Solid Multi-Layer Hardwood Flooring Monday -  Friday            8:00am - 6:00pm Saturday -                        9:00am - 6:00pm 12 MONTHS INTEREST FREE FINANCING AVAILABLE *SEE AN ASSOCIATE FOR DETAILS FIRST QUALITY FLOORING AT WHOLESALE PRICES! Do I need to acclimate this floor before installing? Can cork floor be installed over radiant heat? Can cork flooring be installed in a kitchen? Can cork flooring be installed in a bathroom? Will heavy furniture damage the floor? Will my pets’ claws damage the floor? Why should I use cork? Can I put the cork in my basement? What are the benefits of a cork floor? What is WECU cork underlayment, and why should I use it? How do I maintain the cork floor? Yes, exposure to light may cause cork to lighten. This can be minimized with windows that have been treated with a UV protectant. Exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided. The Classic Collection glue-down tiles and planks should be allowed to acclimate in the room that they will be installed in a minimum of three days prior to installation (meeting the temperature and humidity requirements as specified in the installation instructions).

Cork flooring should be removed from the box as well as the plastic they are packaged in to allow proper acclimation. The Avant-Garde Collection floating floors DO NOT have to acclimate before installation. Real Estate For Sale Near UnccThe floating floors should be installed directly out of the box.Royal Hotel Collection Bedding Reviews WE Cork floors are suitable for use with under-floor heating. All Black German Shepherd Puppies For Sale In KyIt should be pointed out that the flooring installed over in floor heating might gain moisture or dry out faster. Use of a humidifier is suggested. The surface temperature of the floor should not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. In floor heat should be allowed to run 5-6 days before installation regardless of the season.

The Classic Collection tiles and planks with Greenshield must be installed with an adhesive that is compatible with cork and radiant heat. Yes, we recommend that the floating floors be installed AFTER the cabinets have been installed as this could “lock” that section of the floor and not allow it to expand and contract evenly. The glue-down tiles and planks can be installed before or after the cabinets. We do not recommend that the floating floors be used in a bathroom application, but the glue-down tiles and planks are fine. We suggest caulking around the edge of the shower/tub and toilet. An additional coat of urethane (or wax if you have installed a wax finished floor) after installing will be helpful to seal the seams in bathroom applications. Heavy furniture can indent any floor. Cork has a memory, so once the pressure from the furniture is removed, the floor will spring back over time. It is recommended to use felt on the feet of all furniture to protect the floor’s finish as well as the use of furniture coasters to displace the weight from small areas.

Pets that are well behaved should pose no threat to your cork floor. Excessive digging and clawing however will damage any floor. The urethane or wax finish can be scratched by your pet’s claws. It is important to keep their claws trimmed to reduce the amount of scratching to the finish. Cork is the bark of an oak tree known botanically as Quercus Suber. It is an evergreen, which grows in areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Cork is a unique natural product with remarkable properties unmatched by any other natural material. One cubic inch of cork consists of not less than 200 million completely enclosed air cells. These cells give cork the attributes of resilience, durability, moisture resistance, thermal insulation and acoustic insulation. WE Cork recommends that only the floating floor be installed in a basement or other below grade applications. The benefits of cork flooring are: resilience, durability, moisture resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation.

Cork by nature is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and insect resistant. WECU (cork underlayment – pronounced “we see you”) – WECU Soundless and Soundless+ meet typical building codes and provide superior sound control. WECU Crackless+/Silently offers stress crack isolation under ceramic tile and marble as well as sound control under laminate flooring. WECU also acts as a thermal insulator when installed under radiant heat helping to prevent loss of heat into the subfloor below. Your radiant heat system will be economically more efficient. Maintenance of Waxed WE Cork Flooring: Regular cleaning: treat waxed WE Cork Flooring with waxed finish with a good quality paste wax (i.e. Butcher wax) and buff. Heavier Cleaning: Remove old wax and dirt with a power buffing machine using 00 steel wool disc or 150-180 grit sandpaper disc or nylon screen pad. Apply several coats of wax and buff between each coat with a lamb’s wool pad. Maintenance of Varnish and Polyurethane Matte WE Cork Flooring:

Regular Cleaning: Vacuum and/or damp mop with a mild wood floor cleaner or with a solution of one part white vinegar and four parts water. Where a more shiny appearance is desired: apply liquid polish and/or buff flooring. DO NOT USE PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN WAX.We all want floors in our home that look great, but sometimes there are other factors which are just as important. If you have a busy home with pets, kids and plenty of entertaining then you need a floor that can stand up to the onslaught. If you are preparing a property for rental you want a floor that you can install and forget about. And if you are on a budget you’ll want to know that your investment is going to last. In all these examples, finding the most durable floors will be just as important as what they look like!In our recent article on home flooring options for each room of your house we focused on style but in this floor guide we concern ourselves solely with flooring durability. Specifically we will be looking at suitable high traffic flooring with a wood effect including bamboo, cork, solid hardwood and laminate.

For the other types of durable floors that are best for high traffic areas check out this article.Bamboo flooring, with its good looks, price and sustainable eco-friendly label has made it an incredibly popular choice in the last few years. However popularity has been a double-edged sword in terms of bamboo flooring durability. Increased overseas production and attempts to create more competitively priced flooring has led to lower quality products entering the market. Higher quality bamboo flooring with 7-8 coats of a tough aluminum oxide finish from trusted manufacturers will be very durable, but cheaper flooring made from younger bamboo with only three to four coats  of finish can wear pretty quickly.Finding the most durable bamboo flooring product can be a challenge, but as a rule of thumb consider the following,Like Bamboo, cork flooring is popular for its green credentials, but also because it is warm and quiet under foot, thanks to its softer nature compared to hardwood. Corks soft, flexible nature is both its strength and its weakness where durability is concerned.

With its springy quality it rebounds well from minor dinks and high traffic, but being softer than wood you really must treat it with respect; sharp objects, high heels and dragging heavy tables etc across cork floors are a recipe for disaster.Cork flooring offers great durability and a long lifespan if treated with care and attention. Sweep, vacuum or mop once a week to remove dirt and debris that can scar the flooring over time and be prepared  to re-seal the floor fairly regularly with a wax finish or with protective coats of polyurethane every few years. High quality cork flooring with a strong factory finish will give you added protection. Furniture can leave dents over time and so protective coasters or felt pads are also a good idea for the long term care of your floor. As with most home flooring options, you get what you pay for so lean towards a trusted quality product. Cork flooring from Torlys and USfloors both have a strong reputation. For more top cork flooring brands read our reviews here.

One final word on cork flooring durability, cork contains a waxy substance called suberin which gives it great moisture resistance qualities, making it a great choice for kitchen and dining rooms. Homeowners can and do install cork in their bathrooms too, although its a good idea to get feedback from a  home flooring pro as to the suitability and correct installation of cork in your particular bathroom space.Solid hardwood flooring is certainly a durable flooring option and high quality, well maintained hardwood floor will outlast us all! Nevertheless there is plenty to consider if we want the most durable hardwood floor available. Here are three factors to consider.Wood hardness – In our article on the hardness rating of your wood flooring we looked at why its important to choose the right species of wood for your home. If durable flooring is your number one concern then you should be aiming for a hard hardwood like Brazilian redwood rather than a soft wood like pine, which will dent and ding fairly easily.

Tough finishes – Regardless of which wood you choose you should still be aware that the finish of your floor is the first and most important protection to aid durability. It is the finish that takes the main brunt of wear and tear. If after some years your hardwood floors are looking a bit shabby you can always re-sand and re-finish your floors again, one of the main reasons that your hardwood floor can last a lifetime.Care and maintenance – Like all flooring, treating your hardwood floors with care will improve their performance. Avoid high heels, too many dogs and tramping debris into your home! Make use of area rugs for high traffic areas and be careful how much strong direct sunlight falls directly on your floors to avoid fading.In terms of pure flooring durability we’ve saved the best for last. Not as classy, but much more durable and a good deal cheaper, laminate flooring is a great alternative to bamboo, cork and hardwood  floors and a perfect high traffic flooring option for busy households.

With a high density fiberboard core and a transparent resin top wear layer a good quality laminate floor is as close as you’re going to get to indestructible. Laminate floors laugh at dog claws and high heels! Hardly surprising then that some top manufactures are happy to offer a 25 year guarantee against wear and tear.Furthermore unlike most wood flooring, laminate is pretty resistant to sunlight fading and moisture. Laminate still contains wood and should therefore still be acclimatised and you should consult a qualified installer when considering installation in a basement or bathroom.Durable laminate flooring is a budget friendly option but please, please don’t go too cheap. Anything below $2 a square foot could be a seriously false economy. $3 to $5 per square foot should see you right. Stick to respected brands like Pergo or Mohawk or look for a product with the NALFA (North American Laminate Flooring Association) Certification Seal.So there you are, the best durable flooring options for your home.