Month: October 2009

 Volume: 1 |  Issue: 6 |  Download

Confused About "Green?" — You're Not Alone!

One of the hottest topics, if not THE topic of the new millennium for the design and build industry is "green." Specifiers, facility managers, building owners and building occupants are demanding green buildings, green products, green construction methods, and green renovation and demolition. A heightened sense of environmental awareness for future generations is driving this desire to reduce the impact of man-made buildings on the natural environment.

 Volume: 4 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The Grand Ballroom at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cancun, Mexico, was aglow under thousands of twinkling starlights as StarNet® members, vendors and guests gathered for their annual celebratory banquet this past April. The dinner marked an occasion the attendees look forward to every year — the Design Competition Awards.

The evening capped days of business sessions, a trade fair and socializing that were as relaxed and friendly as Cancun's beaches.

 Volume: 2 |  Issue: 3 |  Download

Here's a subject that is as relevant and topical today as it was when StarNet first covered it in "Carpeting Without A Professional" in StarLog Volume 1, Issue 4, published in 1999. StarNet members consistently rank that newsletter as one of the most requested of all StarLogs. We've received many requests to revise the original newsletter with updates on the costs and complications. So, we'd like to take this opportunity to reintroduce this important topic to StarNet member customers.

 Volume: 2 |  Issue: 2 |  Download

No matter what floorcovering you select, the key to a great installation lies beneath the surface.

Proper substrate preparation creates the foundation for floors that look great and perform well. Taking short cuts with patches that repair substrate damage and imperfections, and with levelers that create smooth, flat surfaces, invites costly and unsightly installation issues and failures.

 Volume: 2 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

[b]One Size Does Not Fit All[/b]

The majority of commercial floor coverings are designed to meet the general needs of the floored space. They are styled and manufactured to be aesthetically pleasing, durable and easy to maintain. But the very nature of commercial interiors, and the activities that happen in these spaces, has given rise to a new category of floor coverings — specialty floors. These products have enhanced physical characteristics and unique properties to fulfill the needs of special spaces and niche areas. Specialty floors offer value-added features and benefits for spaces where general floor coverings fall short on required or desired performance.

 Volume: 1 |  Issue: 5 |  Download

A Fluid Situation
Moisture in concrete substrates is a leading cause of flooring failure, costing billions of dollars annually in damage, downtime, repair and replacement. You might think this problem occurs primarily in humid climates, or in geographies with a high water table.

But moisture problems are much more widespread–and the problem is growing.

 Volume: 1 |  Issue: 4 |  Download

It may seem logical that purchasing carpet by itself, as opposed to through a qualified flooring professional, would result in a lower cost. However, carpet is not a stand-alone product. There are many additional services and expenses required to complete an installation project properly. A lower price does not necessarily mean a lower cost.

A recent national survey confirmed the increased expense of carpet as an exclusive purchase and explored the origins of these costs. The survey examined several components of carpet installation ranging from material price to management time to simple cost per square yard. The following table details these elements based on an average installation of 1, 000 square yards. The resulting cost increase was between $3. 55 and $7. 21 per square yard.

 Volume: 1 |  Issue: 3 |  Download

Uncovering the Toxic Floor Covering Myths
By Harry Korrison, Howard's Rug Company

The impact of new carpet on the indoor environment has served as a hot news topic in recent years, with the media sometimes reporting sensational accounts of human suffering from so-called "toxic carpet fumes." Such stories are enough to make any property manager shudder. But is carpet toxicity really a legitimate concern?

 Volume: 1 |  Issue: 2 |  Download

Despite the carpet industry's efforts to improve the quality of installation workmanship, bond failure in commercial carpet installations remains a leading cause of complaints, lawsuits and premature replacement.

Annual losses from such failures run into the millions of dollars, and ripples and open seams caused by bond failure create a high-liability safety hazard.

This bulletin discusses the most common types of failure, their causes and methods of prevention. The highlighted boxes are selected quotes from applicable sections of the Carpet and Rug Institute's CRI 104

Standard for Installation of Commercial Textile Floorcovering Materials

 Volume: 1 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Shading, pile reversal and pooling are characteristics exhibited by many cut-pile carpets, rugs and other textile floor coverings. Though normal, they are sometimes unexpected and result in complaints.

This bulletin discusses these conditions and their causes in an attempt to assist carpet and fiber manufacturers, dealers and buyers to make informed decisions regarding carpet selection and complaint resolution