FloorHub University

Welcome to FloorHub University. Here you can find information materials on different flooring types, installation techniques and maintenance advices. Our mission is to be as helpful as possible during, sometimes difficult task, of selection right type of material for your projects. We believe that by educating our customers we will succeed in earning your business.

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Flooring 101

1. Flooring Types

a. Solid Hardwood Wood Flooring

Solid Wood flooring comes in three basic types:

· STRIP flooring. Most commonly using type of Harwood flooring. Strips come in widths ranging from 1-1/2 inches to 3-1/4 inches. They are installed by nailing to the sub floor.

· PLANK flooring boards are at least 3 inches wide. They may be screwed to the sub floor as well as nailed. Screw holes can be covered with wooden plugs.

· PARQUET flooring comes in standard patterns of 6" x 6" blocks. Specialty patterns may range up to 36" square units. Parquet often achieves dramatic geometric effects of special design patterns.

b. Engineered Flooring

Engineered floors are constructed using several layers of woods which adds to the structural integrity and dimensional stability of the flooring and allows these products to be used on any level of your home, including the basement. Top layer usually is hardwood that can be re-surfaced up to 3 times.

c. Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is similar in construction to Formica kitchen counters however; they come with added performance features for the everyday abuse that floors can take from kids, pets, and spills. Laminate floors are developed to duplicate the look of traditional wood flooring or tile by using a printed film that is laminated just under the protective surface of the product. Gluing and then fusing multiple layers of material together to form each plank or tile is the typical method of manufacturing, and is called a High Pressure Laminate. There are many installation methods used for laminate flooring including, glue and click together, both of which are very homeowner friendly.

d. Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles

· Glazed Ceramic

Ceramic is made primarily of clay mixed with various minerals and water. This composition is then processed with heat to create the solidified product. Since ceramic material is porous, the top surface is usually sealed with a glaze. The glazed surface is referred to as the design layer since it determines the tile’s finished color, design and texture.

Glazed ceramic tile is very durable, and when properly installed and cared for, it will last longer than any non-tile material used for the same purpose. It is also one of the easiest surfaces to clean, and because of its composition, it will not absorb odors, nor support allergens or bacteria. When coated with a Grade III or higher glaze, ceramic tile is highly resistant to scratching and moisture. Another important feature is that it will not burn, emit toxic fumes or scorch

· Unglazed Ceramic (Quarry Tile)

Quarry tile provides an attractive floor that is durable and easy to maintain. These tiles are usually red in color and 6” x 6” in size with a ½” thickness. Quarry tile is often installed in foodservice areas.

· Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile is a tile that is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain tiles making them frost resistant or frost-proof.

Glazed porcelain tiles are much harder and more wear and damage resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tiles, making them suitable for any application from light traffic to the heaviest residential and light commercial traffic.

Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually impervious to wear and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial applications.

Porcelain tiles are available in matte, unglazed or a high polished finish.

e. Other Man-Made Stone Flooring

· Terrazzo
Terrazzo flooring offers high durability and deep beauty. Its upfront cost is considerably higher than resilient flooring but when viewed long-term, it can actually be less expensive.

· Mexican Tile (Saltillo)
Saltillo tiles are natural clay tiles, hand-made in Mexico. Similar to terracotta tiles, saltillo tiles are rustic by design. The beauty and character of each tile comes from variations in size, color and texture. It is extremely popular in Mexico and throughout the Southwestern United States.

f. Natural Stone Flooring

· Marble

A beautiful floor surface that is not suited for large commercial areas or heavily trafficked areas due to its soft nature (scratches easily), high absorbency (stains easily) and acid sensitivity.

· Slate

Slate is a smooth, soft, natural stone available in a wide variety of textures, colors and sizes. It offers good durability and stain resistance due to its semi-porous nature.

· Granite

Granite is used sparingly in commercial buildings due to its high cost. It is hard, doesn’t easily scratch and is stain-resistant – making it ideally suited for residential flooring.

g. Bamboo Flooring

Well-suited for floor covering, bamboo flooring has become increasingly popular. Bamboo flooring is unparalleled in the floor covering industry in terms of hardness, durability, and dimensional stability. One good aspect of bamboo flooring is the fact that bamboo flooring does not react to extreme environmental changes, and is subject to less expansion and contraction in comparison to other types of hardwood flooring.

2. Floor Selection