Rubber Flooring

There are many circumstances where the usual line of flooring products simply won’t suffice. In situations such as this, extra durability and safety may be needed. Hardwood floors are prone to scratches from abrasion, and may also be too slick in some cases. Carpet frequently does not give the traction and shock absorption needed. Sports facilities such as gyms, ice rinks, and tracks commonly demand a higher level of reliability from their flooring. Rubber flooring is a an affordable solution to this problem, as it provides all of the needed properties for an affordable price.

Rubber flooring is durable and flexible, providing the tough reactive surface that is needed. A rubber floor can take up the weight of a falling dumbbell, while also staying level while supporting a heavy weight machine. A high quality rubber floor will not tear or rip under pressure. Rubber flooring is very simple to lay down, as it is usually sold as a set of tiles that fit together neatly. These interlocking tiles are simple to fit together, and do not require any high strength toxic glues. This makes rubber flooring a safer option, especially when recycled rubber is used in its construction.

Rubber sold as gym flooring commonly has a great traction surface that prevents any dangerous tendency to slip. The antislip surface is usually double sided, ensuring that the flooring will not move suddenly, or allow someone on it to fall. This is essential in a sports facility, where safety is of great concern. Rubber flooring will absorb the shock and noise of a falling weight, where concrete and hardwood would crack and suffer permanent damage.

Commercial Mats and Rubber is a large manufacturer of rubber flooring, specifically engineered for use in sports facilities. Their Diamond Mega Tiles are suited for sports facilities, and provide excellent safety against falling weights, as well as a high traction surface on both sides. Diamond Tiles are made with an interlocking design, making them exceedingly easy to put down. The Diamond Tiles are available in a wide range of colors and textures. The tiles are produced with high strength rubber that remains intact under great pressure, but remain firmly in place as they must.

Pergo Flooring

Pergo flooring provides a broad selection of laminate flooring, with an emphasis on reproducing the genuine feel of hardwood and tile. With Pergo flooring, homeowners can rest assured with a floor that will both look great and last years. Laminate flooring takes very little upkeep, and will stay looking great for decades. The latest Pergo flooring replicates all the familiar quirks of a hardwood floor. Visitors will have a hard time recognizing the floor as anything but hardwood.

In addition to its great looking and lasting appeal, laminate flooring is also very easy to install. With its interlocking tiles, Pergo flooring is simple enough to install without any professional assistance. The tiles are manufactured with a groove that allows the tiles to interlock without any adhesives. Provided a home installer has a tile cutting tool, the installation should be very little trouble. Interlocking Pergo flooring is also friendlier to the environment, as it requires no toxic adhesives, without any of the harmful chemical adhesives that other floors possess.
Home installation is easy enough for almost anyone to do, and can save thousands of dollars in professional installation fees. Pergo flooring is safer and healthier without the adhesives seen in many other types of flooring. Once a Pergo floor is installed, it should last for several years. Worn out and damaged tiles can be individually removed and replaced. Laminate flooring will not suffer in the same way from water damage and abrasion as hardwood. A hardwood will bow and bend over time when exposed to water. Cupping and crowning results from prolonged moisture exposure. This moisture can come both from spills and from water that wicks up from the subfloor, making prevention difficult.

Pergo flooring is superior to carpet as well, offering both durability and warmth that the former cannot. Carpet can soak up water and stains, making it tough to maintain. Over time, carpet can end up absorbing odors that stick around. Laminate flooring keeps out these kinds of smells, remaining in perfect condition for years. Carpet, by contrast, will gradually become torn and dingy. A torn or frayed carpet must inevitably be replaced entirely, whereas laminate tiles can be individually fixed.

Cork Flooring

Cork flooring has become a very popular choice in the home, providing both durability and comfort. Although a slightly expensive avenue when it comes to flooring, cork has many benefits that make it a great investment. Cork is harvested from cork trees in several Mediterranean countries, and the trees only yield a crop once every nine years. This creates a limited supply for a material in high demand. Cork flooring is about the same in expense to ceramic tile. The many advantages of a cork floor, however, make it worthwhile to invest in cork.

As the main defensive mechanism of ages old trees, cork has natural properties that make it resistant to moisture, insects, and abrasion. Cork is also comprised of over 90% air, allowing it to absorb shocks gently, while also quickly returning to its former shape. This ability gives cork flooring excellent durability, allowing it to cushion those standing on it while also remaining level. As tree bark, cork flooring is also very resistant to moisture. Unlike a normal hardwood floor that may lose its shape when wet for extended periods, cork flooring can keep its shape without cracking. Simple maintenance and clean up of spills will keep cork flooring in prime condition for many years.

A cork floor will retain its beautiful finish for generations, with just a little care. Suberin, a natural compound within cork, works to keep the cork intact. The compound is also fire resistant, and does not emit any toxic emissions when burnt. The springiness of the cork structure also provides great noise absorption, absorbing noise instead of reflecting it as hardwood is prone to do.

With just a little upkeep, cork flooring is known to last for many years, just as it has in a variety of commercial and government buildings. As cork flooring has become more and more popular, the options associated with it have also multiplied. Cork flooring today can be bought in a wide variety of colors, shades, and patterns. Cork flooring can usually be installed by either gluing down portions, or using interlocking segments called a “floating floor.” Interlocking panels are slightly more expensive, but you will save on installation costs, as well as improved general durability. Cork flooring is a wonderful alternative to hardwood, and is available today in many affordable models.