Strand Bamboo

By Amy Ramirez, Eco Committee Member
ReSource Floors, ASID Industry Partner

Bamboo became a popular flooring choice many years ago.  It is wonderfully sustainable, growing quickly and able to be harvested in approximately 5 years.    But then because of poor product quality from the variety of companies popping up all over selling this material it began to get a bad reputation.  In addition, when the only bamboo options were natural or carbonized many designers felt restricted in their vision and opted not to use bamboo even though it was a great ecological option.

These days bamboo comes in a wide array of colors and textures and if purchased from a reliable manufacturer offers a wonderfully durable floor.  One of the most interesting additions to bamboo flooring options is strand bamboo.  Instead of cutting the bamboo reeds horizontally or vertically, the bamboo is ripped down into strands and then compressed with an adhesive mixture into a cohesive unit.   Because of this construction, strand bamboo is remarkably hard, often between 2500 – 3500 on the Janka scale.   

In addition, the texture of this material is very different from its horizontal and vertical cousins in that the bamboo knuckles are not so obvious.  It offers a very interesting texture to the floor. 

It is still very important however to purchase this material from a reputable company.  Because strand bamboo has made its mark on the market we are again seeing it from every corner and for a variety of prices.  The harvesting, the adhesives used, the compression and curing of this material is very important to its overall performance so make sure that you talk to the experts before directing your clients.  In addition, because of the density of strand bamboo it acts much like a solid hardwood floor and attention to moisture and time for acclimation must be considered.

Amy Ramirez is the Design Center Manager at ReSource Floors and has been in the flooring business for ten years. ReSource Floors has provided the premier full service flooring experience since 1989. We promote sustainable business practices throughout our organization by taking a holistic approach to the environment and our goal of sustainability. We are proud to say that we recycle most of the carpet and pad we demo from job sites, we have two LEED accredited professionals on staff to assist our customers in eco projects and we offer a wide array of environmentally friendly products in our showroom.

ReSource Floors Inc.
http://www.resourcefloors.com/
"Service with Purpose"

Green Options in Hardsurface Floors

By Amy Ramirez, ASID Eco Committee Member
ReSource Floors, ASID Industry Partner

Thankfully “Green” is finally becoming a mainstream word. The green options amongst all finishing products are growing. However, many of these products have been “green washed”. Small steps towards being environmentally friendly are aggrandized for marketing purposes. I have actually been told that regular vinyl products are ecologically friendly because they lasts so long. Not quite. There are however some great options in the industry.

Mannington does have a sheet vinyl product, Relay RE, which is made with at least 35% recycled content. This may not seem like much but 20% of that is post consumer. They also have their Premium Tile Flooring collection that is made with content from post consumer drywall. Since the inception of his program in 2006 Mannington has reclaimed and recycled an average of 200 tons of drywall each year. www.mannington.com

Armstrong also has a number of environmentally friendly products. Migrations is a bio based VCT made of corn which of course is rapidly renewable. In addition, their Marmorette, which is their brand of linoleum, has been green before green was in. This material is made of rapidly renewable raw materials, linseed oil and jute, and contains recycled content, wood and cork flour. www.armstrong.com

There are also a variety of rubber floors that include up to 93% recycled post consumer material from truck tires.

These days there are many tiles that offer recycled content as well, however most of these are still pre consumer.

Finally, there are more options than ever if hardwood is what your client is interested in. The products containing the FSC or Forest Stewardship Councils’ certification is higher than ever before. In addition, there are many color and style options now available in the renewable products like cork, bamboo or eucalyptus.

Amy Ramirez is the Design Center Manager at ReSource Floors and has been in the flooring business for ten years. ReSource Floors has provided the premier full service flooring experience since 1989. We promote sustainable business practices throughout our organization by taking a holistic approach to the environment and our goal of sustainability. We are proud to say that we recycle most of the carpet and pad we demo from job sites, we have two LEED accredited professionals on staff to assist our customers in eco projects and we offer a wide array of environmentally friendly products in our showroom.

ReSource Floors Inc.
ReSource Lights
http://www.resourcefloors.com/
"Service with Purpose"

Eco-Friendly Tile for the Eco-Conscious

by Stephanie Duerden, Brand Experience Coordinator
Oceanside Glasstile, ASID Industry Partner

Ready to pair up with Mother Earth on your next home makeover? Recycled tile has gone above and beyond the grip of imagination. There is no longer a cookie cutter market for ceramic and porcelain tile (although the options are still available). Tile is now being created from a number of different resources. Consider the look you are going for and then consider the product that best fits your design:

Aluminum: A sustainable flooring option that's beginning to gain momentum is the use of recycled metal flooring tiles. Most often made of aluminum, these tiles are extremely durable, heat resistant up to 300F and don't hold fingerprint marks like stainless steel is prone to. The manufacturing process in creating these tiles is much the same as all other aluminum recycling. The metal is ground into small pieces then melted down and checked for impurities. Once the recycled material has been cleared, it's molded into large ingots, or castings, that are then flattened to the desired thickness. When made into flooring tiles, the finish doesn't have to be a shiny metallic. Depending on your styling tastes, you can also select tiles that have a matte or sandblasted finish.  Companies to consider: Natural Built Home, Eco Friendly Flooring, Elements of Green.

Glass: Glass is gorgeous to say the least. Its translucent nature and ability to provide an extensive color palette and multiple surface finishes make it a fit for just about anyone. Glass is also durable; it is one of the few materials that do not lose their strength or purity through recycling processes. Another wonderful quality of glass tile is that, in most cases, it is impervious and is acceptable for installation from floor to ceiling and everything in between. It also makes an exceptional pool project. Looking to add a bling in your house? Then glass is the way to go! Companies to consider: Oceanside Glasstile, Modwalls, Hakatai. . . there are many in the market, don’t be shy to do your research.

Bamboo: The environmental balance for bamboo is certainly positive due to the ways in which it is grown and harvested. Every year the parent bamboo plant develops new stems, so the stems can be harvested after 5 years in a mature plantation without decreasing the size of the forest. Bamboo is a very durable material; the hardness of the wood is deemed to be just a bit harder than American Oak. Thus, the floor can be sanded a number of times over the years with little wear. There is also the ability to choose a finish just like any wood, so the versatility of this material is another great attribute. Companies to consider: Moso-Bamboo, Cali-Bamboo, Kirei . . . this product is a little newer to the market so finding manufactures gets more tricky.

Cork: When cork comes to mind, durability seems questionable; however, it’s just the opposite. Cork is a very durable material that has a lot of give and holds heat very well. The tiles are waterproof and can be used in wet locations like bathrooms or around a swimming pool. Cork is a softer material, so some find it terrifying to see an impression left behind as they walk across the floor; however, like a sponge or foam, the cork returns to its original volume once pressure is removed. When it comes to design, the versatility is endless; you can maintain its natural coloring or add a dye element that provides opportunities for intricate detailing or full monochromatic fields.  Companies to consider: Habitus, Yemm & Hart Green Materials, Capri Cork

The Renewable Beauty of Bamboo Floors

by David McCowan
ProSource
ASID Industry Partner

Handscraped bambo
in Hickory finish

Bamboo floors have been all the rage for the past several years. Many designers and their clients understand the green aspect of bamboo and the good feeling one gets from utilizing a product that's so environmentally friendly. Bamboo floors offer renewable beauty combined with durable elegance.

A member of the grass family, bamboo grows throughout Asia from India to China and thrives in forestlands of this region. Unlike hardwood, which can take 60 years to mature, bamboo can be harvested at full maturity in just 4 to 6 years. The stalks are cut, leaving the extensive root system to regenerate for generations to come.

Vertical bamboo pattern
in Natural finish

Bamboo is the most efficient land-based plant at pulling CO2 from the atmosphere and locking it into the fibers of the plant. The only other plant that that is more efficient at sequestering carbon is kelp. This fact makes bamboo a great choice for the planet.

In the past, bamboo fell a bit short in the area of product style and selection. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Today's bamboo floors come in a wide variety of styles and colors, such as traditional bamboo in either natural or carbonized color and with a horizontal or vertical graining pattern. In addition to the traditional looks, there are now a large variety of stained, handscraped, and strand woven floors with selections of varying lengths and widths.

Horizontal bamboo pattern
in Spice finish

If you haven't looked into all of the new options in bamboo flooring lately, we recommend you do so for your next project.

David McCowan, Sales Manager
davidm@prosourcesandiego.com
http://www.prosourcefloors.com/

ProSource San Diego
8485 Production Ave
San Diego Ca 92121
858-566-8100

ProSource San Diego North
1070 La Mirada Court
Vista Ca 92081
760-477-1780