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May 3, 2012 on 5:41 pm
What Gloss Level Should I Use On My Floor? When selecting a gloss level for wood, laminate or vinyl flooring consider these factors… High-gloss provides a bright finish that reflects the most light which will highlight scuffs, scratches and other marks. Heavy foot-traffic, high-heel shoes, rolling carts and pets will show wear on a high-gloss finish. With frequent routine maintenance a high-gloss shine can be successfully maintained. Matte (or Satin) finish has the lowest available shine because it absorbs the most light. The shine is often referred to as being a “natural” shine. This low luster makes marks, scuffs and scratches less noticeable. Matte or satin finish level requires less maintenance and re-coating than high or semi-gloss finishes. Semi-gloss or (Low-gloss) provides modest shine to a floor while requiring less maintenance than its high-gloss counterpart. Semi-gloss has more pizzaz than a matte finish. When deciding on gloss level for a floor, consider the following:
Here are some top brands of flooring finishes: Wood/ Cork: Bona Hardwood, Basic Coatings, Bruce Fresh Finish, LOBA® Stone/ Tile/ Laminate: Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate, Aqua Mix, DuPont™ StoneTech® Resilient/ Vinyl/ Linoleum: Mannington Award Series®, Diversey, Congoleum, Armstrong Once ‘n Done, Forbo Marmoleum, Domco Sure Shine, Lonseal Lonfinish, Metroflor, Hilway Direct, Spartan
May 4, 2011 on 2:53 pm
Cork has a cellular construction that provides cushion under your step making it easier on the feet, legs and back especially when standing for long stretches. The resilience of cork reduces the impact of fallen objects, such as glass or china, which would likely shatter on a wood or ceramic floor. Shhh. Cork is quiet underfoot. Cork is forgiving (but not impervious) when you drop something that dents or punctures because it “recovers” or bounces back, kind of like memory foam. Minor damage is inconspicuous. Major damage can often be repaired. Cork is eco-friendly because it is a strictly regulated and renewable natural product made from the bark of cork oak trees that are at least 25 years old. Removal of the bark does not harm the tree and the bark grows back. It can be harvested again in intervals of 9 years. Cork has natural fire-resistant (not fireproof) properties and does not release toxins (good for air quality) if it does burn. Cork is naturally resistant to mold and mildew. Cork is resistant to insects, such as termites or carpenter ants, because of suberin, a natural component of cork, which repels critters. Most of today’s cork floors are coated with polyurethane and require 3 – 4 coats for durability and extended wear. Refinishing is required every 5-10 years. This involves sanding and recoating. (A cork floor from the 1950s may have a wax finish requiring different care than urethane.) Routine cork care is easy and required to keep the floor in good shape. Sweep or vacuum routinely to prevent small particles of dirt from scratching the floor’s surface. Dust mopping is recommended. Clean with a neutral spray cleaner and microfiber mop, similar to what is used on polyurethane coated wood floors. Avoid harsh detergents or high pH cleaning products that will likely cause damage. Some cork floors have a veneer surface while others are through and through material. Patterned cork tiles are typically a veneer while solid color cork is typically cork through the thickness of material. While veneer-surfaced cork tiles can be coated with polyurethane, you may not be able to sand before recoating. Cork should be used on floors at ground-level or above. Not a good fit for basements that are below grade where dampness and moisture can become problematic. Cork floors and pets? Claw marks are not typically a problem because of the forgiving nature of cork. A deep scratch can be sanded and sealed. When compared with hardwood flooring, cork will outperform in regards to visible pet scratches. Cork floors are water resistant but not water proof. Spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible after they happen to avoid staining and degradation of the material. Hypoallergenic properties of cork: Cork floors contain no fibers or toxins. Cork, like wood, will fade when exposed to direct sunlight. Keep this in mind when placing area rugs on your cork floor and when selecting window treatments. Remember to lift, not drag, furniture that is being moved across the cork floor or use felt-bottom furniture slides to prevent damage. Wondering if you can install cork flooring as a do-it-yourself project? If you’re handy, you may be able to install your own cork floor. Be sure the surface you’re installing on is flat and level. Many cork floors use a glue-down method while others are floating floors. Consult the installation manual that comes with your flooring material and make sure your subfloor is in good condition. A general rule to follow when it comes to finishing, waxing or cleaning a cork floor is to test a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding with the entire area and follow manufacturer’s recommended procedures. When product literature is not available for your floor, consult industry sources to produce the best possible results. Call 1-877-floorguy with questions and a knowledgeable, experienced staff member will provide the information you need to care for your floor.
June 21, 2010 on 5:25 pm
Cork is a resilient, eco-friendly flooring material that has a unique aesthetic appeal and can reduce stress on your feet and legs when you spend a lot of time standing on the floor (as compared to other hard surface floors). Cork is not as commonly used as other types of flooring materials, such as wood, vinyl and laminate. Because of this, not everyone knows how easy it is to maintain a Cork floor. Here are some basics for Cork floor care that will get you started in the right direction. A Cork floor should be swept frequently enough, depending on the amount of traffic it gets, to remove loose dirt and debris off the floor thereby reducing the instances of microscopic scratches that occur when these particles become ground or rubbed into the floor. Microscopic scratches will dull the appearance of your floor. Always sweep your cork floor prior to mopping or use a vacuum on the “hard floor” setting. Note: Vacuums with metal beater bars or in poor condition can damage cork so check your machine before vacuuming. Place mats near exterior doorways to limit dirt and debris tracking on your floor. Avoid rubber or non-porous types of backings on mats because they tend to trap moisture that could damage your floor. Clean up spills right away with a soft cloth because, like hardwood floors, moisture is not cork’s friend. To clean up after a spill, if it’s something other than water, use a spray cleaner to remove any residue left behind. Wipe the cleaner until it’s dry. This will be the same product that you use to clean the floor. Use manufacturer approved cleaners on your cork floor to uphold your warranty on a new cork floor. Check your manufacturer warranty for specific time frames and details. If you don’t know the flooring manufacturer, there are products approved for use on cork floors such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or Basic Squeaky Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner. These are spray cleaners that spray directly onto the floor then mop with a microfiber mop. Both, Bona & Basic, have a mop kit that includes cleaner and mop. Replacement mop covers (Bona, Basic) can be purchased separately. Bona also has a spray mop for all-in-one cleaning. If you are uncertain about what product to select, ask the retailer. A knowledgeable retailer, local or internet, will be familiar with cork and what types of cleaner or finish is compatible. Basically, you’re looking for a cleaner with neutral pH and that leaves no residue. 1877floorguy.com is available by phone during our normal business hours at 1-877-356-6748. Minimize scuffs and scratches. Save your floor from furniture scratches by using felt pads under furniture legs and bases. This is a MUST DO to protect the floor from scratches especially on tables and chairs that are frequently moved! Be aware of spike-heeled shoes or shoes with worn-out or excessively heavy heels that can dent and damage the floor. Remove shoes or ask others to do so in order to save your floor. These rules apply to any hard surface floor in your home. When moving large pieces of furniture or appliances on cork, don’t drag! Cork will scratch or gouge if a heavy or sharp object drags across it. If possible, lift objects to move them. If items are too heavy to lift, such as hutches or large appliances, use tools to assist you such as EZ Moves felt bottom slides. This will save your floor and your back! Again, good practice for any hard surface floor. Follow these basic rules, along with the Manufacturer’s Care Instructions, and your cork floor should look good for many years. Finishes can sometimes be applied to cork for added protection in high traffic areas. To be sure you select a compatible finish, we recommend you call us at 1-877-Floorguy or contact the flooring manufacturer for guidance before you purchase and apply a finish. If you buy from 1877Floorguy.com, use coupon code “FGBLOG” for a 10% discount off your order. Check our website under Cork & Rubber Floor Care for some manufacturer recommended care products or our Hardwood Floor Care section because many wood care products work well on cork floors. For assistance from one of our knowledgeable agents, call 1-877-Floorguy, with your questions.
December 15, 2009 on 3:31 pm
Residential Flooring Manufacturers devote many dollars to developing floor care and maintenance products specific to the floor(s) they produce. These products are carefully formulated, for each type of flooring the manufacturer produces to leave the floor residue-free, maintain the integrity of the floor’s surface finish without compromising slip resistance or shine and it needs to be the safest possible for people, pets and the environment. Important? You bet! Using the Manufacturer Recommended floor care & maintenance products on your new floor, in accordance with Manufacturer guidelines, will keep the floor you purchased looking great and it will uphold the Warranty on your floor if you should have a claim. The big question has long been, “Where can I buy the product recommended by the Manufacturer?” The flooring industry has a missing link when it comes to selling floor care & maintenance products. The flooring industry’s distribution chain, that has been in place for as long as I can remember, is from Manufacturer to Distributor to Retailer. This works like a well-oiled machine for flooring materials. Distributors buy in bulk from Manufacturers and the Retailers order from their Distributor to manage the amount of material they need to inventory. Since this works for flooring materials, it should also work for floor care & maintenance products, right? Wrong. More often than not, Retailers don’t carry the care & maintenance products that Manufacturers require to uphold their flooring Warranties. The truth is that they likely did when they first brought on the line of flooring because the Manufacturer probably had a spiffy display that was offered for the Care & Maintenance Products as part of their kick-off package however, when that initial supply was depleted, they never replenished the stock. This happens for several reasons. Flooring Retailers & Distributors have their focus on flooring materials, not care & maintenance products, because flooring material is their primary business and where most of their profits are generated. When they do try to track down the care & maintenance products they find that the Manufacturer is also more focused on the flooring products and they are not always able to obtain the care & maintenance products because their Distributor has trouble procuring them from the Manufacturer. You can see this doesn’t go very far in getting the products to the End Users. You won’t find the Manufacturer Recommended Floor Care Products in Big box stores either because there is not enough in volume sales for them. Each flooring product in the marketplace has approximately 3 floor care product sku’s (each item has a unique sku) associated with it. Multiply this by the hundreds of flooring products out there and the total equals too many different products for a big box store that focuses on high volume and low cost. The result- Customers, who buy new floors, become frustrated and may turn to easily available generic floor care products to maintain their new floor. This often backfires because the generic product may leave a cloudy film, etch the finish, create too much moisture, stain or dull the original shine. Depending on the product- cleaner, polish, stain remover, refresher, etc- the result of the generic product may or may not be reversible. Situations like this often wind up as Claims filed with the Manufacturer because the Customer believes the floor to be defective. They rarely see a Claim settle in their favor if they haven’t followed the Manufacturer’s care & maintenance guidelines. If only they could find the floor care products recommended by the Manufacturer to uphold their warranty… This is where the specialty e-store fills the missing link. 1877Floorguy.com carries over 1000 sku’s, specializing in Manufacturer recommended Floor Care & Maintenance Products. This website has such a large selection of Manufacturers and Products, organized by type of floor and by Manufacturer, that you will likely find the exact item you are looking for along with helpful tips or advise on how to use it. If you don’t find the answer on the website, call 1-877-Floorguy and one of the staff members, each has been doing this for 8+ years, will answer your questions and guide you with expertise. If you don’t see the product you’re looking for, ask! because 1877Floorguy.com is adding new products all the time. Best of all, most products are in stock and ready to ship next business day. To help you get started with the right maintenance products for your floor, use coupon code ”FGBLOG” for a 10% discount. Hopefully more Retailers will recognize that they can guide their Customers to 1877Floorguy.com to buy maintenance & care products for their new floor. This will make their Customers happy and they’ll go back to that Retailer again for new floors. We’ll never compete for the flooring materials business because our specialty is the products to keep floors clean and maintained. It has taken some convincing, within the industry, but Manufacturers are beginning to see the importance of breaking the supply chain mold to better serve the end users. |
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Cork flooring has been gaining popularity in the US market however many are skeptical because they don’t know much about it. Here are some bits of information about cork that you may not have known. For example, cork was widely used as a flooring material in the 1950s. If your house was constructed in the ‘50s, there is a chance that cork floors are hidden beneath wall to wall carpeting. Depending on the condition of the cork, you may be able to sand & refinish it for an eco-friendly, trendy floor. Here’s some more to know about cork…
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