Cork flooring 'popular in Canada' Cork flooring has gone down well with consumers who have used it in their homes across Canada, it has been stated.
In an article posted by News Canada for the St Catherine Standard, Canadian flooring company Torlys said the material is popular partly because of its many attributes.
The firm commented: "Nature has bestowed it with a dense air cushion composition that insulates against cold and improves sound absorption in any room."
It also noted that
cork flooring is environmentally sensitive, since it is a renewable resource acquired by the culling of the bark from the cork tree that is necessary for it to survive and grow.
The sustainability of cork has been praised on a number of recent occasions.
Co-founder of the Green Living Centre Adam Lutsky told Westport News recently that the material is not only green, but its increasing adoption as a flooring material is hepling to ensure that cork bark is still harvested despite the decline in its use as a bottle stop.
Wooden flooring restoration completeA restoration job has been completed on the patterned wooden flooring of a public building in West Yorkshire.
The Bagshawe Museum in the town of Batley has had a full refurbishment, which has included work to polish and upgrade the parquet floors, the Yorkshire Post reports.
Remarking on this, museum officer Ruth McDonald stated: "The parquet flooring is a different pattern in every room. It's been cleaned and polished and looks absolutely stunning."
She added that this includes the recent discovery of the same kind of flooring in one part of the house, which will now be visible as an exhibition is being held there.
The house was originally built by mill owner George Sheard in 1875.
Wood flooring can be used in many ways, with parquet patterns being one way of making it very ornate.
In contrast, hardwood can be used to create a rustic look, with spokeswoman for the American Home Furnishings Alliance Pat Bowling recently telling Courant.com that this could be achieved using elements in the woof like knots, streaks and shade variations.
Future 'looking brighter' for housebuildersThe future is brightening up for the housebuilding sector, according to one industry expert.
Commenting on the recent rights issue offerings from Redrow and Barratt Developments, Construction News business editor Nick Whitten said "it was only a matter of time" before companies such as this went to investors for money so they can start building again.
"The last eight months has seen increasingly encouraging signs returning to the residential property market and housebuilders' confidence is increasing," he remarked.
Mr Whitten predicted that further major operators in the sector will follow in Redrow and Barratt's footsteps in the near future and pointed to Taylor Wimpey - which has already turned to investors to ask for £510 million - as an example.
Redrow is seeking £150 million, while Barratt is looking to raise £720 million. Both companies cited improving the ability to purchase and develop land as being among the aims of their respective rights offerings.
New-look carpet for libraryA new
carpet is among the most prominent features of the renovated Central Library in Cambridge.
The floor covering is used in a brand new children's section, which is themed around Philippa Pearce's famous novel Tom's Midnight Garden, Cambridge News Online reports.
A pond, greenery and a number of pathways are depicted on the
carpet, which is complemented by a large train housing a number of the books.
Elsewhere in the building, the brown carpets that were for many years a fixture have been removed and replaced by more colourful flooring, while brighter seats have also been installed.
Commenting on the refit, which cost a total of £7.5 million, Cambridgeshire County Council's communities chief Sir Peter Brown remarked: "What people have got is a fantastic facility of which they can be really proud."
Shore News Today reported recently that Cape May County Chamber of Commerce's Think Green seminar had noted the prominent role recycled carpets can play in helping to make buildings more environmentally friendly.
Yoga centre uses cork flooringA new yoga centre in New York has been unveiled, with
cork flooring as one of its major features.
YogaWorks in the SoHo district of Manhattan has been opened with a number of modern features, including a major emphasis on natural and eco-friendly materials, the Glam Spirit blog reports.
This includes cork and bamboo as the two main flooring materials, something that may be significant as the practice of yoga involves spending time on the floor.
In the blog, it was stated that those who are attracted by feng shui and similar concepts may wish to take up yoga and it is possible that green materials such as cork and bamboo may have a similar appeal to those hoping to be in balance with nature.
Cork flooring has many attributes besides being a renewable resource, it was recently stated.
The Oregon Green Living Examiner noted last month that the material is sound resistant, cushions feet, recovers well from sustaining dents and is "naturally resistant" to fire or rotting.
Reclaimed wood flooring part of eco homeAn eco home being built by a university team entering a green construction contest is using reclaimed wood as its flooring material.
The adoption of wood flooring is one of a variety of elements that make up the structure designed by the Penn State University's Solar Decathlon team, the educational institution has noted.
Other items include photovoltaic technology incorporated into a green roof and an indoor garden from which vegetables for cooking may be sourced.
The wood was taken from an old barn in Pennsylvania.
Media liaison officer for the team Thomas Rauch said he hoped the various elements would soon be adopted by the mainstream construction sector.
He stated: "We believe we are introducing practices and possibilities that can be implemented in the industry rep and make a change immediately."
The renewable nature of wood flooring makes it a natural choice for eco-conscious builders, the National Wood Flooring Association commented this month.
It has produced a guide for consumers to advise on the different ways of using the material.
Hardwood flooring part of university renovationHardwood flooring in Norfolk State University's dance studio has been mentioned as one of the most notable aspects of the learning facility's renovation.
The Virginian-Pilot quoted one student as saying previously the building had "carpets so nasty you didn't want to step on them", but this has changed with a recent revamp that has left it with a "gleaming" new floor, contemporary furniture and a fitness area.
"This is really impressive," said another student, Dominique Williams, of the three-storey, $28 million (£17 million) refit. "Norfolk State is really stepping it up."
And the school is not the only building that has received attention for its hardwood flooring recently.
In an article on the Rapid Growth website, New Leaf Cafe owner Sybil Cathey claimed her new enterprise near Kollen Park in Holland, Michigan boasts a "beautiful" example of the surface, which helps to give it a "very unique" interior alongside exposed brick walls.
Laminate flooring 'an inexpensive option'Laminate flooring has been mentioned as an option for those looking to renovate their homes but keep down the costs.
Naoimh Tuohy wrote for Herald.ie that the material "has come on in leaps and bounds" in recent years and noted that there is a wide variety of styles that people can choose from.
Furthermore, she claimed that
laminate flooring is "great for wear and tear", a point also made recently by Dave Talbot in a piece for Article Maniac.
He commented: "One of the reasons that laminate is a popular choice lies in the durable construction of this robust material."
Ms Tuohy made her remarks as she explained how it is possible to splash out on home design without having to spend a fortune.
However, while she did exhort the virtues of
laminate flooring as a cheap option, she said that for those who can afford it, wood flooring is the best.
Carpets preserved in sustainable flooring initiativeUS furniture firm Shaw Hospitality Group has been involved in an initiative that has seen over 30 tonnes of carpets saved from landfill sites.
The firm partnered with hotel firm La Quinta Inns & Suites in Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida to pick up old carpets being discarded during renovations and have these recycled, Floor Covering Weekly reports.
Used
carpet material has been passed on to Shaw Industries' Evergreen Nylon Recycling Centre in Georgia, where the materials have been broken down into the building blocks of nylon
carpet in order to be recycled.
Shaw Industries was recently given two awards by Floor Covering Weekly for its environmental initiatives.
The firm was commended for its overall environmental efforts and specifically for the work of the recycling plant, which is based in the town of Augusta.
Other winners included Mohawk Industries, which has switched from producing petroleum flooring product to bio-based ones.
Cork flooring hailed as sustainable material Cork flooring has been hailed as not only sustainable but crucial to the environment by one expert.
Adam Lutsky, co-founder of the Green Living Centre, told Westport News that the flooring industry is now performing the job that wine bottlers used to do with regards to stripping bark from cork trees.
The trees need to have bark removed regularly or they will die and an increasing use of screw-top and composite bottle stoppers had caused this practice to dwindle before flooring started to bring it back.
Mr Lutsky's business partner Brian Cleary explained that there has been a growing interest in sustainable flooring in recent years and suggested that cork is a particularly notable example of this product segment because it boasts "so much variety and style".
Gerould Sabin, who owns Elements of Green, also recently commented on the appeal of
cork flooring, telling the Kansas City Star that it is "rapidly renewable".
Cork flooring a feature of eco-restaurantCork flooring forms part of a restaurant in the US that has been lauded as a genuinely green establishment.
The Mind, Body & Spirits eaterie in Rochester, Michigan, uses
cork flooring as part of an overall approach combining sustainability, recycling and eco-friendliness, the Detroit Metro Times reports.
Among the features in the establishment are solar panels, a reclaimed wood bar-top, the use of bio-digesters in the on-site greenhouse and the widespread adoption of local and organic food.
Those keen to make their home or office eco friendly often utilise cork because it is a sustainable and renewable flooring resource.
In a feature on building in the US that have gained LEED accreditation for high environmental standards, Co-operator.com noted that one housing project in Massachusetts acquired a very high ranking partly through the use of cork and bamboo flooring.
This was installed along with features such as extra insulation and low-use water appliances.
Iranian carpets fair to be heldThe production of hand-woven carpets in Iran is being highlighted in an expo seeking to showcase the skills of the country's flooring industry.
Iran National
Carpet Centre was quoted by the Mehr news agency as stating that the aim of the event is to produce interaction between different sectors of the
carpet industry and help develop an export market, the Tehran Times reports.
Exporters, designers, restorers and sellers will be among the representatives of 350 firms attending the event, with merchants from 68 countries being invited..
Among the displays will be a gallery of hand-woven carpets.
It is the 18th time the fair has been held and it is being staged at the Tehran International Permanent Fairground.
Carpet has been hailed as a good option for those seeking sustainable flooring.
A green seminar for business held recently by the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce noted that carpets can play a part in keeping buildings green alongside methods such as renewable energy, Shore News Today reported.
Speaking at the event, Industry expert Bill Davis explained how carpets can be made from recycled plastic bottles.
Firms seek funding for new construction plansHouse building giants Redrow and Barratt Development have today both announced plans to raise funds through rights issues.
The companies are seeking to generate approximately £150 million and £720.5 million respectively in order to improve their balance sheets and put themselves in a better position to be able to acquire quality land for development.
Barratt also said the rights issue would help it to develop existing sites, while Redrow claimed its fund-raising move would give it increased flexibility financially.
In addition to the share offering, Redrow revealed its current business strategy, which involves a focus on the New Heritage Collection - a return by the company to delivering housing for families.
Steve Morgan, the firm's chairman, said there was a "need to enhance our ability to acquire land".
"This is all part of our strategy to steer the business back to delivering a much improved return on capital employed," he added.
Sustainable flooring part of lottery eco-homeSustainable flooring is among the features of an environmentally-friendly Warwickshire mansion, which is being raffled off over the next 12 months.
Malcolm and Maxine Cox built the £3.2 million, 10,000 sq ft property on the outskirts of Alcester over a period of seven years and elected to incorporate a number of green fixtures in order to conserve energy, the Daily Mail reports.
These include sustainable floors and ceilings, which contribute to keeping the house so well insulated that gas and heating bills come to £270 a year - less than ten per cent of the annual council tax costs.
A raffle is being held to sell the home, with tickets costing £25. Mr Cox hopes that over the next year the couple will be able to sell 150,000, with £100,000 of the money raised going to charity.
Earlier this week, Jennifer Young of New Energy Works and Pioneer Millworks told Roc Now that it is misconception that reclaimed wood can only be used for rustic buildings, when it can also be utilised as sustainable flooring in modern homes.
Hotels 'using bamboo-based sustainable flooring' in green driveHotels in the US are including bamboo as sustainable flooring in their drives to become greener, it has been noted.
The use of the material was mentioned in a blog on the subject by Barbara Kessler for Green Right Now.
She said this was part of a process that is also seeing the businesses pursue LEED certifications with the US Green Building Council - an accreditation showing them to be particularly eco-friendly.
Such a comment may help emphasise the green nature of bamboo, which has been widely seen as being environmentally friendly because it comes from a renewable source.
This point was made by TV makeover show presenter Ty Pennington in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel when discussing the use of green materials.
"My friends at Lumber Liquidators tell me that sales of bamboo flooring are up. This suggests to me that people are really starting to choose renewable resources when they can."
Laminate flooring maker provides wood lookA laminate company has produced a new product that looks like a wood surface, but which, it says, comes without the time and money required to keep it looking good.
In an article on the business standard website, it was revealed that Swedish-based company
Pergo has introduced a product it states can be used for libraries and living rooms alike.
The Expression Ship Deck Collection will offer buyers a "rugged and rustic look" with minimal effort, adding that it is "the closest you can get to natural wood but without the maintenance hassles and extra costs".
Pergo's product comes in long planks, which may further help to produce the appearance of wood.
Earlier this month, home improvement expert Penny Nickols wrote in the Examiner.com that
laminate flooring has many advantages.
It is durable and easy to maintain, although ideally it should be swept every day to keep it in the best condition, she advised.
Woollen carpet makers fight over descriptionMakers of woollen carpets have been joining forces to fight against manufacturers whose products are not entirely made from the material.
The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) - which represents major wool-producing countries including Britain - is seeking to make producers of less than entirely wool products to desist from claiming them to be woollen, Fibre2Fashion reports.
In a recent victory, the IWTO forced US firm Shaw Contract Group' to drop its description of carpets displayed at a flooring show as woollen.
Instead, it rephrased the description as "Couture Inspired by Wool".
The news provider noted that similar problems in Europe include the description of a German insulation product as Eurowool, even though it is 15 per cent polyester.
Last week, flooring industry expert Robert Gill told Hamptons.com that the products are becoming increasingly popular.
He described new wool carpets from New Zealand - which have fibres that stand up like grass - as a "big thing".
Sustainable flooring 'uses versatile materials'Reclaimed wood is more versatile than is often imagined and can be applied to a variety of uses, including sustainable flooring, it has been noted.
Marketing director at North American timber-frame homebuilder New Energy Works and Pioneer Millworks Jennifer Young told Roc Now: "One misconception is that reclaimed flooring is only for cabins or other rustic applications."
She added that the wood can fit well with modern designs.
The news provider also observed that the product is stable, because it does not change shape, with owner of the web-based Finger Lakes Floors Paul DeHond commenting that it "will not warp or shift from its original dimensions".
Pete Harman, a flooring company president, also noted that bamboo and cork are being reused a lot, as these materials add "equity" to homes.
The use of
cork flooring as part of a sustainable home was showcased recently in Australia.
It was one of three being displayed as part of National Sustainable House Day, with
cork flooring being used alongside ceramic tiles in a home that had been made out of mud bricks.
Hardwood flooring 'the best for style'Using hardwood flooring produces unbeatable results when it comes to making a floor look stylish, it has been stated by a team of experts.
Designer Janine Carendi told the Miami Herald that for those willing to spend the time and money the outcome is worth it.
She said: "You can't replace the warmth and texture a wood floor gives you."
The paper noted that many people are using the material throughout their houses and fellow team member Brian Patrick Flynn commented that where there are blemishes through wear and tear, "paint makes the imperfections look cool."
A third designer, Mallory Mathison, recommended using black gloss paint, suggesting this looks "amazing".
The news provider added that those wishing to save money can use hardwood veneers attached to engineered wood or pressboard.
Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon told the Financial Times this week that the use of "beautiful" hardwood flooring was a key feature of the renovation of his apartment in Valencia.
Designer hails use of hardwood flooringThe use of hardwood flooring has been a key design feature in one of the homes of Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon.
Although he is famous for his ceramic art, the use of the material in floor tiling was not for him as he set about renovating an apartment he had bought in Valencia, he explained to the Financial Times.
"We removed all the tiled floors because they were cracked and filthy and laid beautiful, thick, oak wooden flooring throughout," Mr Hayon stated.
This went with other features of the home such as higher ceilings, wood-framed windows and lacquered wood doors, he added.
Such use of hardwood in this way may be one manner that its aesthetic potential could be realised.
Another suggestion is that the material can add "rustic" charm to a home, according to spokeswoman for the American Home Furnishings Alliance Pat Bowling.
Last week, she told the Courant.com that knots, streaks and variations in shade could help achieve this.
Wood flooring firm confirms name changeAn eco-friendly wood flooring firm has revealed that it has altered its name.
US-based custom flooring company Our Heritage Preserved has changed its title to Heritage Plank Floors, Reflector.com reports.
The enterprise - which operates primarily in North Carolina - has taken the decision partly due to its product range, which uses recycled materials made into planks, explained president of the enterprise Jim Blount.
"However, the main reason was the addition of our new growth line of flooring which provides wide plank flooring products in species such as oak, hickory, ash and walnut to name a few," he added.
It is also introducing an install, sand and finish element, as a way of providing a more comprehensive service.
Jobs undertaken by the firm include providing flooring for a restaurant in Washington DC near the White House and a library at East Carolina University.
A new magazine was launched this month to help US householders to find the best wooden floors.
Fabulous Wood Floors is produced by the National Wood Flooring Association.
Green qualities 'reviving' cork flooringCork flooring is seeing a revival because of its eco-friendly qualities, it has been stated.
In an article on the material, owner of sustainable home remodelling and building store Elements of Green Gerould Sabin told the Kansas City Star: "It's rapidly renewable. It comes from the bark of a cork tree, which can be removed every nine years."
This point was also noted by householder Cindy Hedenkamp, who remarked to the paper: "It's very durable, very green and it's a natural product."
She went on to laud the material as "attractive and affordable" as well as being a durable material that can withstand impacts - as it did when she dropped a blender onto it.
The green nature of
cork flooring was noted by US environmental testing agency Dovetail Partners in recent tests.
An examination under the auspices Building for Energy and Environmental Sustainability programme of the National Institute of Standards and Technology found it to be one of the most eco-friendly of flooring materials.
Green construction firms 'to take lead'Those constructions companies that are greenest will emerge from the recession in a position of strength, it has been stated.
Director of external affairs for the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), Brian Berry said that all the political parties are keen to encourage a low-carbon environment and this is creating new opportunities for innovative firms.
In particular, the retro-fitting of existing homes to make them greener could be worth £350 billion and £650 billion a year, he remarked.
Commenting on theenterprises who adapt to this change, he stated: "They will be one step ahead as we come out of the recession if they are looking at ways to adopt low carbon practices."
Mr Berry spoke in the wake of an announcement by business secretary Lord Mandelson that the government will be reviewing the construction industry to check that it is "fit for purpose" as a vehicle for creating a low-carbon future.
