Hank Kasindorf, president of Eco Finishes, a distributor of green flooring in Virginia, shares his expertise on the two most popular green flooring materials in his area: bamboo and cork.
After years of scrapping wood that didn't make the grade — pieces with knots, pits, and other disfigurations — flooring manufacturers are now salvaging those imperfect pieces. The trend toward more rustic and country looks means that many homeowners are favoring knotty hickory over clear pine.
High-end flooring and cabinetry is looking a bit better for the wear these days. Manufacturers and craftspeople are taking hammers, chains, chisels, and custom-made blades to fine wood in service of a hot new trend: the distressed look.
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Basement Remodel Project Description: Finish the lower level of a house to create a 20-by-30-foot entertaining area with wet bar, a 5-by-8-foot full bath, and a 12-by-12-foot auxiliary room. Walls and ceilings are painted drywall throughout; exterior walls are insulated; painted trim throughout...
By Stephani L. Miller. According to Mickey Moore, technical director for the Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA), 21/4-inch-strip oak still is the most popular choice for flooring. "One of the biggest trends right now is hand-sculptured hardwood flooring, where surface texture is...
Hip, chic, and trendy are great for clothes and cars. But when your product is designed to last for generations, you tend to be a little skeptical about what's hot and what's not. To find out what design elements are resonating with today's buyers, Builder interviewed production, semi-custom, and...
The continuing interest in green building and in products that are manufactured with renewable resources has many homeowners considering alternatives to traditional building materials. Natural Cork, Artistic Tile, To Market, European Quality, and BHK all offer cork tiles and panels or planks.
While most residential ceilings are left unadorned for the span of their lifetimes, many homeowners choose to decorate this surface with tin tiles; wood beams, planks, panels, and beadboard; or wood-look laminates. Using prefinished products also eliminates the lingering fumes of staining --...
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For residential applications, steel flooring systems require new tools, attention to fastening, and a detailed plan for mechanicals. Steel floors are covered in the new International Residential Code (IRC) and currently cost about 3 percent or 4 percent less than dimensional wood floors. Screws...
If the word linoleum conjures up memories of Mrs. Cleaver for you, you're probably not alone. Forbo Industries has been offering linoleum commercially for some time and, in January, launched a residential program in response to increasing demand from residential installers.