Ebony & Co: A Company Overview and Review
How To Eliminate Dust Mites On Wood Floors
Decorative Hardwood Floors: Medallions, Borders & Trim and Tile Inserts
Hardwood floors have become a true art over the years. With stunning, old wide plank flooring to classic parquet, there are so many interesting and unusual techniques and designs to laying wood floors. There are so many different ideas you can implement to make decorative hardwood floors. If you are looking to create a more artistic style floor while maintaining the elegance of a wood floor, a decorative hardwood floor might be for you.
Medallions and Inlays
Medallions and inlays are a section of the wood floor with a design. They are most often wood but cut in different lengths, widths and colors. They are designs in the wood floor. Classically, medallions would have been relatively straight pieces of wood. Nowadays with modern technology and laser cutting, you can get medallions with unusual curves.
Medallions are often a darker stain than the rest of the floor for a light stained floor and vice versa for a dark stained wood floor. They can be very intricate designs with several different colors of stain. Medallions are often beautiful patterns.
Where are medallions commonly placed? A medallion is not meant for any and every room in your house. If you choose to get a medallion, you should put in a relatively large room. It will become a centerpiece. To make a medallion stand out, no carpet should be placed on the floor in this room. Also, no pieces of furniture should be placed close to the medallion – these are not hard and fast rules. These are tips to make a medallion look terrific. If you have a large foyer, there are classic styles of medallions that can be used. At the bottom of a beautiful staircase is a great spot for a medallion.
Aside from beautiful and artistic designs, you can get many other styles of medallions. You can get a medallion with the Scriptures, a corporate or college logo, a family coat of arms or a completely custom design.
Borders and Trim
Borders and trim are another way to jazz up your hardwood floor and decorate your room. Instead of having the same color stain going to the walls, you can do a simple border of a different colored floorboard.
There are also some very interesting and intricate borders that can be made for wood floors. They can involve multiple colors of stain and interesting zig zag patterns. If you dream it, you can find a company that can make you any floor design.
Tile Inserts
Tile inserts are much less common than wood medallions. Tile inserts are designs with tile inlaid in a hardwood floor. They are often tiles with vibrant colors and interesting designs. They are laid in elegant patterns.
Tile inserts are typically done in larger rooms and really the centerpiece of the room. They can sometimes match a color theme in the house. Tile inserts may also be neutral colors to blend in with the wood floors.
Companies That Specialize In Decorative Wood Floors
Aboveboard Hardwood Floors has a large array of decorative floors that they create. From simple floors to inlaid floors to designer inlays using exotic woods – this company has lots of variety for anyone looking for an artistic wood floor.
USA Inlays is another company that specializes in decorative flooring. They do a wide range of wood floors from medallions to borders to stone inlays. Their motto is “a work of art for your feet…”
Final Thoughts
If you are going to get a decorative floor, remember it is an accent. It should be loud but not too busy unless you have a big enough space for something with a lot of color and pattern.
If you have your own artistic flare, go with your heart. If you want something elegant but are not sure where to start, it may be worth getting an opinion from a professional decorative floor installer. They will have lots of experience on what looks and what has been a flop. They can also look at your home and get a sense of your personality and what you like and help you choose your decorative elements.
Cork: A Durable, Hypoallergenic Floor Covering
A Soundproof Floor
Cork makes a relatively soundproof floor. It works well in apartments where you have neighbors above and below you. Also, you will feel vibrations through this floor a lot less than with other flooring types. Cork flooring absorbs sound and vibration.Shock Absorbency
Dropping a heavy object usually won’t impact the cork floor that much. If you drop a glass or any breakable object on cork, chances are that it probably won’t break. The impact of the fallen object gets absorbed in cork flooring. A cork floor is firm but not bouncy. The reason for the serious noise reduction from cork is because it is incredibly dense and has a unique cellular structure that is impregnated with lots of air.Thermal Insulation
Cork insulates well. It provides natural thermal insulation. Some people even say that they have cut their energy bills by having cork flooring throughout their homes. The “dead” air space in cork makes it an efficient non-conductor of heat. This means it reduces air movement. When you walk on a carpet, it is warm because it is not absorbing the heat from your feet. Differently, a tile floor is taking the heat away from your feet. This makes the tile floor feel cold. Cork doesn’t absorb heat. This is why it feels warm to walk on barefoot.Why Choose Cork Floors
One of the main reasons that people choose cork is because it is soft and cushioning. Cork is appealing to the elderly because it has shock-absorbing qualities. For people who suffer from back and joint pain, this is ideal. For kids who take the occasional tumble, cork flooring provides a softer surface to break a fall. It gives relief for your feet, back and legs. It is shock-absorbing because lots of air is trapped in the wood. It is the same reason that it is relatively soundproof and absorbs vibrations. About 50% of cork is air. This is why it is a cushioning floor.A Durable Floor
Despite its soft, rubbery feeling, it is actually a durable floor that does not scuff very easily. Cork is known as quite a resilient floor covering. Cork has a lot of give to it. It is recommended for areas where there is going to be extensive walking or standing. Because of its natural resiliency, cork is commonly found in high traffic areas like government buildings, churches, libraries and banks. It is a flexible, relatively durable floor covering.A Hypoallergenic Floor
An advantage to cork is that it is very comfortable for people who suffer from allergies. It does not absorb dust. Some manufacturers even coat cork floors with anti-microbial or paraffin oil treatments to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. This improves the indoor air quality.Coatings on Cork Floors
Green Building Supply Environmentally Friendly Home Center uses JointShield, which is a paraffin oil product. This is designed to impregnate the joints, making the floor watertight. This creates a strong moisture barrier. On the other hand, if cork floors do not have a protective coating, they will be susceptible to damage from mold and mildew. This will happen typically in kitchens, bathrooms and basements where moisture levels are higher. I highly recommend a polyethylene water barrier.Cork and Its Physical Characteristics
Suberin is a natural, waxy substance that is found in cork. Cork naturally resists insects and termites because it contains suberin. This waxy substance also protects cork from rotting if it is slightly wet for a while. Obviously, the amount of water on a cork floor should be minimal. It will get damaged if there is a lot of water on it, just like any other floor covering.Cork Floors, Water and Flame Resistant
Its cellular structure doesn’t make it waterproof, but it helps repel water. With a proper binder, a cork floor can be fairly water resistant. Suberin is also fire resistant. It won’t spread flame. It also will not release gas during combustion. For people with sensitivities, cork is popular because it is formaldehyde-free. It does not give off gas unlike a lot of other floor coverings.New Varieties of Cork Floors
Cork flooring is not a new phenomenon. However, new forms of cork flooring have come out in recent years. The newer varieties of flooring are tiles and planks with snap or click lock joints. Cork is even available in the parquet format. It has become popular because these new styles of cork flooring are easier to install and don’t use any glue. It doesn’t require a skilled floor contractor to install a cork floor. It is appealing for a DIYer. Most cork flooring comes factory finished with a topcoat of UV cured acrylic or a water-base. Modern manufacturing practices compress cork so that there are a huge variety of rich textures, patterns and colors. The problem with the colored varieties is that scratches and wear marks show up more prominently than they do on natural cork. Also, a lot of people have had problems with dark colors turning much lighter pretty quickly. Some companies mix rubber with cork to get special texture. In my opinion, this is not a healthy choice. Rubber is an off-gassing material that will emit gas for a very long time. The diverse styles make cork flooring very appealing for consumers. Cork floor can be tailored to the consumer. There is going to be a style of cork flooring that suits your needs. Cork floors are very easy to maintain. They only require vacuuming and the occasional damp mopping.Cork’s Small Environmental Impact
Cork floors look nothing like hardwood floors. Environmentally conscious consumers favor cork. They are not destroying forests. They don’t have to worry if the tree that was used to make their floors will be replaced with a new tree. If you are considering cork floors, read my article “Installing Cork Floors” before starting your project.Pledge: Floorcare Wood Squirt & Mop
Pledge: Floorcare Wood Squirt & Mop is a wood floor cleaning product. It claims to not leave any residue on your wood floors and it maintains your floor’s natural finish. It has a fresh citrus scent. Pledge Floorcare is suitable for any sealed wood floors. It is available most supermarkets and home improvement stores.
It is an easy product to use. The solution is mixed for you. As the name goes, just squirt it and spread it around your wood floors with a mop. That is all there is to it!
What Consumers Think
Most people are happy that Pledge dries so incredibly fast and the scent is very appealing. The disappointing feature of Pledge Floorcare is it leaves wood floors dull, foggy and streaky. It will make your wood floors appear dirtier than before. If you use Pledge Floorcare, it will give you a new job – to remove it!
Final Thoughts
It is better not to use Pledge Floorcare at all. There are some homeowners who are happy with it. My feeling is either their wood floors are in terrible shape and they want anything to rejuvenate them or they are using very little of the product – not enough to make the streaks noticeable.
When trying to find the ingredients in the product, they were nowhere to be found. I am not certain that there is wax in this product but I am pretty sure that there is some. No wonder it leaves residue and build-up!
Avoid the hassle of trying to remove Pledge Floorcare – don’t try it!