Green Talk® » home decor

Trees Made into Flooring and Furnishings Not Firewood

Anna@Green Talk — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:57:31 +0000

One of My Neighbor's Fallen Tree Limbs

Prior to Halloween, New Jersey was blanketed with four to six inches of heavy snow. The trees had barely lost any of their leaves causing many trees to split. Huge broken limbs scattered the roads and fell on power lines. These limbs were big enough to become someone’s new dresser.

One of the Maple trees that bordered my property lost two huge limbs. As I looked at the massive limbs, I couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would simply split them for firewood. Couldn’t they use the limbs to make something with it? Cabinets? Flooring? A table?

Saving the Limbs From the Fire

As my neighbor waited for anyone to cut up the tree, I called several woodworking places trying in vein to save these limbs from becoming firewood. Finally, after several calls, I reached Richard Plog of Newton, New Jersey.

Plog owns a Wood-Mizer portable sawmill. Unfortunately, after we discussed where I lived and the quantity of the wood I had, it didn’t make sense for Plog to cut up the wood.

Using Clear Cut Wood for Flooring

But he got me thinking. What happens if you were clearing a section of your land? Rather than cut up the trees, why not use it for flooring? What about a beautiful maple table?

While I had Plog on the phone, I took the opportunity to get a wood education. He gladly obliged and walked me through the process of logs to flooring. First, you can contact someone like him who shows up on your property with their portable sawmill.

After Plog cuts the wood, the lumber is sent to be kiln dried. (He knows where to send the wood.) Thereafter, the wood is milled into flooring.

Plog Cutting a Log with his Wood-miser Sawmill

In fact, Plough explained the whole process would cost about $2 a board foot. I was impressed since I knew that FSC certified flooring is so much more expensive. Just to give you an idea how economical this can be, 1Aflooring sells Red Oak in the $3 per square foot range. This flooring was not FSC certified (from a sustainable managed forest.)

What About If Your Trees Are Not the Same?

What is the likelihoods in your forest that you only have oak, pine, or cherry trees? No probem, Plog explained. He has cut different species and the owners use the wood to make multi-specie flooring. Check out Timbergreen Farm’s flooring photo.

You can also have one room in one specie and another room in another specie. Plog’s own home has different species of wood for each room.

Want Your Own Wood Flooring?

What happens if you clear cut your own property or you need to thin down your forest? Plog told me to contact Wood-Mizer and they would have a list who owns their sawmills. After my conversation with Plog, I call the Company to see if there were any other sawmill companies closer to me.

Just as Plog stated, they had a list. I called a few more companies but no one else called me back.

So, unfortunately, those 2 limbs that I tried to save became firewood. For the rest of you, perhaps someone in your town is clearing trees or thinning a forest. Want new flooring? See if you can take the trees off their hands.

Join the Conversation:

Would you consider multi-specie flooring in your house?
Would you consider one room being one type of tree and another being another type of tree?
Would you consider making furniture or flooring from your trees?
Have you installed flooring from nearby trees or had a piece of furniture made from fallen trees?

Special thanks to Plog for his help with this article and the picture of the Wood-Mizer sawmill.

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Modern Fabrics: Cutting Floor Remnants for Affordable Green Decor

Anna@Green Talk — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:47:38 +0000

Modern Fabrics' Remnants.

Modern Fabrics offers green decor fabric options which are Earth and purse friendly. So, ladies and gents, isn’t it time to spruce up the nest? Liven up the office decor? You bet with savings about 50 to 75% off of retail.

Anna, come again. How can Modern Fabrics offer such deals?

I am not going to kid you. Green Decor can be expensive. Some fabrics can cost over $100 per yard which may be a hefty fee to pay for the Earth. Co-founders James and Ewa Powell took dumpster diving to a refined level. They source their fabrics from the “floors” of luxury furniture companies. Left overs, remnants, or castaways that would see the inside of a dumpster if it the Powells didn’t seize this green opportunity.

Anna, what kind of fabrics are we talking about. Basic and boring?

Um, no. They carry some of my fabric green lines such as Knoll, Designtex, Mararam, Luna, Kravet and Sina Pearson. If you are a long time Green Talk reader you will recall that a couple of years ago, I provided a laundry list of green fabrics for my green decor affecionados which included the above fabrics (and some.)

In addition, the company also carries fabric from Pollack, Momentum, Brentano, HBF Textiles, Jhane Barnes, Arc|Com, and many more.

Sina Pearson's Bounce Fabric

To give you an example of the bargains waiting for you at Modern Fabrics, Sina Pearson’s Bounce striped fabric, a Cradle to Cradle certified fabric, costs $34.00 a yard. Are you sitting down? Ordinarily, this fabric costs $105 per yard to the trade. A complete steal.

But here is the bad part.

The difference between a regular retail fabric store and Modern Fabrics is you can order the length you want. Each remnant is a particular size. So, if you are looking to make curtains, a four yard remnant may not be enough. In the above example, if your heart was set on the Sina Pearson fabric, there is only 5 1/4 yards available.

Okay, why so many remnants?

Many people specify certain custom fabrics for their fabrics. In the design biz, this is called “COM” fabric. (Kind of like bring your own bottle.) The Company explains,

“Customers Own Material (COM) fabric is the worst culprit. Upon filling an order, there is no incentive to store or reuse fabrics which have been paid for by a customer. It is not cost effective for manufacturers to return or ship the fabric to the customer. Furthermore, most customers simply have no interest in having excess COM returned. As you can see in our online store, quantities of excess COM can range from 1/2 to 40 yards or more!”

So, beauty does have its cost.

Search by Size, Color, and Patterns

I can’t imagine their store with so many different fabrics to choose from. The Company has made it easy to shop by textile brand, yardage, eco-friendly fabric, leather, mid-century pattern, and prints to name a few. I did fine quite a few with substantial yardage.

Want to touch, ogle, and swoon? You absolutely can at their store in Charlotte, North Carolina. In fact, the Company states only 30 to 40% of their fabrics are online. For the rest of us, we can buy online.

LEED Credits for Reclaimed Fabrics

Thinking about obtaining LEED accrediation for your next project? Modern Fabrics’ remnants can help you get there. Since all of their fabrics are post-industrial, specifying the fabrics could help you to achieve LEED Materials & Resources Credit 4.1 & 4.2.

Join the Conversation

How do you feel about purchasing remnants?
If you are an architect or designer would you buy fabric from Modern Fabrics?
Which of the patterns are your favorites?
If you are a designer how much fabrics do you need for re-upholstering a couch or chair? How about drapes?

Photos courtesy of Modern Fabrics

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Recycled Leather Tiles. Just What the Green Designer Ordered

Anna@Green Talk — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:48:47 +0000

EcoDomo Recycled Leather tiles in a Kitchen

I am a gal who loves great design. Add a little green’ess to it and I get all Jerry McGuire choked up. Well, EcoDomo’s recycled leather tiles are one of those products that fits this description. Amazingly beautiful and so green. Several years ago. I saw the tiles in the carriage house of the Twin Maple showhouse . (Remember, the old historic house that got a green dolled-up makeover?) Show stopping.

What Are Recycled Leather Tiles?

EcoDomo’s product are sourced from remnants of hides from tanneries such as ones who manufacturers seats for BMW car seats. In fact, a representative of the company told me that the Company is also sourcing seat leather from damaged BMW cars as well. The Company further states:

“The recycling process uses 99.8% of the products input in the manufacturing process in a closed-loop water filtration system. In addition, the waste we generate is sufficiently clean to be used in residential landfills. All of our products have been tested to be low-VOC -either by Greenguard, California Section 01350, or ISO methods.”

To get an upclose and personal view of how the tiles are recycled into floor tile, see here. The adhesive that binds the leather scraps together is made of natural rubber and bark from arcadia wood, a rapidly renewable tree.

Tell Me More About What They Offer.

Store with Leather Wall

EcoDomo sells two different recycled leather tiles collections, the Rainforest and the Echelon. Both are suitable for walls and floors. The Echelon collection is suitable for furniture applications as well. In addition, the collections can be installed in either residential or commercial settings.

The standard Rainforest collection is a tile or plank floating form option. The collection features 12 different colors and comes in either a 15 by 15 inch tile or 7.5 by 45 inch plank. The substrate of the floating floor is high-density fiberboard, which provides extra density and stability. Installation is similar to installing a cork floating floor. The tile costs $12.80 per square foot and the planks costs $13.87 per square foot. Note, that you can also order a custom glue down tile from the Rainforest collection.

The Echelon collection is a glue down tile. The standard tiles are 12 by 12 inches at $16.87 a square foot, and 18 by 18 inches at $23.87 per square foot. In addition, a sheet size of 39 by 55 inches is available. Various custom sizes are also available.

Not only does the glue down tiles have extraordinary looks, their easy of installation makes them very appealing. The Company states,

“[o]ur Recycled Leather can come pre-glued with our exclusive EasyContact™ Technology. Our EasyContact adhesive application allows our tiles to install directly over drywall, primed concrete, or plywood with no further adhesive application. You simply remove the liner and apply the tiles directly to your substrate. Installation is hassle-free and completed in minutes.”

Where Can I Use Recycled Leather Tiles?

Honestly, the thought of using recycled leather tiles with my four caveman petrify me. They can ruin anything. Really. Anything. I kid you not. (*Sign*) So, I drilled the Company’s Customer Service Director. She explained how durable these little beauties are. They don’t scratch she explained. In fact, she was rolling her chair across them as we spoke.

Then I said, what about water? Even water melted the Wicked Witch of the West. Leather and water. No way. It can’t mix. She said, no problem. Then I remembered, cows stands out in the rain. How can water hurt leather? Note, however, the Company does not recommend that the tiles or planks be used in a bathroom application.

How tough is tough? The Company states

“All our Echelon Recycled Leather Tiles have been manufactured specifically to be used as a flooring. The Recycled Leather Floors will wear in a manner similar to a linoleum floor and will have indentations comparable to cork. Our tiles are practical while being of uncompromising beauty. Our tiles have been used successfully for entire executive hotel floors, board rooms, hundreds of residences, including in residential staircases & kitchens.”

Custom Applications

Custom EcoDomo Leather Wall Application

If you love leather, you will love the Company’s custom applications. How about leather trim or top stitched leather walls? Or how about my favorite, leather and hardwood floor? FSC and bamboo flooring options are available.

Where Can I order?

There are a series of dealers on the website throughout the United States and Canada. In the UK, there was a dealer in London. Online stores such as South Cypress, Webgot by Amazon, and InstallerStoreflooring.com to name a few carry the EcoDomo product. Prices may vary from the amounts listed above.

Join the Conversation:

Would you install a recycled leather floor tile? If you have, tell us about it.
Would you install a leather wall? If you have, tell us about it.
If you are a designer, what type of client would install EcoDomo products?

Photos courtesy of EcoDomo

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Merida Meridian Rugs Makes Wise Green Choice to Advertise on Green Talk

Anna@Green Talk — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:45:51 +0000

One of Merida's Core Collection Rugs

Just want to give a shout-out to Green Talk’s newest advertiser, Merida Meridian Rugs, the maker of natural rugs. You have to feast your eyes on some of their gorgeous rugs.

Why did I decide to take them on as an Advertiser?

I like their sustainability policy. Did I mention their gorgeous rugs?

“Merida Meridian stands for “sustainability with style,” and as the premier natural fiber rug manufacturer in the United States they live this motto every day. With a huge selection of natural rugs, including natural area rugs, sisal rugs, and natural fiber rug runners, Merida Meridian offers a clean, sophisticated aesthetic that matches any room décor. Merida Meridian’s natural fiber area rugs are uniquely customized through sizing, colors, patterns and a selection of hundreds of different edge finishes.”

The marriage of beauty and sustainability. Works for me. So what do I need you to do? Let’s keep Merida Meridian as an advertiser on Green Talk so click on their photo in the right side of the blog and show them some love. I promise you. You will love their rugs.

For those wondering if your company is a right fit for Green Talk, check out my advertising page for details. Green Talk offers competitive rates as well as providing great exposure for your company. We got people. Just show them the goods.

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Organic Sheets: Bolder and Brighter Than Ever

Anna@Green Talk — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:33:01 +0000

Pottery Barn's Florian Palampore Organic Duvet Cover & Sham

Most of you know me as the green building lady but few know how much I love green decor. I swoon over the bold colors of some green fabrics and dig multi-functional furniture geared towards smaller living spaces. Did I mention how much I adore any furniture that uses reclaimed materials? But what has been lacking in my opinion is bold and beautiful organic sheets and duvets. Sure. There are single color beautiful organic sheets and a few stray striped ones. I yearn for color.

But I want it all.

Gorgeous, green, and a great sheet count. This green girl has already tried the 200 organic cotton route and was a little disappointed. So I have been watching my favorites, Pottery Barn and the Company Store, to turn up the heat when it comes to eco-color. And they made some nice bold leaps.

Before I start, keep in mind that thread count and percale vs sateen are all personal choices. I look for a 300 thread count for my sheets or duvets. Subsequently, I purchased the 350 organic cotton count duvet cover pictured rather than another 200 thread count duvets. Comfort and color have to work together in my book. For more information about what to look for when buying organic sheets, see here.

So, take a look at some of the contenders:

Pottery Barn’s Duvets

I happen to love Pottery Barn. Is there anyone who doesn’t? Their style invokes that Sunday afternoon, dress down feel from someone who has it all together. You know. That woman or man who can just put it all together and it just works? (If this is you, I am insanely jealous. Some would describe me an accessory phobic. Personally, I would like be referred to as a minimalist.)

Here are some of the organic duvets that I love:

Pottery Barn's Woodland Organic Duvet Cover

Shown above is Pottery Barn’ Woodland organic duvet cover. The cover and sheet are 100% organic, 200 count percale cotton. The duvet is currently on sale for $25-99 depending on the size needed.

Sophia Organic Sateen Duvet Cover & Sham

I love gardening. Can’t you tell from my choice above? Unfortunately, the Sophia duvet cover clashed with my drapes. Otherwise, this would have been my first choice. It is 100% organic 350 count, sateen cotton. The price for the duvet ranges from $39-169 depending on the size you need.

The Company Store’s Geo Organic Sheets:

The Company Stores' Organic Sheets

Who doesn’t adore the fretwork on the sheets above? The sheets are 100% organic GOTS certified cotton. (GOTS certified is the highest standard in textile industry.) However, the sheets are 180 count and I worry that they might be scratchy. Have you found 180 thread count to be soft or scratchy? Flat, fitted, and pillow cases are sold separately. Prices start at $22 for a twin flat sheet.

Note, that the Company Store sells 350 count Micro Cotton Earth tone solid sheets if you are looking for a higher thread count. Prices start at $29 for a twin flat sheet.

Plover’s Organic Sheets

I first discovered Plover’s organic sheets while shopping at Eden Home for my organic summer weight quilt. The bright colors just knocked my socks off.

The sheets and duvet covers are 100% organic, GOTS certified, printed by hand, and sateen woven. Each of the duvet covers is reversible. Price vary but they are much more expensive then either Pottery Barn or the Company Store. Starting price on sale for a Twin set is $120. Some twin sets cost $215.00.

Duvet Covers:

Plover Organic Duvet Covers

Sheets:

Plover Organic Sheets

If you are looking for additional hand blocked organic duvet or quilts, check out Raksha Bella. The designs are beautiful. (Yet, pricey.)

As the organic cotton industry continues to grow, I expect to see more green design at affordable prices enter the bedroom. Keep you eyes peeled and let me know if you find great count organic sheets. Remember, no one said you have to be boring in the bedroom.

Join the conversation:

Have you bought any great organic sheets or duvet covers lately? If so, where?
Would a $200 price tag for sheets deter you or would you say “you get what you pay for?”
Is it important to you to buy organic sheets?

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Craigslist Lovin Designer Turns Drab to Fab with only $500/Five Days

Anna@Green Talk — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:20:22 +0000

Decorate Your Diggs Craigslist Style

Can you makeover your apartment on $500 in five days buying items from Craigslist? Hip, decorator Lauren on Craiglist TV did just that for a young couple wanting to enter the grown up world. No more books scattered around the ground, sitting on the floor, and pictures stacked against a wall. They wanted to go from college-scrub to grown-up look-at-my-great-digs chic. But on a budget. And a time frame.

Some of my Used Furniture Scores

Does your abode sound similar to this. Kind of unfinished? You know how much I love thrift shops, Craigslist, and Ebay. I heart used furnture. But to be fair, it takes time to find those perfect pieces. But the hunt is so much fun! Some of my scores:

Antique Mirror (Craigslist)
Baker desk (eBay)
Couch pit for my kids. Never sat on but had a small rip on the back (Craigslist)
Great lamp (trashcan)
Used designer office chairs (second hand store)
Desks for my kids (library sale)
And the list goes on. Oh, did I tell you I scored a tufted living room couch?

Now, I will admit some of my scores ended up being FreeCycled to someone else. I bought this beautiful fabric but just couldn’t get the grandma smell out of it. The person who took it didn’t care. Books too can be tricky since they can smell. Recycled a bunch since I couldn’t remove that “attic” smell.

I even ended up having an antique couch re-upholstered since I couldn’t remove the perfume smell. Don’t let my bad luck deter you. Just give furniture the smell test. I would clean upholstered furniture anyways.

So, as you can gather, if I had any design sense I could be dangerous. I love design from afar. People like Lauren have the golden touch. And speaking of Lauren:

So what about Lauren? Did she deliver?

And we aren’t talking a mismatched bunch of junk. Lauren took fuggly to a new level and swapped out chair cushions, spray painted furniture, and lined cabinets with fabric. She definitely could have her own HGTV show called “Design on a Craigslist’s Dime.”

So watch the below 7 minutes Craiglist video and tell me you don’t just love Lauren. Her parting words, are you don’t have to spend a lot of money to design your digs. All you need is Lauren! So, hire her if design is not your thing.

Join the conversation:

What is your favorite Craigslist find?
How have you remade your home over using items from FreeCycle, Craigslist, garage sales, and thrift shops?
What is your wish list on items on Craigslist?

Upload your pics of your redesigns or best scores to the GT fan page. (Remember you have to like the page first.) I am anguishly awaiting!

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Cork Floors and Green Design are Divine says HGTV Star Candice Olson

Anna@Green Talk — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:07:13 +0000

Cork in the bathroom

Want some green tips from HGTV’s Divine Design Star, Candice Olson? I bet you do. Me too! So when the RealCorkFloors initiative contacted me about an interview with Candice about cork floors, I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t want to learn more from the diva. She answered several green design questions. Additionally, Gary Keeble Jr., APCOR North America Committee Member, gave me an education about the campaign and everything you would ever want to know about this amazing flooring!

Just so you know, I am very partial to cork since I have it in my basement. I love it and hope that the Q and A below inspires you to buy cork as well.

Candice thinks Green Design and Cork Are Divine

Just a quick aside, Candice designed a 53 foot mobile trailer with multiple cork flooring layouts for APCOR for public preview. So, she is intimately acquainted with this flooring.

Candice Olson

What do you think are the top 5 ‘bang for your buck’ green trends for updating the house?

Green design is definitely at the top of my green trend list. Green design is conscientious and economical, and super stylish. Whether in traditional, contemporary or transitional spaces, green design reflects not only practicality and versatility, but also beauty in its materials, like cork – which makes it the perfect choice for today’s interiors. Cork is 50 percent air, which makes it lightweight and highly resilient. It has excellent insulating properties and is warm underfoot, helping you save on your monthly heating bills.

Other green trends that top my list include anything that works to reduce waste – buy furniture that is made from reclaimed wood, re-purpose old furniture by repainting or restoring it, use recycled materials such as carpet tiles to create a new area rug or transform old materials into new home décor pieces. Anything that increases the energy or water efficiency in your home can be a great ‘bang for your buck’ green investment. Install high efficiency windows or low water consumption bathroom fixtures and you will reap the rewards in the long term.

If you are on a limited budget, what are 5 green suggestions?

I always suggest starting by creating a plan. Prioritize your design list so that when you actually spend money, you will spend it wisely and not impulsively. Go shopping in your home first by taking something that’s been in the living room for years and refresh it with paint or a stain, reupholster or a new slip cover. Plan your room arrangement so you know what size furniture, accessories or flooring will fit in the space. Search consignment stores, thrift stores, flea markets or antique stores, this is not only a great way to save money while going green, but it’s also a lot of fun too. And last but certainly not least, add a fresh coat of paint in a new color.

If the sky is the limit, what are your favorite green suggestions?

Solar panels are the perfect splurge!

What is the Real Cork Floor Campaign?

I wondered why all the sudden there was a cork floor campaign. Cork has been around for a long time. Gary Keeble Jr., APCOR North America Committee Member and Marketing Manager of USFloors answered the following questions:

Why are these companies banding together?

Gary Keeble, Jr.

The Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) commissioned the Real Cork Floors initiative as part of an international campaign to promote the various benefits and features of Portuguese cork. A collective of cork flooring manufacturers and distributors, who are members of the association and are based in North America, support the Real Cork Floors initiative. APCOR was created to represent and promote the Portuguese cork industry. It is an employers’ association, of national scope, founded in 1956 and based in the north of Portugal.

Why didn’t all the cork companies band together.

The eight companies that are currently represented through the campaign, worked with the association to support and launch the campaign. All companies that operate in the fields of production, commerce or export of Portuguese cork products can join the association.

Are these companies the main sellers or manufacturer of cork?

The eight companies that are associated with the Real Cork Floors campaign are some of the larger distributors and manufacturers of Portuguese cork flooring.

Cork in the Living Room

Last but Not Least, the Picky, Detailed Cork Questions.

We all know cork is beautiful, but don’t you have more questions about maintenance and installation? So, since I had a cork representative’s ear, I thought I would ask some more detailed questions.

Can you install cork in a bathroom?

Cork is actually great for bathrooms. Cork flooring responds well to water if it is correctly installed. (After all, cork is the most common closure used for wine bottles.) Also, as cork has the natural ability to retain heat, cork flooring provides a warm surface after a hot bath or shower.

There are a few guidelines to follow when installing cork in the bathroom. With a floating cork floor, always ensure the installer uses a silicone seal around the perimeter of the room. Each plank should also have a bead of glue attaching the edges and ends. If installed with the proper seal, cork flooring is moisture resistant and provides a solid insulation between floors. With it’s natural mold resistant properties, cork helps fight against damage commonly found in bathrooms. A vacuum and broom is all that is needed to keep the floor looking fresh.

There are a lot of companies selling cork. What should you look for when buying from a cork company? What are the red flags?

Always buy Portuguese cork! In Portugal, cork is still harvested by hand in the traditional method leaving the habitat intact and with minimal impact on the overall environment. Cork oak trees are never harmed or killed in the harvesting process and in fact, the Portuguese cork oak forests or Montados are one of the most well kept ecosystems in the world. These forests help prevent desertification, fight greenhouse gases and are home to a wild collection of flora, fauna and endangered species. Portugal is the world’s largest producer and exporter of cork, supplying more than half of the annual global production level of 300 thousand tones. What can you do to support this valuable bio-diverse ecosystem? When buying cork flooring ensure that it is sourced in Portugal.

But why Portuguese cork?

There is a real difference between Portuguese cork and cork that comes from other parts of the world, like China. Portugal has been nurturing cork oak forests and manufacturing cork wine stoppers for centuries, so cork is an inseparable part of Portuguese heritage and history. With generation upon generation of cork farmers passing down their time-honored skills in cork harvesting, Portugal has a long-standing history for exceptional craftsmanship in this industry. As a result, Portuguese cork offers a superior grade and quality of cork that is unmatched by regions outside the Mediterranean. Moreover, Portugal has some of the world’s strictest eco-standards and regulations when it comes to cork oak forests and its harvesting and product processes. Knowing this, consumers can feel good knowing they have chosen the world’s best, most eco-efficient cork when they choose Portuguese cork.

Please note that APCOR’s position is not to point to the faults of other cork producers in the world, but rather explain the difference by talking about how Portugal manages this industry.

Do they all sell cork for all places in the house including basements?

Cork flooring is well suited for any room in the house and can be installed below grade, over concrete and even over existing floors. Cork flooring performs very well in basements because its durable, a non-conductor of heat and cold, mildew, rot and mold resistant and it is easy to clean and maintain. However, as it pertains to basement installation, due to a risk of moisture migration from the concrete slab, a moisture barrier is required for cork flooring. Floating floors only require a moisture barrier and glue down cork tiles require both a moisture barrier and a plywood sub-floor or MDF backing.

Do any of them sell formaldehyde free cork plank or floating floor for basements?

There are hundreds of retailers in the United States that carry cork flooring with a core board material (MDF) that is formaldehyde free. Look for retailers who carry Wicanders, USFloors, WE Cork, Qu-Cork and Expanko brands of cork flooring. You will be able to find a list of local retailers that offer Portuguese cork flooring from one of the 5 companies listed above. All of our partners carry Portuguese cork flooring that includes formaldehyde-free MDF cores. Here are a list of companies, with links to their manufacturer’s websites , there you will find information on how they are all eco-conscious and formaldehyde free, many of them satisfying LEED credits for Rapidly Renewable Resources, Recycled Content, and Low Emitting Materials under the LEED Rating System.

I found cork to scratches easily (the finish). Can your refinish? If so, how? And how do you make sure in heavy traffic areas that the finish does not scratch? I found my wood floors are doing better than my cork.

There are many examples of cork flooring that have stood the test of time, including 200 year old floors in the US Library of Congress and in architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous design, Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. Most recently, over 21,000 square feet of beautiful cork flooring was laid down in one of the most popular monuments in the entire world, The Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

In your home, your cork floors can last for years with basic care and maintenance. For cork floors that are sealed with an acrylic finish, a new coat of polyurethane will make the floor look new again and prolong its lifespan. The entire floor will need to be gently abraded and thoroughly cleaned before applying one or two coats of high quality water based polyurethane. Under normal use in a residential environment, a urethane finish should last between 8 – 10 years between refinishing.

Cork flooring that has been finished with curable oil or hardwax oil will be cared for through spot application of maintenance products to high traffic areas only. Provided the finish is properly maintained, it will not be necessary to strip and refinish an oiled cork floor.

To maintain your cork floors and minimize wear and tear in high traffic areas, place good mats at all doorways to wipe dirt, gravel and grime from shoes. Gravel, sand and other hard dirt particles can damage floors over time. Use felt pads or sliders on furniture, especially chairs and other items that move around.

Typically, what is the cost per square foot? A range would be good.

It depends on the retailer but generally speaking cork flooring can range in cost from $6.00 to $15.00 per square foot.

Join the Conversation!

Thoughts about this flooring?
Would you install cork flooring after you read this article
Do you love Candice Olson like I do?
Did you ever think green design could be so hip?

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Cork Floors. Eco, Stylish, Hypoallergenic. What’s Not to Love?

Anna@Green Talk — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:20:38 +0000

Check out this tiled looking cork floor. Great for a Man Cave.

How many of you love Candice Olson, of HGTV’s Divine Designs? I adore her for good reason. (Okay, I am a groupie and gush at the sound of her name.) Her designs are full of color, texture, and style. She can make any room shine. And best yet, we share a common love, cork floors. Just like Candice, cork is warm, stylish, hard working, and simply divine. Added bonus. This flooring is so environmentally friendly.

Want a first hand look? APCOR, which promotes the Portuguese Cork Industry, wants you to actually feel and see how fabulous cork is. The Decor (k) Tour features a 53 foot mobile cork showroom designed by Olson. It contains different room cork arrangements. Check out the gallery on the Real Cork Floors website and tell me this flooring isn’t hip.

In addition, the mobile unit contains displays to educate the public on how cork stands up to moisture, heavy foot traffic, and allergens. The mobile unit traveled to 14 different cities in the US and Canada. But there is still time to see the tour.

Just to give you an idea of who is APCOR. No they are not a manufacturer or a new dealer who sells cork. The Company represents over 250 members which comprises of 80% of the total national cork production and 85% of all cork exports.

Why cork?

Cork is like a camelion with many different faces. It can be dressed up in a multitude of colors and style or be as laid back and Earthy with its basic brown natural color. Right down Candice’s aisle. And the fact that cork is renewable and environmentally friendly doesn’t hurt its reputation either.

I Own Cork AND Love it.

The reason why I was so excited to write this article is I love Cork. I personally own this flooring. It has been installed in my basement for six years. Want to see my cork? Check out my cork flooring video of four years ago. Don’t laugh when you see my really long hair (as my sister says “big hair.”)

FYI, why haven’t you seen this video before? I made a series of videos years ago about my earth friendly home for Be Jane, a women’s DIY building site. Unfortunately, they didn’t end up using the content due to a change in management.

Cork is warm, has a cushion, and great for allergies.

You are probably wondering why did I install cork rather than tile or carpet, especially in a basement? Tile is cold and my kids play in the basement. I wanted a flooring product that had some cushion so I did not have to worry if they smacked the heck out of each other. If they fell, I knew that no one’s teeth or bones would break. (Yes, boys can be extremely physical.)

As I mentioned in my journey to building green, my kids all have allergies. This is the main reason why I opted for cork over carpet. Cork is hypoallergenic.

What I didn’t realize when I install it that I got to say good-bye to static electricity and it really helps to insulate the noise in the basement. Yep. The commandos can kill each other and I would never know. (Well, not exactly, but it doesn’t deafen sound.)

What about installing Cork in the basement?

Since the cork is in the basement, I had to put down a vapor barrier (ugh plastic) and a floating cork floor. The floating floor is comprised of tongue and groove panels with a layer of cork attached to a MDF sub-base. Since my product is almost six years old, my MDF contained a small amount of formaldehyde. At the time, there wasn’t a product that I was aware of that was formaldehyde free. According to APCOR, there now exists formaldehyde free floating floors.

Are your floors cold without carpet?

The floors are warm all year round and easy to care for. Even in the winter, the floor is so much warmer than the tile floor in the basement bathroom. But, I have to confess. We have R-10 insulation under the basement slab. I am not sure how this impact the cork.

Does anyone have cork in their basement and live where it is cold? Is your floor warm?

Now, cork isn’t perfect but close to it. Here are some of my issues with my floor.

Beware of Water Floods and Floating Panels

Don’t put a floating system anywhere water can get to it since the MDF will shrivel up, and you will be replacing your floor. I had a couple of leaks in the basement from a clogged humidifier to one of my geothermal components that hiccuped. Long story.

The only thing that can take the flooding water issue is concrete itself and tile. Wood (or an engineered floor) would shrivel up too. I know. We had a pipe burst during construction and part of my wood floor took the burnt. Let’s just say, the wood floor looked like it aged 100 years and was exposed to the elements. It couldn’t be salvaged.

If I could go backwards in time and rebuild my house, I would have put a drain near all water sources in the basement or maybe put them in a tub like container with a drain in it. And no, my basement floor was not pitched towards the sump pump. Again, don’t ask.

Does anyone have cork in their basement? Any issues with leaks?

Finish Doesn’t Always Hold Up

In addition, my finish is not holding up too well since I have commandos running across it daily. (4 boys.) You could easily put extra coats on the floor for heavy traffic areas. My wood floors are scratched too. Commandos are rough on floors. Period.

Back to Candice.

When I was approach by APCOR to interview Candice Olson and their company about cork, I jumped (okay leaped) at the chance. I was hoping I could podcast with her or videotape her. Whatever. It didn’t matter to me.

I dreamed we chatted about my boring great room, muse over all the beautifully colored corks, and become bosom buddies. And before you know, she would be coming for Thanksgiving dinner with the 4 commandos. Everyone love me so it could happen.

Instead, I got to ask her three questions via email and the Company answered the rest. *Sob, Sob* But I got three questions answered. Yep, from the Goddess of Design.

But you have to wait for Candace’s thoughts on green design and the Company’s more indepth interview about why you should love cork as much as me.

Heck, I had to wait a week for her answers. You can wait until tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of Real Cork Floors.

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