By itself, bamboo is not a suitable replacement for wood in flooring. Individual stalks of bamboo can be used in building, but flooring has to be broad and stable. To become a useful flooring material, bamboo must be shredded and then formed into regular shapes, such as planks and tongue-and-groove boards, under high pressure. As with cork, this loose material is held together with an adhesive or resin.
The adhesives and resins used to create bamboo flooring, transform an abundant natural resource into a durable building product. In keeping with the goal of environmental responsibility, manufacturers emphasize the use of adhesives that do not contain formaldehyde, and resins such as acrylic urethane that contain few or no volatile organic compounds. This helps the products meet standards for both green manufacturing practices and indoor air quality.Read more...
Bamboo is hard renewable natural material. It looks like wood, but it is a kind of grass. It qualities make it suitable for use in floors, and it is easier than ever to find, buy, and install. This material is different enough from traditional hardwood flooring, however, you should know more about it before deciding to use one.
Strictly speaking, bamboo is a grass — not a tree. More than 1000 species of bamboo are grown around the world. Some thrive in mountains with cold winters, while others only appear in tropical climates. For the most part, bamboo does not grow in Europe or Canada, and is seldom cultivated in other northern countries.Read more...
Although only 15 percent of the cork harvested is used for wine bottle stoppers, that industry accounts for more than half of the money earned by cork producers. Understandably, wine makers get first pick of the available cork supply. Using stock that was not chosen by wine makers, as well as leftovers, flooring manufacturers grind cork into a uniform mixture. Then they add just enough adhesive to hold the material in shape, and press it into sheets. The squares and panels you see did not come straight from the tree.
Natural cork varies in color, and manufacturers sort it to produce a variety of tones. They may also add dyes to give the cork flooring a more consistent or dramatic look. Common colors range from alabaster to espresso, with most variations on a continuum between khaki and chocolate. Visual texture varies, too. Some cork products have no more directional grain than sand on a beach; others have the appearance of burl oak.Read more...
The Cork is soft renewable natural material. It looks like wood, but it is a kind of tree bark. Cork qualities make it suitable for use in floors, and it is easier than ever to find, buy, and install. This material is different enough from traditional hardwood flooring, however, you should know more about it before deciding to use one.
Cork is the bark of the evergreen oak tree Quercus suber, which is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa, which means almost all cork used in the United States must be imported. Most imported cork comes from the Iberian Peninsula, which includes Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Gibraltar. Cork is also produced in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, and France.Read more...
- Clean the grout first with water and allow it to dry. This will remove any loose surface debris.
- Never use bleach on colored grout, as it will discolor the grout.
- Use a stiff brush for scrubbing. Old toothbrushes will be too soft. Avoid using metal bristles, as they will wear away the grout.
- If you’re using commercial cleaners, bleach, or other chemicals, make sure the room you’re working in is well ventilated.Read more...