A squeaky floor is easier to fix if it’s a floor that you can access from below.
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60 to 70% of the homes in the U.S. contain carpeting made from nylon, polyester, or vinyl—materials dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels. So when upgrading your flooring or finishing new space, consider one of the following five alternatives:
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Bamboo is the king of green building and design materials. Though bearing physical similarities to hardwoods, it is actually a tropical grass. And while hardwoods can take 25 to 125 years to fully mature, bamboo only takes 3 to 5. Usually, bamboo receives a 1350 rating on the Janka hardness test, a rating similar to red or white oak, but some manufacturing techniques can weave bamboo to a rating of nearly 3000—more than rock maple, hickory, or Brazilian cherry. Conveniently, bamboo can take a wide range of low-VOC stains and sealers, which makes it easy to integrate into any decor.
A couple decades ago, no one would have considered it, but one of today’s most popular flooring products is bamboo.
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Imitation wood plank tiles by Ergon
Italian home furnishings designers are always at the cutting edge. For evidence, look no further than the ceramic tile category, where Italian suppliers are constantly developing trendy looks and new technologies that offer average homeowners a rich variety of options.
Texture takes center stage in many new collections, with floor and wall tile designs ranging from naturalistic faux wood grains and petrified woods to sophisticated industrial interpretations of concrete and cement. There are minimalist monochromatic sculptural styles, as well.
You never know why a previous homeowner made the decorating decisions they did, but sometimes you just have to scratch your head and wonder why in the world they chose a particular paint color, wallpaper, or floor covering.
Our entry hallways perfectly illustrate this point. For some inexplicable reason, both the front and side entryways to our house were carpeted—and the carpet was always a mess.
We experimented with a variety of doormats, both inside and outside the doors. And over the years, we’ve enjoyed a fair number of attractive and whimsical looks, including my favorite, a coir mat that said, “Go Away!”
But even the best doormats can’t keep up with the combined effects of rainwater, snow, ice, dirt, grass and grit.
Removing the carpet to expose the concrete subfloor
Weathered wood floors grayed from years of wear go so well with the ubiquitous reclaimed wood and industrial furniture in today’s market. What if you love that look but don’t have years to wait for the floors to age naturally? Monocoat makes products expressly for this purpose.
Launched in 1962, Monocoat operates right here in the U.S. out of Lithonia, Georgia. I had the opportunity to use this product in my own home with good results. First, our contractor’s crew installed white oak plank flooring in a generously-sized five inch width. Along with the gray tone, I hoped wider floor planks would recall historical floors, typically wider than today’s 2-1/4” standard width.
For Paul Burns, Founder and Chief Ceramicist at Fireclay Tile, the deafening sound of crushing porcelain toilets is strangely melodious. The deconstruction of old and inefficient toilets gives Burns the strong stabilizer he needs to create Debris Series Recycled Tile, made from over 70% post- and pre-consumer waste. In finding a purpose for outdated plumbing fixtures, Fireclay Tile has diverted 150 tons of porcelain waste from landfill so far.
Don’t be afraid to add some pattern. Basic cabinets get a boost from encaustic tiles. Photo courtesy: 1910Foursquare
While popular following their development in the mid-1800s, encaustic cement tiles fell out of favor in the mid 1930s. Today they are on the design radar again and finding renewed popularity.
Producing encaustic tile uses less energy than firing ceramic tiles does, and the materials are natural. The design layer is typically created by pouring a mixture of Portland cement, marble dust, and natural pigments into a dye that resembles a cookie cutter, which has been placed inside a square mold. The base layer is solid gray concrete and provides stability. Before the tiles cure, a hydraulic press is used to sandwich the layers together.
Pluses for using encaustic tile include lovely patterns, inspiring colors, and greater longevity. The design layer is typically ¼” thick, allowing for years of wear. The downside, as with most tile, is the weight; you’ll need to factor shipping costs into your budget. An 8″ square tile typically weighs in at 3 lbs., so a room’s worth of tile can add up. Tiles are typically boxed and palleted (to protect them in shipping) and sent via freight carrier. Remember to always add overage (generally 15%) to your tile order in case of breakage on site or during transit. Leftovers can be stored for future repairs.
In two neutral hues, linoleum "Click" tiles from Forbo Marmoleum make a classic entrance.
Think linoleum and vinyl flooring are the same thing? Wrong. While many people mistakenly call vinyl tile ‘linoleum’, the two couldn’t be more different. Linoleum, which was patented in the 1860s, is made with natural, renewable materials, including linseed oil, tree resins, recycled wood flour, cork dust, and mineral pigments, all mounted on a jute or canvas backing.
Linoleum was considered a luxurious material for many years—it was actually used in the Grand Ballroom, the dining room, and other areas of the Titanic! But gradually cheaper (and decidedly unnatural) vinyl flooring overtook linoleum in the 1940s. And while vinyl is easy to maintain, it’s simply a printed design with a protective layer on top. Once that protective layer wears down or is damaged, the flooring must be replaced.
Surprises abound when you take on a home remodeling project. You never quite know what you will find; and once you’ve started, there’s no turning back.
I used to consider myself an optimist, but that was before I turned into an avid do-it-yourselfer. Now it seems that I’ve turned into a “glass-half-empty” type of person, at least as far as home renovation is concerned.
