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

3. Laminate Floors

General Information

Laminate flooring can add beauty and elegance to home or office at the fraction of the cost comparing to hardwood floors.

While hardwood is considered a superior choice there are certain advantages in using laminate flooring. It can be installed in any room of the house including basements; it is very durable, versatile and hygienic. Laminate flooring is available in timber and stone pattern. Laminate floors are constructed using several layers of materials.

All laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A wear resistant decorative surface made of resin based melamine/aluminum oxide. This material is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition based core. Core materials of laminate flooring are made of high density, low-swelling fiberboard (HDF), saturated in resins to make them extremely hard. A backing layer is mounted underside of the HDF layer and is used for balancing. The clear layer of aluminum oxide on the top of the melamine layer and provides mechanical protection and moisture resistance.

HDF Core of laminate flooring usually comes in green or brown color. Some people think that green core is superior, that is not true. The cores are the same. The green color is a result of adding coloring agent to the adhesive. It was done in response to market preference but there is no difference in quality between two cores.

Laminate flooring is perfect for anyone wanting a durable floor for a fraction of the price and installation time of a hardwood floor, but with the attractiveness of real hardwood. This construction also makes laminate flooring more environment-friendly as it uses less wood in its construction and makes more efficient use of the wood fiber that is used.

Laminates are long-lasting, durable, affordable options that are quickly becoming one of the most popular types of flooring.

Durability of laminate floors is determined by an AC rating. AC hardness ratings are a standardized measure adopted by The Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (ELPF). The AC measure rates abrasion resistance, impact resistance, resistance to staining and cigarette burns, and thickness swelling along edges. AC3 rated laminate floors is suitable for any residential and light to moderate commercial use i.e. small office. AC4 rated flooring is suitable for any residential and moderate to heavy commercial use.

One of the great advantages of laminate flooring over other types is its versatility. It can be installed in practically any room of your home including basements, over wood or concrete. However, there are several locations that are not recommended for laminate flooring. Because laminate flooring is a wood flooring product it is not recommended that laminates be installed in wet locations such as steam rooms, bathrooms, saunas or anywhere that may require wet-mopping or relative humidity is high. Extended exposure to moisture may cause the core of laminate flooring to warp or swell. Nevertheless, with special installation procedures, it is possible to install laminate floors in bathrooms where water will not stand on the floor for any length of time. For bathroom installations, it is recommended to apply a light bead of glue to the tongue on the planks to be used in the areas subject to spills. Also, ensure that all spills are mopped up and dried promptly. Laminate flooring must be installed only in climate-controlled area.

Installation Considerations.

There are several things one has to take into account before you begin to install a laminate floor. Ensure that your sub floor is flat, dry, and smooth.

a. Sub floor should have flat, dry and smooth surface

b. Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood, vinyl and any other hard surface

c. Laminate can not be installed over carpet.

d. Foam underlayment required for soundproofing and proper installation

e. Allow flooring to acclimatize (keep in the room where it is going to be installed) for at least 48 hours before installing.

f. Follow installation instruction provided by manufacturer.

g. Allow 7-10% for cutting waste.

h. Installation over concrete slap requires moisture barrier

All of laminate floors are installed as floating floor, all planks are attached to each other but none of them fixed to the supporting floor. The only exception to this rule is installation on steps where planks have to be glued down.

All of common types of laminate floors implement a ‘click” or “snap” locking system. To connect flooring planks together. It is very helpful to use laminate flooring installation kit to facilitate the process.

It is usually best to install laminate flooring with the planks running parallel to light coming in windows or glass doors. For any installation, the starting wall should be as long and straight as possible. The planks should be staggered for installation. The first row should be started with a full plank, the second row with a 2/3 plank and the third row with a 1/3 plank. The distance between joints from one row to the next for the remainder of the installation must be 8" or greater

Accessories.

a. Transitional Pieces

- T-Molding. Used to join to areas of laminate flooring at the same height. Most commonly used in doorways or thresholds.

- Reducers. Used to join laminate flooring to other flooring material of different height i.e. laminate to carpet.

b. Decorative Pieces

- Wall Base. Used along aside of the walls to cover expansion spacing required for laminate flooring.

- Quarter Round. Used for the same purpose as wall base usually in kitchens, by stairs etc. Also used as an addition to wall base.

- Stair Nose. Used on stairs and landings to finish exposed edge of laminate flooring.

Moldings can be installed with finishing nails or glue i.e. liquid nails.

Maintained and Care.

Cleaning.

- Use damp cloth or map only. Dry the laminate flooring thoroughly with clean, soft cloth.

- Do not use soap based detergent or any abrasive cleaners on laminate flooring.

- Use only manufacturer approved chemical to clean laminate floors.

- Clean all spills immediately. Do not allow any standing liquid for a prolonged periods of time

- Never wax or polish laminate flooring

- In special instances use acetone or nail polish remover to clean excessive stains.

Maintenance

- Avoid sharp objects in contact with laminate flooring

- Use protective felt pads for furniture

- Avoid excessive moisture, sand, grit in contact with laminate flooring.

- Never try to refinish, sand or lacquer laminate flooring

Minor Repairs.

- Minor scratches can be repaired with matching color laminate floor repair paste

4. Engineered Floors

General Information

Engineered hardwood flooring is made up f several layers of wood and a top layer of Harwood veneer that is glued to the surface core. Engineered flooring is available in almost as many variations as hardwood flooring.

The products has all natural characteristics of respective hardwood and provides greater stability in application where heat, moisture or other factors can cause problems for conventional hardwood flooring i.e. installation over radiant heated floors. Engineered flooring can be installed above or below grade. Engineered floors can be installed over concrete slabs and do not require special sub floor preparations.

Barlinek Engineered floors have 7 wood layers and provide exceptional stability. The more layers engineered floor has the more stable it is.

Thickness of hardwood layer varies from manufacturer. A quality engineered floor will have thicker hardwood layer will provide many years of wear and can be refinished several times. Barlinek Engineered flooring has 3 mm thick hardwood layer and can be refinished 3-4 times.

Janka hardness rating of hardwood flooring is useful to know when comparing how different products will withstand wear over years of use. Usually, Red Oak is used as a reference (benchmark) for relative comparison of different hardwood species. Red oak has Janka rating of 1290.

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Wood Floors

Material Composition

Both types are constructed from wood. Solid hardwood is a single wood plank. Engineered wood is multi-ply wood construction with hardwood top layer.

Thickness.

Solid Hardwood floor are typically ¾ in thick. Engineered wood floors vary in thickness depending on manufacturer and can be between ¼ in and ¾ in thickness.

Sub-floor.

Solid hardwood floors require a wooden sub-floor for installation. Engineered wood floors can be installed as flooring floors over most existing surfaces i.e. vinyl, cement slab, hardwood etc.

Basement Installation.

Solid hardwood floors can not be installed below grade or directly on a concrete slab. Engineered wood floors can be installed in basements. Moisture barrier film is required for installation.

Appearance.

Solid hardwood floors have a single strip appearance. Engineered wood floors can have 1, 2 or 3-strip patterns. Engineered wood flooring has more seamless appearance comparing to solid hardwood floors.

Installation.

Generally engineered wood floors are easier to install compare to solid hardwood.

Price.

Same species of similar quality generally will cost less for engineered flooring. This is especially true for wider planks flooring.

5. Bamboo Floors

General Information

Durable and Stable

Bamboo's natural characteristics are exceptional! It is 27% harder than Red Oak and 13% harder than Maple. Since bamboo is an engineered product it enjoys very good dimensional stability. The fact that Vega Bamboo Flooring is sealed on all sides during production adds to its stability and further insures minimal reaction to changes in ambient humidity.

Beautiful

While the natural golden blond color of bamboo and the "carbonized" caramel color are attractive to the eye. The beauty of bamboo flooring is greatly enhanced by the use of our specially formulated UV Semi-Gloss or Aluminum
Oxide finishes.

UV Coating

Every plank of Bamboo Flooring is sealed on all sides and then coated with specialized Ultra Violet cured urethane with aluminum Oxide additive (glossy finish does not include aluminum oxide additive)

Green

When choosing a Bamboo Floor, you choose to preserve our forestland.
The maturation period for bamboo is only 4 to 5 years, while trees need decades to reach maturity. We can safely say that using bamboo contributes to the preservation of our forests. Further, an acre of Bamboo produces more flooring than an acre of hardwood. This is possible as a minimal amount of natural product is wasted while producing Bamboo flooring.

"Carbonized" Bamboo Flooring.

The brown tone is achieved during the manufacturing of the product, the strips of bamboo are boiled and change color. "Carbonized" bamboo flooring is 30% softer then natural color one.

"Horizontal" and "Vertical" Bamboo Flooring

The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" refer to the way in which bamboo strips are glued together. In the horizontal style, the strips are laid flat so the top surface shows wide stripped look that displays the natural seams of bamboo. In the vertical style, the strips are turned on their sides and laminated together in long, slender rows giving the floor a unique seamless narrow stripped appearance.

Bamboo Flooring vs. Solid Hardwood Floors

Installation of bamboo flooring can be identical to installation of solid hardwood floors. Bamboo flooring is harder than hardwood and more durable. Bamboo flooring is less expensive comparing to hardwood. Bamboo flooring can be installed in room with relatively high humidity as long as it has been allowed to acclimatize for at least 72 hours. The disadvantage of bamboo flooring with respect to hardwood that it only comes in two colors.

Accessories.

a. Transitional Pieces

- T-Molding. Used to join to areas of bamboo flooring at the same height. Most commonly used in doorways or thresholds.

- Reducers. Used to join bamboo flooring to other flooring material of different height i.e. bamboo to ceramic tile.

b. Decorative Pieces

- Quarter Round. Used to cover expansion gap left during installation of bamboo flooring.

- Baseboard. Used to cover expansion gap left during installation of bamboo flooring

- Stair Nose. Used on stairs and landings to finish exposed edge of bamboo flooring.

- Stair Thread. A single piece of bamboo flooring that is used as a stair thread

Installation

Bamboo flooring is extremely durable and versatile products. It can be installed in any room of the house (except bathrooms and rooms where flooring can be exposed to moisture for long periods of time) above or below grade.

- Allow 7%-10% extra material for installation. This will depend on a skill level of installer and layout of rooms.

- Make sure that sub-floor is clean, flat and smooth

- Allow bamboo flooring to acclimatize at least 72 hours in the room where it is going to be installed

- Always follow manufacturer instructions

Maintenance

- Avoid sharp objects in contact with bamboo flooring

- Use protective felt pads for furniture

- Avoid excessive moisture, sand, grit in contact with bamboo flooring.

- Avoid excessive moisture while cleaning

6. Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

General Information

· 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

· 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.

Ceramic tiles are not recommended to be used outdoors. Most of porcelain tiles are frost proof and can be used outdoors.

Unglazed tiles and grout joints can be sealed with penetrating sealer, invisible solutions that forms stain resistant shield on the surface.

Durability of ceramic tiles is defined by PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating.

7. HARDWOOD

Benefits of Hardwood Flooring

- Beauty of natural product.

- Variety of grain pattern

- Clean and hygienic

- Durable and long-lasting

- Can be re-finished to restore original luster.

Grades

The appearance of solid hardwood floors are determined by "grades". All grades will provide many years of durable and serviceable flooring but will have different look. The following grades are shown in the descending order with respect to price for the same species.

- Clear. Wood is free of defect, only minor imperfections are allowed

- Select. Wood can contain some natural characteristics i.e. color variations, knots etc.

- Common (#1 and #2). Has distinguished natural characteristics i.e. knots and color variations. #1 Common has multicolored appearance, knots, flags, etc.

#2 Common has rustic appearance and highlights wood characteristics.

Durability Comparison

Refer to the Janka Hardness rating for a true indication of hardness for a selected species:

Unfinished vs.Prefinished

Unfinished floors are less expensive and allow more options if you need to match existing colors.

Pre-finished floors give you convenience of saving time and avoiding disturbances associates with sanding and finishing flooring in your home.