Flooring 101
Since humans first began to upgrade from dirt/earthen floors, some type of flooring has been underfoot. Stone, tile, concrete, and even carpet have been around for thousands of years. Obviously, the quality and craftsmanship has improved over time as technology and manufacturing processes evolved. You can learn more about the history of flooring here. Hardwood […]
Flooring: Concrete
You might not have ever considered it — or even thought it was possible — but concrete flooring can be installed in areas of the home aside from the garage and basement. Starting around 5600 BC, the ancient Romans began using a material that was very similar in composition to modern concrete. They used this […]
Flooring: Cork
You might not have every really thought about it, but cork is good for numerous other items aside from wine bottle stoppers. Cork flooring is a unique and often overlooked type of floor covering. Cork has been manufactured and used since ancient times, but cork flooring has only been around for a little over a […]
Flooring: Vinyl
Vinyl flooring – whether in sheets, planks, or squares – has recently become one of the most popular types of flooring on the market. The question is if vinyl flooring is the right choice for you? Vinyl flooring was first manufactured in the 1930s, and its popularity skyrocketed after World War II. Vinyl – which […]
Flooring: Natural Stone
Natural stone flooring has been around since the beginning of time. As long as people could quarry the stone, they have been able to use it as flooring and building material. The most common types of stone flooring are granite, marble, slate, limestone, or travertine. Each stone has its own unique look, and comes with […]
Flooring: Carpeting
Carpeting has been around since 5,000 BC, but did not become popular until the early 17th century. The first mills in the United States were built in the late 1700s. In the beginning, carpets were made from sheep and goat wool. While wool is still a very popular material, synthetic materials such as nylon, olefin, […]
Flooring: Linoleum
Linoleum flooring was invented in the mid-1850s. It all began when an Englishman noticed that a rubbery skin, comprised of solidified linseed oil, had formed on a can of oil-based paint. Not long afterwards, manufacturing began. Linoleum flooring is made from natural materials . This includes: solidified linseed oil (extracted from flax plant seeds), ground […]
Flooring: Bamboo
While bamboo has been used for countless products and projects for thousands of years, bamboo flooring only made its debut in the early 1990s. Bamboo flooring is typically made out of moso bamboo. Bamboo, which is part of the grass family, grows and matures a lot faster than trees. Moso bamboo is harvestable in 3-7 […]
Flooring: Wood
Hardwood flooring got its start in the 1600s as unfinished planks. Wood floors were not mass produced until the mid-1800s. In the early 1900s, the introduction of tongue-and-groove construction allowed for the leveling of planks before installation. Wood flooring comes in either solid or engineered form. Solid wood is exactly what it sounds like – […]
Flooring: Laminate
Compared to other types of flooring, laminate is relatively new to the market. Laminate flooring was invented in Sweden in the late 1970s. The first modern laminate, Pergo, was invented by Perstorp AB Holdings. It is still a popular laminate choice today. Laminate is a photographic reproduction of another type of material (usually wood, stone, […]