Waterproof Flooring
One of the top reasons for the need to replace flooring is mold growth. How does this happen? Although we may think that we thoroughly cleaned the floor after a spill, many (older) types of both hard and soft surface flooring can’t prevent all moisture from slipping through. Eventually, spills reach the subfloor, where it’s much less likely to evaporate. Over time, moisture builds, providing a perfect environment for mold growth.
Many modern flooring selections have been designed to change this. In carpet, for example, newer strands of nylon are designed to completely repel water from soaking through the fibers. Even better, many modern carpet selections feature backing that prevents spills from soaking through, keeping them sitting on the surface for easy cleaning.
Installation
We are increasingly seeing new flooring that can be easily installed on top of existing flooring (in most situations). One example is the Air.O carpet mentioned earlier.
Another is floating floors, common among hard surface selections. “Floating” means that nails and glue are not necessary for installation (though some floating floors can be glued if needed). Additionally, the Fold-n-Tap™ locking system commonly found with vinyl floors makes installation almost as easy as piecing together a puzzle. As an added bonus, this installation method makes the flooring waterproof.
Durability
Floors arguably take more abuse of any other part of our home’s interior. From the obvious culprits, such as high-traffic areas, to the more subtle, such as warping from seasonal changes, there are a number of threats facing our floors – and both homeowners and industry leaders are always look for new ways to make our floors last longer. Fortunately, we’ve found a few.
On hard surface floors, durability starts at the core and ends with the finish. Modern engineered hardwood floor cores use new bonding methods that combine layers of wood to reinforce each plank’s durability. In addition to being more impact resistant, engineered hardwood floors are also less likely to warp or expand from moisture and seasonal changes.
Even modern installation methods enhance also utilize a tongue and groove system that uses the joints of each panel to provide additional support – while also facilitating easier installation.
Tip: To get a better idea of how hard any hardwood flooring selection is, check its Janka scale rating, a measurement of how much force it would take to embed a metal ball in the This rating starts in the low hundreds and extends well into the thousands.
Magnetic Flooring
What if installing new floors was as easy as arranging magnets on your refrigerator door? That’s the goal with a new magnetic underlayment currently in development. Since the underlayment never has to be replaced, changing your floors is as simple as replacing magnets. In fact, this technology makes it much more practical to arrange your flooring based on trends, season or even special occasions!
Air.O Carpet
Air.O is another interesting innovation in soft surface flooring. It’s billed as the easiest carpet flooring to install, even touted as “removing 100% of the complexity“. On top of that, it’s also hypoallergenic and is completely free of volatile organic compounds, a largely unknown (though somewhat mild) threat released by many traditional flooring options.
Learn More
To browse the latest styles and features in flooring, visit Griffin’s top floor store at Cleveland Carpets! You’ll also find experts ready to help you find the perfect choice for your home.
