Category: Commercial Flooring Report

 Volume: 65 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

We track the number of read articles to the subject matter of each issue and this subject, winters effects on floor covering, has been the most popular of any issue of the Commercial Flooring Report so we wanted to print it again, with updated information.

 Volume: 64 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

We've had several questions asked about waivers for installation of flooring materials over questionable substrates or in questionable conditions recently. In addition questions have arisen about placing a lien on a building when payment is not made for the installation of flooring materials. We'll address both these issues in simple terms here so that it will make it easy to understand what they mean, how they are used and how or if they can help you when you have a dubious situation.

 Volume: 63 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

If you've been reading the Commercial Flooring Report for any length of time you know that I harp on two issues relative to specifying floor covering material. The first is "Get it in the door and keep it on the floor" and the second is to make sure you have the right product for the right application. Both will satisfy your expectations of performance and longevity with whatever floor covering product you select. These mantras are also pertinent to being green and environmentally conscientious and fiscally responsible by selecting the correct product, getting it installed, taking proper care of it and then continuing on with your day to day business without the concern of a failed flooring product or installation.

 Volume: 62 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Flooring installation failures are one of the biggest and most costly problems in the industry, regardless of the cause or who may be at fault. It's not uncommon for a commercial flooring failure to cost 10 times what the original installation did. A flooring installation failure always falls on the shoulders of the installer. This is a case of guilty until proven innocent and even if proven innocent the installers remain the guilty parties branded with a mark of mistrust. Most often an installation failure is based on a lack of understanding of the installation environment, product knowledge or lack of time to get the job done properly. And very often, by the time the flooring is installed, the project is behind schedule, the end user, architect and GC are pushing the flooring contractors and any compliance with industry standards for installing, whatever the flooring material is, may be totally ignored.

 Volume: 61 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Do I have your attention? One of the things that bother me most is ignorance; I can deal with stupidity as you can educate people. Ignorance and those who espouse it as truth, has a tendency to sensationalize issues that when looked at logically don't make sense. Logic is the science that investigates the principles governing correct or reliable inference. Often logic and common sense, get lost in sensationalism that would have the unsuspecting believing all statements about whatever are true. It's a reach to make a correlation between the admitted potential harmful effects of plastic nipples and baby bottles on babies to incorporate the entire populace of the world to what some would have you believe are poisonous plastics.

 Volume: 60 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The Hospitality Design show in Las Vegas this year showcased a multitude of new designs in textile floorcovering materials. Never before has there been such a departure from the "normal" offerings of what many would consider high styled carpet and flooring. This move in design can be considered more art than design. These styles cover all means of manufacture of textile and hard surface flooring materials.

 Volume: 59 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

This is an issue that requires some clarification, explanation and information. The tufted weight of any carpet is the weight of the material at the tufting machine or prior to any shearing being done on the pile surface, if a cut pile product. There are tolerances for face weight and other characteristics of commercial carpet which have to be met that allow a variance of 5% + or – according to GSA guidelines. All carpet has a published tufted weight though this issue is particularly critical in the commercial segment of the market. To explain further, the tufted weight is the weight of the carpet as it is set up to be produced on the tufting or weaving machine. In other words, if a carpet is supposed to be 30 ounces a calculation is made by the manufacturer as to how much yarn has to be used to achieve this weight.

 Volume: 58 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

What causes planar instability? Planar instability, that which prevents a modular flooring material, hard or soft surface from lying flat, is caused by internal forces generated by materials or layers in the flooring material, that exert forces or stress across or within the material, which create lifting or curling edges. This can occur on all four sides or two sides and is often in the "machine" direction or length, of the material. If, for example, a product is quarter turned the lifted edges will alternate — North South to East West and vice versa with every other tile. Planar stability is influenced by the forces within the flooring material and by changes in heat or humidity. There are tests to detect or prove the condition exists such as the cycled humidity test for carpet tile.

 Volume: 57 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The last flooring we had didn't do this. We expected it to last longer than this. We didn't expect the colors to run. We didn't expect the carpet to come off the floor. We didn't expect to have to replace it so soon. We expected it to look a lot better than this. We didn't expect it to get dirty so fast. We didn't expect it to fade. We didn't expect it to wear out under the chairs. We didn't expect it to scratch and dent like it has. We didn't expect the edges to curl. We didn't expect it to mat and crush the way it has. We didn't expect it to change colors. We didn't expect it to change in front of the sliding glass doors. We didn't expect…….? You fill in the blanks here because this is what is heard across the country daily from flooring end users who didn't expect you to disappoint them.

 Volume: 56 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

This article is by Steve Tolli an LGM Associate based in New York, and for eight years served as the technical director for North America for the world's largest cork flooring manufacturer.

 Volume: 55 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Many cleaning companies offer hard surface care to their customers but are you sure they are maximizing efficiencies to keep your hard surface flooring in as good a shape as is possible? Looking at service plans will keep maintenance techniques as efficient as possible in commercial buildings.

 Volume: 54 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Continuing on with Part III, the conclusion of What to Include in a Flooring Specification with the next item where we left off – Project Meetings.