The reclaimed wood floors offered by flooring services are more than environmental friendly solutions for your home. As the material for the flooring is obtained from a variety salvaged wood parts, you can be certain of its unique beauty and appearance.

Moreover, since the wood has seen a lot of places and families during its life, the reclaimed flooring can add character to your home and even be a great conversation starter. The chances of the wood serving other purposes – retired mills, fences, wine barrels, railroad cars and so on – in the past are very high.

If you consider yourself an environmentalist, then you will be glad to hear that the main benefits of the reclaimed wood flooring option include less trees being cut down, because recycling wood eliminates the need of throwing away a perfectly good building material. Therefore, if you were to use this reclaimed flooring solution in an office building you can be certain to get some extra points for the LEED certification. Nonetheless, there are many other advantages associated with them, such as the possibility to install them with radiant heating, the wider sized plank and the overall resilience of the flooring.

It is necessary to point out that there are also some setbacks regarding the recycled wood flooring solution. First of all, it can be a lot pricier than the new floor options. Because it is considered expensive, you should be careful where you purchase the flooring, as there are many unscrupulous sellers out there that lie about the origins and age of the wood. Granted, with research you could find a trustworthy retailer that sells reclaimed wood.

However, be warned that a suspiciously low price is also an indicator for the poor quality of the wood. In other words, the material can contain nails and pieces of metal which will make the installation process a nightmare for homeowners who prefer the DIY approach.

In general, if you are interested in purchasing an eco-friendly flooring solution for your home, it is best to work with specialized and reputable companies that will process the wood and make sure it is safe to walk on. As a side note, you should steer clear of flooring companies that apply off-gassing treatments to the wood if you own pets, have little children or a member of your family has an allergy.

As previously mentioned, one of the appeals of the reclaimed wood flooring resides in the wider sized planks you can install. At the very beginning of the industrial revolution, there were enough old trees to chop and carve in beautiful dressers, tables, beds, porches and structural members. And the good part was that tree trunks were large enough to permit woodworkers to create flawless, almost one-piece finishes.

On the other hand, as the forestry practices changed and the demand grew, nowadays trees are not allowed to age for that long and hence, wide wood planks are a rare sight. Therefore, if you want to add a little piece of the old charm in your home, ask the San Marcos flooring companies for reclaimed wood solutions.

There are several misconceptions being waved around regarding the durability of bamboo flooring. First of all, whenever a person learns that bamboo is not actually wood, but rather a variety of grass, they automatically assume that it cannot possibly be resilient.

But is that really the case?

Not at all, because unlike the standard wood flooring, there are other criteria that determine the hardness of bamboo. In essence, the additive solutions that are utilized in the production of bamboo flooring determine the hardness of the resulted material.

In order to understand floor durability better, you should know that the hardness of the materials is typically measured using the Janka scale. Because the production process determines the hardness of the bamboo, it can be regarded as an extremely versatile flooring material and its hardness varies between 900 and 5000 on the Janka scale.

When it comes to wood flooring, the default resistance of the fibers constitute the decisive factor in the durability of the floor. Although sealing it helps a bit, it will not significantly alter the structure of the floor. On the other hand, this does not apply for bamboo, because the resilience is influenced by three major factors: the default quality of the bamboo used, the placement of the stalks and the adhesives utilized in the construction.

Stalk placement

The standard approach of constructing bamboo flooring comprises of placing several rows of stalks over each other perpendicularly. However, the most resilient type of bamboo floor is the one referred to as strand. In this case, the manufacturers will basically weave strands of bamboo and supplement the cohesion of the fibers with adhesives. Therefore, the end product is a significantly more durable floor, even though the material is not actually wood.

Adhesives  

Probably the most important factors affecting the hardness of the floor comprise of the type and quantity of adhesives utilized. The adhesive quantity and quality determines how firmly the fibers of bamboo are tied together. At the same time, the adhesive is the easiest variable to control for the manufacturer.

The type of bamboo

As a customer, it is incredibly difficult if not downright impossible to determine the quality of the bamboo, because various assortments look strikingly similar. The best type of bamboo grass is the one that was allowed to reach maturity before being harvested. Because bamboo is grass and therefore renewable, some manufacturers rush the harvest. However, extremely young bamboo will not have the same resilience as mature bamboo.

The peak of durability

While technically bamboo flooring can be engineered to reach the 5000 rating on the Janka scale, experts generally believe that exceeding 3600 rating will not bring any special benefits to the table. Therefore, if you are aiming to buy a durable floor made from this eco-friendly material, it is advisable to take the 3200-3600 Janka rating as a guideline. While woven bamboo flooring can rise up to these specifications, standard construction bamboo will generally not exceed 1300 Janka rating and therefore, it may not be suitable for your purpose.

There is no denial that the environmental friendly carpeting solutions which can be acquired from companies specializing in flooring in San Diego are in high demand these days. On the other hand, not every eco-friendly militant is convinced that the green flooring solutions are 100% environmental friendly.

Therefore, completely opposite attitudes of the ecological flooring manufacturers and people who strongly believe in making the world a cleaner place can be very confusing for homemakers looking for eco-friendly solutions for their households. Who should you believe?

This guide will present the objective facts on the eco-friendly carpet options and let you decide on your own if they meet your standards.

The common belief of the critics of the green carpets is that this flooring solution cannot be recycled easily. Overall, the confusion regarding the recyclability of green rugs usually comes from the fact that regular carpets often end up in a landfill. However, while most carpets that share this fate are made of synthetic materials, the green rugs ending up in the trash are often reused.

Essentially, the environmental friendly carpets are made from natural as well as recycled materials (old rugs, plastic bottles, wood, cotton, etc). In case you want to be certain that the rug you are about to purchase is eco-friendly, then you need to learn if the manufacturer maintains green practices or if he is enrolled in any recycling programs.

One of the criticism that environmental friendly organization bring to green carpet manufacturers is that these flooring options include petroleum-based products. Granted, some manufacturers will include petroleum-based materials in the carpets; however, all of the items used are from recycling facilities. It is important to note that in the end the manufacturing process of all carpets is complex and takes a lot of resources. Consequentially, at times producing green flooring solutions can be more taxing for the environment compared to the regular rug manufacturing techniques.

An interesting myth regarding green carpets is that their biodegradable nature actually intensifies the levels of allergens in the air. The truth is that all rugs, eco-friendly or petroleum-based, have the role of trapping microorganisms and allergens, which are normally circulating through indoor air. Because trapping does not entail destroying allergens and other harmful microorganism, you can actually realize how this myth came to be.

Nonetheless, this is an aspect that can easily be fixed if you vacuum the carpets on a weekly basis, preferably with a HEPA filter. However, what petroleum-based carpets do emit into the air of the household are high levels of volatile organic compounds. On the other hand, green rugs imply full compliance with the industry’s standards regarding the harmful chemicals released into the air.

Another common critique brought to the green carpets is that they wear out too easily and hence, the manufacturer will need to use more resources and energy to create new rugs. When it comes to rugs, they are the perfect example of “you get what you paid for”. Surely, if you are going to place a poor quality carpet in the hallway or other highly circulated area of the house, then don’t expect it to last too long or blame the companies specialized in flooring for it.

Adding “Brazilian” to hardwood flooring gives the name a more powerful resound, perhaps because the popular culture associates this country with vivid party images and fun. Therefore, customers are more inclined to purchase hardwood floors made in Brazil, because they believe the materials are superior in terms of durability and aspect.

Whether or not this is true and several other aspects involved in the purchase of flooring crafted from Brazilian hardwood can be found in the following article. Remember that the flooring is not cheap or something you want to change very often, so making a good decision from the start is mandatory.

The durability factor

The popularity of the Brazilian hardwood mainly comes from the higher sturdiness, compared to the types of wood frequently encountered in North America, Canada or Europe. The most resilient types of wood, based on the Janka scale include the cheery and walnut wood found in this region. However, the Purpleheart and mahogany are also extremely durable alternatives. In essence, from the toughness point of view, the Brazilian hardwood is perceived as better.

The environmental factors

One of the most popular misconceptions states that the harvesting of Brazilian wood has a tremendously negative impact on the Amazon jungle. This may have been true in the past, but recent changes in the way that hardwood is obtained deem it an environmentally safe choice. To put it simply, sustainable forests are the main source of Brazilian hardwood and the wood is never harvested to the point where it would have a negative effect on the environment.

The appearance factor

Brazilian hardwood tends to have a more vividly colored appearance compared to wood harvested in other regions. The cherry wood is one of the best looking ones around, but the deep red color is more suitable for sober rooms. On the other hand, if your redecorating ideas are a bit more exotic, you should give the orange striped Brazilian Koa a look, which is also referred to as tiger wood due to its appearance.

The cost factor

You will most likely spend a bit more on hardwood that has been harvested in Brazil, but if you are aiming for quality and resilience, you will be glad you did. It has been argued that the cheap labor in this country should entail lower costs for hardwood. However, keep in mind that the wood has to be transported over long distances and that the hardness of the wood makes the milling process slower and more difficult. In other words, the price of Brazilian hardwood is justified and not necessarily overinflated by the retailers.

Conclusion

If you don’t mind the slightly higher costs, then Brazilian hardwood floors are the perfect long-term solution for your home. However, if you cannot afford natural hardwood floors, then the engineered ones could be a better alternative, even though they are not nearly as durable. Before you decide on the type of Brazilian hardwood flooring suitable for your renovation project, it is advisable to analyze several varieties using the aforementioned guidelines.

If your home has a basement, then it is probable that you will experience issues with higher degrees of humidity or flooding at least once, which reflect negatively on the state of the floors in that area. The residual moisture is generated by the underground water streams, which are close to the floor of the basement. Therefore, you cannot utilize the same type of flooring materials as for the rest of your home. Let’s explore some of the possible flooring materials for the basement in order to give you an idea regarding the pros and cons associated with each one.

Concrete basement floors

Most homes already have a concrete flooring in the basement and nowadays the public opinion regarding this material is quite favorable. Concrete floors are viewed as the most durable surfaces in terms of moisture, so they are one of the top choices. At the same time, if you keep the concrete floor, you will not have to invest time and money in the purchase and installation. However, because there is no sub-floor, you will need to repair the fissures and apply a coat of sealant. Concrete can be painted or stained very easily , but the drawbacks include the extreme coldness and the fact that you will have to clean it thoroughly before the refurbishment.

Tile basement floors  

Tiles can be regarded as a hybrid between concrete and PVC flooring, because they are both resistant and quick to dry, but not nearly as rugged as concrete. The tiles are installed directly on top of the concrete slab in the basement. However, the concrete will need to be cleaned and leveled before you can proceed. At the same time, applying tiles to the original concrete floor opens up the possibility of using thermal coils in order to eliminate the cold-related problems.

Vinyl basement floors

Vinyl is regarded as an inexpensive but equally proficient alternative of concrete or tiles. In addition, vinyl has the advantage of being substantially warmer than concrete without the aid of thermal coils. The only thing that you need to remember is that vinyl sheets are always a superior alternative to the tiles, which may permit moisture to penetrate. At the same time, it is mandatory to clean the original concrete floor thoroughly and to use a quality adhesive.

Laminate basement floors

Laminate flooring was not regarded as an effective solution for the basement until recently, when manufacturers designed the first laminate with waterproof capabilities. In terms of warmth, laminate basement flooring is superior to all other alternatives. The drawback is that you will need to add a subfloor between the laminate floor and the concrete slab. However, the installation of the laminate is extremely easy. On a side note, it will take some time to get used to the sensation of hollowness when you step on it.

Carpets/Engineered wood basement flooring

The carpets and the engineered wood flooring are not frequently used solutions due to their limitations in moisture resistance. However, if the basement is properly sealed and you have never experienced water infiltrations, you can give either of these flooring options a try.

San Diego Floors for High Humidity

Because it contracts and expands when exposed to moisture, wood is a material to avoid when installing San Diego floors in the basement, bathroom or kitchen. While laminate flooring usually includes a protective coating and has a higher resistance in damp settings, using it in rooms with excessive humidity levels is still unadvised due to the fact that the fastening is performed using glue.

Even the laminate flooring that is installed via the lock-in mechanism is not recommended for rooms with humidity, as in time the protective coating will blister and therefore, be destroyed in contact with water. Let’s explore the flooring options that are best suited in rooms with medium to high levels of moisture.

Concrete flooring

Concrete is the number one material to use for the floors in the basement, bathroom and kitchen. Even though your mind might associate this material primarily with garages and sidewalks, the truth is that concrete has made a comeback in the past several years. Not only is the material available in many colors and textures, helping you work on whatever design you have in mind, but it also incorporates enhanced sealing capabilities that provide further protection from stains and stamps. Its incredible impact resistance as well as the low maintenance required deems it as a wise choice for mid-budget households.

Vinyl sheet flooring

Available in a plethora of designs and colors and requiring a minimum upkeep, the vinyl sheets are the second best choice for rooms that have dampness problems. Another aspect that makes vinyl sheets appealing is their price, as they are among the cheapest flooring solution on the market. However, it is necessary to mention that the resilience of vinyl in humid settings will depend on its quality. Therefore, if you are renovating, it is best to choose higher quality materials in order to avoid problems related to tearing and durability.

Ceramic tiles flooring

The ceramic tiles are quite common in bathrooms, especially around the shower and bathtub areas. In addition to their proprietary waterproof characteristics, the ceramic tiles are available in a wide array of designs and coloring, some even imitating the beauty of wood grain finishes. While ceramic tiles are mostly found in rooms with dampness, it is not uncommon to see them in other portions of a home, especially in the warmer climates. Installing ceramic tiles instead of carpeting can help the homeowners keep the temperature in their homes cooler.

Stone tiles flooring

The stone tiles are another great idea for rooms where humidity is unavoidable. However, this guide would like to point out that the efficiency of the stone tiles will depend mainly on its level of absorption. There are four levels of absorption for stone, which is a standard you can use to figure out the susceptibility of the material to cracks, stains and water damage. The non-vitreous stone tiles are completely unadvisable to install in bathrooms, as they have a high level of water absorption, and a far better choice for the stone San Diego floors are the tiles marked as water-impervious.

The durability, resilience and low maintenance features place the vinyl San Diego flooring among the first choices for schools, hospital and homes alike. Even though vinyl is a highly versatile material, homeowners agree that this material should not be installed in all rooms of the house, due to practical and aesthetic reasons.

As vinyl has water resistance properties and it can take its share of wear and tear, the most common rooms where you are likely to see vinyl flooring are the bathroom and kitchen. The arguments for this choice are that the aforementioned rooms are known for their high dampness levels and vinyl can resist stains and damage from water.

Installing vinyl flooring in the kitchen

The kitchen is the room where you prepare meals and hence stains, spills and grease spot are highly probable. The good news is you can easily clean them from vinyl flooring and you can maintain the kitchen spotless using only a damp mop and an approved floor cleaner, for the stubborn stains. In addition, since the chances of splashing water on the floor while doing the dishes are also high, vinyl will ensure the flooring is protected from damage. It is necessary to highlight the fact that installing vinyl is not advisable in commercial kitchens or locations where fire is used constantly. In the eventuality that vinyl catches fire, then it will release toxic chemicals into the air.

However, if you want to benefit from the enhanced protection of vinyl for the next twenty years, it is imperious that the flooring is properly installed and maintained. In general, quality material that is installed by a professional will even surpass its normal lifespan.

Installing vinyl flooring in the bathroom

One of the common problems with floors and walls in the bathroom is that they tend to get stained very easily. Considering that the bathroom is the room where water damage is impossible to avoid, installing vinyl flooring is a decision you will not regret. Not only will the vinyl guarantee no water penetration, but its clear layers act as a barrier for liquid, reducing the stains and spills and the maintenance you will be performing in the bathroom. As a side note, due to the fact that composite and solid vinyl for instance do not have this protective coating on the surface, it is advisable to discuss the pros and cons of certain types of vinyl for the bathroom with the flooring dealer.

Vinyl in playrooms or the kids’ bedrooms

One of the advantages of vinyl over other materials is its increased comfort level. To put it simply, vinyl does not get cold during winter and it is feels very soft beneath the feet. Because of these reasons, many parents consider installing vinyl in their toddler’s bedrooms and the playroom. However, this practice is not recommended by certain physicians who state that vinyl can present risks for the child’s health. As children are generally more sensitive, even the low amount of chemicals released in the air by the vinyl San Diego flooring, namely the volatile organic chemicals, can trigger allergic reactions and respiratory problems in children under the age of 3.

If you plan on expanding the available space in your home by renovating the attic, then it is generally a good idea to consult with a flooring company in San Diego. For starters, these services can help you design the adequate floors that will be supported by the structure according to type of building. Many homeowners think they can build a floor on their own in the attic simply because they discovered that the space has the joists set in place. However, this guide would like to warn you that the joists are there to support the ceiling bellow and not a new floor in most situations.

What if the attic has a floor already?

In some cases, the joists in the attic are built intentionally to account for the expanding purposes that homeowners may have in the future. While this is one of the best methods of cutting down the costs when you decide you need more living space in the home, in the vast majority of cases, the joists and flooring are not built to support a new living area. At the same time, the previous owner of the home could have simply covered the joists with plywood in order to create an efficient storage space.

In general, there is a simple means of telling the purpose of the joists in the attic: if they are between 2’’ x 4’’ or 2’’ x 6’’ they are not suitable for designing a living space. In case the joists are bigger and heftier, then they are able to support the furniture and equipment that you want to place in your new room. In addition to the dimensions of the joists, you also need to account for the spacing between them and the load they can support. Overall, the joists built for storage purposes only need to support a weight of 10 pounds per square foot, while the ones built for living accommodations need to support a weight four times bigger.

How can San Diego flooring services solve the problem?

By calling on the help of professionals, you can have the guarantee that the span calculations of the current joists are accurate. Armed with this information, the flooring services will present you with a couple of ideas on how to upgrade the current joists in order to make them suitable for supporting accommodations for a new living space. As a side note, considering that the attic structure is likely to have electrical or other types of wiring, it is best to avoid a DYI approach when modifying the joists.

Two of the common procedures that the flooring services will recommend in this situation are the intersperse joists approach and the sister joists method. The intersperse method implies combining the existing joists with similar-sized spars. The other approach entails pairing a joist that is damaged or inadequate to support the necessary weight with another member. For instance, the flooring in San Diego services can connect a 2’’ x 4’’ joist with another 2’’ x 4’’ joist by nailing them together.

Green San Diego Flooring

One of the most known eco-friendly material for floors, which also presents the advantage of being cost-effective is San Diego hardwood flooring. The medium costs of hardwood flooring range between three and twelve dollars per square foot, while the material is a resource constantly renewed.

A further reason why this material is preferred in green renovation projects resides in the fact that it is biodegradable and hence, it is recycled and used as fuel or other flooring projects after its efficiency and beauty fades. However, if you are planning on installing hardwood floors, it is necessary to verify that the material you choose actually comes from well-managed settings and certified forests.

Less expensive San Diego flooring materials

Even though the prices of hardwood flooring are not excessively high, some homeowners prefer using materials that are slightly cheaper for large flooring projects. The least expensive materials that can be used in huge projects are cork, linoleum and bamboo. Cork is typically obtained from the bark of oak trees because bark grows back quite fast after being harvested. The abundance of the material can justify its average prices, which range between one and a half and four dollars per square foot.

The prices of bamboo and linoleum are only slightly higher, going from two to five dollars per square foot. However, there are several differences between the two types of materials. Therefore, linoleum is obtained via the oxidized linseed oil and its life cycle is considered a closed loop. In short, this material is able to produce the necessary amount of energy necessary in manufacturing the same amount of linoleum. In addition, the production process does not present major negative effects on the environment and its lifespan is estimated at between 25 and 40 years.

On the other hand, bamboo has a bit lengthier renewal process compared to linoleum, namely between three and five years. Nonetheless, bamboo is among the eco-friendly flooring solutions due to the fact that it is among the fastest growing grass plants on the planet. While the production of bamboo does not pollute the ecosystem, the fact that it only grows in the Pacific Rim presents a setback: importing bamboo flooring to the U.S. or Europe generates indirect pollution, created through transportation.

The benefits of hardwood over cork, linoleum and bamboo

While hardwood is just a bit costlier, it is necessary to point out that this material presents several important advantages to its less expensive counterparts. Therefore, compared to hardwood flooring, cork is a lot softer and consequentially, more susceptible to gauges. At the same time, if you select cork without polyurethane coating, the floor will be very sensitive to water damage. Lastly, the maintenance is very time consuming, as this material needs regular applications of solvent wax paste.

Similar to cork flooring, linoleum and bamboo are vulnerably to water damage, especially when the water penetrates into the internal layers. In fact, because linoleum expands and contracts easily, it is totally inappropriate for rooms with excessive moisture. Lastly, the grounds of why the San Diego hardwood flooring are superior to bamboo floors is that bamboo is more prone to become brittle and faded, presents limitations related to the coloring options and has floating problems.

In the past, homeowners were very reluctant to install linoleum as the chosen type of San Marcos flooring in their homes, mainly due to its unappealing appearance that made the room look very cheap. However, nowadays, all that has changed once the manufacturers have introduced new ways of producing quality linoleum and made it available for consumers in a variety of colors and designs to match their overall décor. Nonetheless, even if homeowners are not so hesitant in opting for linoleum floorings anymore, the truth is that this material is used primarily for certain rooms in a house, more often than not – the kitchen.

Why is linoleum becoming a popular flooring choice?

The main issue with linoleum flooring in the past was that its durability was rather poor, meaning that it was very prone to cracks and cuts. However, the new manufacturing technologies have not only addressed this problem by making the material substantially more flexible, but it also solved the issues with curling as well. However, homeowners will need to make sure they perform sealing maintenance constantly if they want to enjoy their linoleum flooring for many years to come.

Another improvement of the linoleum found in stores nowadays is the extended lifespan of the coloring and patterns. Unlike in the past, these days, manufacturers extend the hues and patterns through the layers of the material, therefore eliminating the fading and marring of the surface. A further enhancement of the material is that the installation does not require adhesive in the vast majority of cases and therefore, it falls under the category of the truly eco-friendly flooring options. Practically, the elimination of adhesives in the installation process means the absence of the harmful noxious off-gasses from your home, which are partially or totally responsible for respiratory problems, asthma or allergies.

The advantages of linoleum flooring in modern kitchens

One of the characteristics that deem linoleum as a good choice for kitchens is the anti-static property. Many San Marcos flooring materials out there tend to collect and hold dirt and dust only to radiate it back in the air when walked upon. Even though the kitchen is a room which is kept clean due to its main function, it is necessary to point out that over time, the wave of dust and debris that spread out into the atmosphere when you step on the carpet can trigger an allergic reaction for individuals with asthma. By installing linoleum, however, you can prevent this issue altogether as the material prevents dust and debris from settling on the surface of the floor.

As the linoleum flooring does not permit the accumulation of particles on its surface, another benefit is that it will also prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms. In fact, this is one of the reasons why hospitals and schools prefer this flooring option to others.

Lastly, the high availability of patterns, design and colors permits creating any kitchen décor you have in mind. The renewed interest in linoleum San Marcos flooring can be attributed to the new and more vibrant colors that it comes in and possibly the tendency of homeowners to redo the original flooring of their home every once in a while.