Natural Materials
At Flooring Designs we also offer a diverse selection of natural materials that you can use throughout your property as an amazing and environmentally friendly floor option. These materials range from cork, to bamboo, linoleum, to natural fibers among others. We have developed strategic relationships with the best manufacturers of natural products globally, and have access to unique and exotic options that are durable, scratch resistant, and that will add beauty and value to your entire home, or to that special corner you have been wanting to upgrade for a while. Whatever is your vision, your budget or unique needs, our professional team members will deliver a tailored solution that will exceed your expectations and meet your every design wish.
Cork Flooring
Cork is enjoying a surge in popularity driven in large part by consumer demand and the desire to adapt more "green" products into the home. Cork comes from the bark of the cork tree which is a member of the beech family and grows in coastal regions of the Mediterranean like Spain and Portugal. Slow growing, the average life of a cork tree is 100-120 years. Cork is usually harvested every 9-11 years and is a completely renewable product. What does cork have to offer setting it apart from other flooring materials? Quite a bit it turns out. In fact, no other floor covering can match the combined benefits of cork. Cork flooring is durable. Both tile and plank flooring are manufactured using several coats of a durable UV cured acrylic and aluminum oxide finish, making it both a very durable and easy to clean product. Most often it is installed as a floating floor. Cork planks fit together using a tongue and groove design. Cork is thermally and acoustically insulating - it contains over 100 million prism shaped cells per cubic inch which creates a naturally occurring sound and thermal insulating barrier. It is a good choice for use in kitchens, hallways, rec. rooms, work rooms, and is a good alternative for noise reduction in multi level housing developments, as well as retail and office spaces. Cork is very comfortable under foot. It has the natural ability to "bounce back" from compression, such as furniture and traffic indentations. Cork is very comfortable to stand on for prolonged periods of time. Cork is a fire inhibitor that does not spread flame. Also cork will not produce toxic gasses upon combustion. Along with all of these great benefits, cork is also a very attractive floor covering product. The color and style variations are unlimited.
Bamboo
Bamboo is one of nature's most renewable and plentiful resources. A member of the grass family, bamboo grows throughout Asia from India to China and matures in just 4-6 years. Bamboo stalks regenerate from the root system when it is harvested making it renewable for generations. Bamboo is eco-friendly and environmentally sound because it is recyclable and bio-degradable. Bamboo is a healthy alternative to traditional building material where indoor air quality, allergens, off-gassing and presence of PVC's are a concern. Bamboo is composed of complex fibers that do not absorb moisture as easily as wood making it a very dimensionally stable flooring product. Bamboo flooring is also extremely hard and scratch resistant. Finally, bamboo comes in several beautiful styles and colors making it a great alternative to domestic and exotic hardwoods.
Linoleum
Linoleum has been around for more than 130 years and is the predecessor to today's vinyl flooring. It is an all natural, floor product composed from a formula using Linseed Oil, powdered cork, and other organic ingredients all bonded together using heat and pressure. While Linoleum requires more maintenance to upkeep the surface appearance, it is often chosen over vinyl because of its large range of colors and appeal to being an environmentally friendly product. When installed by a professional, linoleum sheet goods and tiles can be cut and manipulated into custom patterns or designs creating a unique design statement in the room.
Natural Fibers
Sisal, Jute, Seagrass, Coir, Hemp, Abaca, and Paper are made from natural fibers, are eco-friendly wonders and are more than hippie chic. Natural fiber flooring products go with anything, letting your other furnishings shine, and can grace estate homes, downtown lofts, and Midwest cottages with equal ease. At Flooring Designs we carry several different manufacturers of natural woven flooring and each one has something custom and visually interesting to offer our customers. Not only do we make area rugs using these products but we do a great job installing it wall to wall as broadloom carpeting. Talk about texture. There exists a myriad of woven patterns to consider from braided to basket weave and beyond - for subtle visual effect. A flat woven rug layered under a wool pile rug is a great visual for any room. What are these fibers? They are fibers extracted from plants including sisal (from agave leaves), jute (from the stalks of corchorus herbs), seagrass (from the stems of tall marsh plants), coir (from coconut husks), hemp (from the stalks of the cannabis plant), abaca (from the leaves and stems of a banana plant), and even paper (made from wood pulp).