sitting room, living room, or dining room. Bamboo plants can be harvested about every five years and need no replanting. Cork is harvested from the cork tree’s thick bark, and this does not hurt the tree; it simply re-grows its bark, which allows for re-harvesting in another ten years.

If you want to make a statement in your home while still being mindful of the environment, choose green flooring – a statement in itself.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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The Future of Luxury Flooring

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery

Flooring shown from Atlas Concorde

When choosing the flooring for your brand new home (or updating an older home undergoing renovation) you will have many luxurious choices to pick from. Bamboo, hardwood, cork, vinyl, laminate, ceramic tile, stone tile, leather, rubber…it’s enough to make you dizzy, just thinking of all the available beautiful options.

Just 15 – 20 years ago, there were fewer options, and homeowners had to be content with having a floor that looked just like their neighbor’s floor. There were “expected” places to put certain types of flooring, and it was difficult for homeowners to personalize their floors. Floors were, for the most part, predictable.

Fast forward to today. Rather than just having access to carpet and vinyl options, you’ve got many more luxurious flooring options – including a few that are even eco-friendly. Recent discoveries have found that vinyl flooring can contain noxious chemicals that can continue to be emitted long after installation. Additionally, carpet and rugs have been found to harbor incredible amounts of allergens. These traditional flooring options are not environmentally friendly, and the trend in luxury flooring has been to lean towards greener flooring options. These include bamboo, cork, ceramic tiles, stone tiles, porcelain tiles, and palm woods – with bamboo and cork topping the list.

Bamboo is a great alternative to your typical hardwood flooring. Its beauty is just now catching on, and it is still very mysterious and alluring to those who see it. Many people will not believe that your beautiful, durable, and brilliant hardwood floor is actually made from bamboo, a natural resource. Bamboo flooring is made from the bamboo plant. When pressed, bamboo flooring’s durability is increased. You will also get that desirable smooth, glossy appearance, and you can stain a bamboo flooring as well.

Cork is made from the bark of the cork tree; the harvesting does not harm the tree in any way. Cork is a brilliant flooring option for areas where you want to muffle sound – like in a basement or on stair treads. It is hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial.

So, if you want a floor on the cutting edge of luxury, you needn’t look further than what Mother Nature has to offer.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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The Difference Between Commercial Grade and Consumer Grade Bamboo

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Catalfamo Gallery
Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo Flooring by Duro Design

Today, the trend in home improvement is all about bamboo flooring. It is a sustainable, green product that has an exclusive allure to all those who tread upon it. Bamboo flooring is a durable alternative to traditional wood floors, and all your visitors who come for a friendly game of pool or one of your dinner parties will want to know more about your beautiful and attractive floor.

If you have already made the decision to have bamboo flooring installed in your home, you may have run across two different types of bamboo flooring grades– commercial grade and consumer grade. Perhaps you are now trying to decide which of these two grades of bamboo flooring you should have installed.

The answer is simple. Do you expect to use your floor? Walk upon it? Place furniture upon it?

Of course.

Then, the only real choice is commercial grade bamboo flooring. Commercial grade bamboo flooring is more durable and harder than typical consumer grade bamboo flooring. While bamboo flooring is hard anyway, you want to be sure that your flooring looks attractive for years to come. And a commercial grade bamboo is made in such a way as to stand up to years of traffic, and maintain its beauty throughout.

While the commercial grade bamboo flooring will cost more up front, this cost is recouped when you see how well the commercial grade bamboo flooring holds up over time. Rather than pay for brand new flooring and yet another installation usually found with lesser-quality materials, your commercial grade bamboo flooring will stand the test of time. You may also want to consider the amount of time that you won’t spend picking your way around your displaced furniture as it is moved a second (or even a third!) time.

What makes commercial grade bamboo flooring so special? Unlike consumer grade bamboo flooring, commercial grade bamboo flooring contains smaller pieces and strips alike that are woven together, molded, and glued together under intense pressure. This added step increases the strength of the flooring, and keeps your floors looking gorgeous for years.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

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