Bamboo flooring is this year’s hottest flooring trend.

Designers everywhere are recommending bamboo as an alternative to hardwood floors.

Bamboo flooring has been used for centuries in Asia because of its beauty, hardness, durability and environmental friendliness. No longer limited to a few colors, today’s bamboo floors are brimming with colors and textures.

Recognized as the fastest-growing plant on earth, bamboo offers 25 times the yield of hardwood, yet is much more sustainable and renewable. Bamboo can be harvested without killing the plant and replenished with virtually no impact to the environment. Bamboo is such a hardy plant that it requires no pesticides or fertilizers. Properly harvested, bamboo is harder than red oak and North American Maple.

Which Color Bamboo Floor Is Right For You....

There are two primary colors of bamboo flooring to choose from; Natural Blonde, which reflects bamboo’s true color, along with its beautiful grain, growth patterns and joints or Smoked/carbonized Bamboo which is a darker, amber tone, this dark, rich color is achieved by a smoking process. When bamboo is carbonized, it takes on a darker, caramel or amber tone throughout.

Bamboo flooring is manufactured in both a horizontal-grain with the characteristic nodes visible or in a vertical grain, which produces an even coloring, and grain. The final product is also available in door and window moldings, parquet flooring strips, wall panels and stairway treads.

The Benefits Of Bamboo Flooring Are:

· Same design appeal as hardwood flooring
· Harder than Oak and Rock Maple
· Durable
· Environmentally friendly
· Installation - same as hardwood floors.

Caring For Your Bamboo Floors....

Caring for bamboo floors is easy - bamboo requires you to run a mop or vacuum over it twice a week and maybe use a little mild detergent & non-abrasive cleaners. To clean up a spill just use a damp cloth, and wipe the surface dry.

Cork Floors

Cork floors are the latest decorating sensation to arrive on the flooring scene. Walking on cork is like walking on air - because cork is 50% air!!

Cork floors are taking the flooring market by storm, discover why Europeans have been using cork floor coverings for years and why North Americans are falling in love with this environmentally friendly floor covering. Cork floors are made from the harvested bark of the cork oak tree, which is grown in the forests of the Mediterranean. Because the tree is not cut down to make the flooring, and the bark is a renewable resource, it is desirable flooring for environmentally aware consumers.

With the help from today's manufacturing technology, cork flooring is now offered in many colors in both planks and tiles. Like solid wood, cork can be finished and re-finished, stained, bleached, pickled, painted, etched, inlaid, and installed with a border in any type of patterns, resulting in an endless variety of patterns.

Cork flooring can be glue-downed and/or floated over a variety of sub-floors, including concrete and existing flooring.

Cork Is A Wood Product With Some Unusual, Natural Benefits:

· Cork is a renewable resource.
· Millions of air-cells give cork floors a natural cushion, feels like you are walking on air.
· Cork flooring is warm to the touch.
· The acoustical insulation properties of cork help reduce noise.
· Cork is non-absorbent and will not trap dirt & fungus.
· Cork is easy to maintain.
· It is repairable with wood filler.
· Cork is great in any room including kitchens & bathrooms.
· Cork floors are rugged enough to with stand heavy wear.
· Cork is used around the world both residentially & commercially.
· Electrically Dissipative- cork flooring does not produce static electricity making it suitable for rooms with electronic equipment and appliances.
· Hypo allergenic- Cork does not attract dust and consequently does not cause allergies.
· Cork is fire retardant.
· Cork flooring is resistant to more than 35 species of insects including termites.
· Easy Installation - cork floating floor panels are easily installed without the use of glues or special tools.

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum flooring, which was unavailable for many years and is now experiencing a resurgence is made from all natural ingredients, making it very much in demand for environmentally aware consumers.

Linoleum Flooring is often mistaken for vinyl flooring, but linoleum is much different from sheet vinyl, vinyl tile and vinyl composition tile.

Linoleum floors are generally produced with natural ingredients. Linoleum is a combination of linseed oil from flax, cork ground limestone, resins, drying agents and pigments all on a backing of jute fiber. This combination of materials makes linoleum flooring resistant to fire. Linoleum flooring is a durable product that is comfortable, warm and quiet. The built in shock and sound absorbers of the cork act as an excellent sound deadening material.

Linoleum flooring is also hypoallergenic and antistatic; this makes it a wonderful choice home, office or medical facilities. With the antistatic qualities linoleum repels dust and dirt.

Benefits Of Linoleum Flooring:

· Very environmentally friendly.
· Comfortable - shock absorbent, warm and quiet.
· Shock absorbent.
· Hypoallergenic.
· Anti-static - repels dust & dirt.
· Easy to maintain.
· Easy installation-no glue or special tools.
· Fire retardant.

Maintaining Linoleum Floors:

The occasional sweep and a damp mop with a little mild disinfectant is all that is required to maintain your linoleum floors. Due to its natural components it is recommended that harsh strong alkali /acid detergents (ammonia typically) are not used.

In case of damage to your linoleum floors, here are some tips:

· Mild scratches can be neutralized by some buffing and a bit of water based polyurethane.
· Holes can be fixed by melting a wax crayon of the same color into the hole and letting it set.

Vinyl Tile & Plank Flooring

Vinyl tile & plank flooring offers the look of ceramic tile, stone, hardwood or other contemporary designs at a fraction of the cost.

Vinyl tile floors offer easy installation, especially with "peel-and-stick" options that have a self-adhesive covered with a peel-off backing - perfect for the Do-It-Yourselfer! Vinyl tiles without the backing require an adhesive that is spread over the floor with a notched trowel, yet a non-professional can perform this job relatively easily.

Three Types of Vinyl Finishes....

· No wax wear surface (Vinyl No-Wax), which requires frequent washing and polishing to keep it shiny.
· Urethane – more resilient to scratching keeping its new appearance for a longer period.
· Enhanced Urethane, which is the most resistant and only needs the odd sweep and occasional wipe.

Benefits of Vinyl Flooring:
· Match any decor with unlimited style and design options.
· Easy to maintain, just mop.
· Vinyl flooring is very durable even in high traffic areas.
· Fits all budgets with wide range of prices.
· Moisture resistant - great for kitchens and bathrooms.
· Comfortable underfoot.
· More than 80% of VCT raw material is Limestone, a clean, non-polluting and benign fiber.

Maintaining Your Vinyl Floors....

Vinyl flooring needs to be maintained to keep it in its mint good-looking condition. This involves it being swept/vacuumed on a regular basis with regular washing with a floor cleaner that does not require rinsing. Avoid abrasive cleaners and use a little liquid polish to give it its shine back. If you are going to use mats, use ones that are made of natural fibers. Mats that have rubber underside can sometimes stain the vinyl floor tiles.

Laminate Floors

Laminate Floors Offer More Than Beauty & Durability
You might not give your floors much thought -- until it comes time to replace them. Then you realize that there are many options out there. For busy families whose floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate flooring is an excellent choice.

The most common laminate flooring designs have a wood grain appearance; some are even made to look like stone or marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years with a minimum amount of maintenance.

Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A wear resistant decorative surface made of resin-based melamine/aluminum oxide is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition-based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which provides the protection and stain resistance. Since the resin-filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch or burn.

Laminate Flooring Offers Easy Installation....

Can be installed over almost any sub-floor that is flat and clean.

Ease of installation is one factor that contributes to the popularity of laminate flooring. It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system, which can be installed over the top of existing flooring. Plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other basically flat hard surface is a suitable base for laminate.

Most brands of laminate flooring require that the joints be glued with specially formulated, water-resistant glue placed between the tongue and grooves of every plank. However many manufacturers are meeting the demand of glue-less interlocking system that will provide strong, tight joints without messy glue or special tools.

Because installation is so simple, and because you can walk on your new floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with new laminate flooring is truly a project you can do in a weekend.

No matter what your décor or your lifestyle; you can find a laminate floor to fit your needs. Laminate flooring can be used in virtually any area of your home, such as kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms and bathrooms.

Laminate Floors Are Easy To Maintain....

Taking care of a laminate floor is very easy. Simply vacuum or dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit to keep your floor looking like new and avoid scratches. Chair glides or cushioned bottom protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent possible scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways keep dirt from coming inside.

Laminate Flooring Is The Right Choice For People With Allergies...

The hygienic and healthy living qualities make laminate floors ideal for people who suffer from allergies. Laminate flooring is the perfect solution for children's bedrooms and all other living areas throughout your home.

Dust is unable to collect on laminate flooring and therefore house-mites are unable to establish themselves. This means that laminate floors are ideal for people who suffer from allergy to dust, dander and other household contaminates.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has been around for centuries and yet, it never goes out of style. Now, more than ever, homeowners are returning to the timeless beauty of hardwood floors.

Around for centuries, real wood floors are establishing their place in great homes everywhere. Hardwood floors add elegance and beauty to any decorating style and the latest trend in wood floors is hand-scraped hardwood flooring. This old world looking finish is in demand with homeowners looking for a rustic finish. The timeless classics include - Oak, Cherry, Pine, Maple Hickory, Pecan, Beech, Birch, and Walnut.

Hardwood floors have a comforting, solid sound that most laminates can't equal, and they can be refinished over and over again, creating a floor that can last for decades.

Advantages Of Hardwood Flooring....

· Improves the value of your home.
· Timeless beauty.
· Easily maintained.
· Wide range of finishes and colors.
· Doesn't trap allergens like carpeting.

The construction methods and wood finishes - as well as the introduction of exotic woods - have improved the manufacturing of wood floors to allow for a wide range of colors and flooring choices. Time has also seen many advances in finishes, cuts, styles and installation making it a fine choice throughout the home (excluding the bathroom.) Therefore its popularity is only expected to grow especially considering the expected life span and the easy care and maintenance required.

Ceramic & Porcelain Tiles

Ceramic and porcelain tiles provide some of the most versatile interior design possibilities, sporting an almost limitless array of sizes, colors, textures, and designs.Ceramic tile brings texture, richness and color to a room that linoleum has yet to truly mimic.

Tile floors can be installed in any room, however they are most frequently seen in bathrooms and kitchens. They make a great transition flooring in entryways where heavy traffic brings everything from the outdoors in. Tile floors are easy to clean up and are impervious to water damage. Ceramic floor tile is easy to care for, more durable than other flooring options and the range of prices appeals to any budget. Ceramic tiles come in two finishes; unglazed and more common the glazed.

There Are Basically Two Types Of Ceramic Tiles:
Glazed and Porcelain.

Glazed tiles are the best choice for heavy traffic areas and porcelain tiles work well in bathrooms. Porcelain tile is typically more expensive, so consider your budget and the size of the area you want to tile.

Tiles also come in many shapes and sizes. For flooring, however, it is recommended to use larger tiles up to 12” x 12”.Glazed ceramic floor tiles have a thin coat of glass-like material fired onto the topside. This coating is very durable, comes in an endless number of colors and a wide variety of finishes including non-slip.For home decorators no other floor covering offers a wider variety of colors, sizes and styles. Hand painted floor tiles and custom colors are readily available.

What's New In Ceramic Tile...

· A deep texture with metallic finishes.
· A creamy coffee look is beginning to emerge as one of the most popular color combination.
· Tiles are getting larger, giving a room look as if it was laid with a single solid piece of stone. 18X18 and 20X20 seem to be the most significant trend
· Outdoor tiles are continuing to dominate indoor surfaces, with granite and slate are showing up in every room of the house.
· Porcelain is also much more affordable than it used to be, in addition to being a very durable tile, making it a good buy for the consumer.

Characteristics of Glazed Ceramic Tile Flooring Are:

· Durable - ceramic tile will outperform and outlast nearly any other floor covering product.
· Easy to care for - glazed ceramic tile resists stains, odors, and dirt and can be cleaned up with a damp mop.
· Scratch resistant - glazed ceramic tiles are extremely resistant to scratching.
· Environmentally friendly - ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odors, allergens, or bacteria.
· Beautiful and versatile - an unlimited number of colors, sizes, styles, shapes, and textures.
· Fire resistant - ceramic tile doesn't burn.
· Water resistant - most glazed ceramic tile permits little or no accumulation of moisture.

Unglazed floor tile or pavers is just that - unglazed. Because the unglazed ceramic tile does not have a second layer, the true color of the clay runs through.

It is recommended that a penetrating sealer be applied to non-glazed tiles to help avoid staining. With the constent color of these tiles; scratches and wear pattern are non-existent.

While an unglazed ceramic tile offers a beautiful rich look to any room, the natural colors of the clay limit the color choices in this tile.

Carpet

Carpet: wall-to-wall, area rugs or runners, carpet or broadloom, is warm, comfortable underfoot, very affordable, easy to install, and more soundproof than other flooring materials.

Carpet and carpeting has outsold every other type of flooring for the last 50 years, and accounts for more than half the flooring purchases made each year. In addition to adding warmth and insulation, carpet is the most practical, versatile and fashionable floor covering.

As a design element - carpets can quietly fade into the background or add a loud punch of color. Because carpet can be applied over almost any sub-floor or existing flooring, a thick pile carpet will hide irregularities in sub-flooring in a way that other flooring coverings can't.

To complete the finished look, proper selection of carpet padding is essential. Be sure to choose the right pad for the carpet you are installing. The correct density and material will make all the difference in the final look of your new carpets.
Another option for wall-to-wall carpets are carpet tiles. These easy to install carpet squares are once again becoming very popular as improvements are being made in the quality of the manufacturing.
Carpet runners are a practical solution to cold hallways, adding warmth as well as soundproofing and a shot of color.

Dalton, Georgia is the Carpet Capital of the World and America's top carpet manufacturers include: Mohawk, Shaw, Philadelphia & Empire.

When Shopping For Carpet, Consider These Important Points....

· Lifestyle
· Number of family members (including pets)
· Your expectation of the carpets performance
· Your color scheme
· Concerns about footprints, clean ability & wear