Home Flooring Choices Category Archive
A few weeks ago while browsing the Garden Web forums, I came across a concern we hear from time to time regarding durability.
Posted by mamadadapaige
Hi,
Please help me get to the bottom of this...
We are renovating our house and putting in hardwood floors which will run continuously through several rooms, including the kitchen and butt up against some existing vertical grain fir floors.
I want something that will work harmoniously with the fir but be much more durable since this will be in the kitchen and since we have young kids in the house.
I would like to go with old growth Cherry from Carlisle (www.wideplankflooring). They have assured me that because the cherry is old growth it will be hard enough to be durable in a kitchen. The architect (albeit a young architect) also assured me of the same thing (said that if it were cherry from anyone else he would say no, but that the Carlisle cherry is denser). The contractors are saying there is no way this is hard enough to be durable in a kitchen and are STRONGLY advising me against it.
I love the look of it and really want to go with it but I also trust the contractors and am afraid.
If we don't do this, we will go with quartersawn white oak and deal with the fact that where the oak meets up with the fir the contrast is great (and probably not very pleasing to the eye). Unfortunately where they meet is very visible as you enter the house so not an ideal situation.
Anyone with specific experience with Carlisle Cherry floors?? or even if not, any advise for me?
thanks!!!
I've grown up with traditional wood floors as my parents loved them and made this there passion to bring to others to enjoy. Now I am carrying on the tradition and would love to help share some thoughts on your decision.
Its very interesting to me to see what others have said about your desire for Cherry flooring, good quality cherry will last for generations and there definitely are not any durability concerns. Pine flooring still remains in good condition in many of the Early American architecture and is a highly sought after and beautiful floor. Cherry is much harder and every bit as durable. If you aesthetically love the look of Cherry you shouldn't change this direction. Cherry has been used in homes all over the country for a long time with fantastic results. Your children will add character to the cherry, the extent to which this happens will directly correlate to the finish that is used. I am a proponent for a softer finish that allows the normal aging process and doesn't look like plastic plus maintains the beauty of the Cherry. There is no issue regarding the floors durability, yes you can use Ash or Oak but make your decision based on the look you want. The difference in the wear and durability will be negligible to you and both floors will be there for another generation to enjoy!
-Don
Author's Name: Don Carlisle
Posted Date: April 7, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Filed under: Don Carlisle, Hardwood Flooring, Home Flooring Choices
View or post your comments here (0)
BLOGGING GADGETS
Social Bookmarks: 
| 
| 
| 
TrackBack (0)
Pre-finished flooring has been out there a long time. But we waited until we could be sure of getting it right. Right, in terms of the lustrous traditional look for which Carlisle finishes are famous. And right, in terms of the environment.
Announcing Carlisle Custom Coat finishes.
For starters, virtually all other manufacturers leave the bottom of their boards unfinished. Which, because of moisture absorption, could mean mold and mildew problems as well as instability due to seasonal effects. But our new Custom Coat finishes are applied to the top, bottom and even the tongue and groove by our Custom Shop craftsmen so that the board will stay dry, flat and stable. Plus, they incorporate a special additive which effectively combats mold, mildew and other unhealthy airborne microbes. And because they are completely sealed and cured, they are ready for immediate installation. So customers don’t have to first stack them in the house to let them acclimatize. Or wait, wait, wait while each coat dries, which can be a real problem in humid climates. Which means any professional installation will now go faster and more economically. And do-it-yourselfers won’t have to live with smelly fumes, sticky floors and stacked furniture for days on end.
Pro-environment. Super-tough.
Our Custom Coat finishes are formulated to be environmentally friendly. For example, they contain no measurable volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can pose a significant health hazard as they escape into the air when finishes are applied on site. Another big advantage is that these new finishes are three times more durable than typical site-applied polyurethane finishes –yet, unlike other pre-finished flooring options, can be easily be touched up when accidents happen. Or be totally refreshed after years of wear – a huge breakthrough. In addition to a clear top coat, our Custom Coat finishes are available in all thirteen of our Historic Stains or any individually-created custom colors. And in board widths up to 12 inches – something no one else offers. We can also pre-finish any and all of our custom surfaces, including foot-worn, hand-scraped and saw kerf. And we even offer a commercial version that stands up to the heaviest foot traffic in the busiest of places. Carlisle Custom Coat finishes – just the thing for the floors we – and our customers – have all come to love.
Check out our latest issue of Surface for more details.
-Don Carlisle
Author's Name: Don Carlisle
Posted Date: February 25, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Filed under: DIY - Do It Yourself, Don Carlisle, Home Flooring Choices
View or post your comments here (4)
BLOGGING GADGETS
Social Bookmarks: | | | TrackBack (0)
I've always known I have been allergic to dust because it would make me sneeze - a lot. I thought it was something I could live with and just one of those nuisances in life that some people have to deal with and others just don't. And so I trolled through most of my adolescent and teenage years just trying to stay away from dusty places ... that I could see. However, the real allergens that actually have caused me to develop allergic asthma can't even be seen by the naked eye! They are dust mites, pollens and pet dander. These are things you can't "see," but they infiltrate the environment in anything they can hang onto - mostly pillows, bedding, curtains and the main offender: CARPET.
As soon as I was educated to this fact, I promptly removed the carpet in my bedroom and revealed wood flooring that not only aided in ceasing my wheezing and coughing, but also incidentally looked much more handsome and welcoming than the carpet had. I ended up spending more time in my room than I ever could have before I had removed the carpet and vowed from that day forward there would be no carpet bigger than a throw-rug in my living space ever again! I'm really proud of this decision, as it has not only made me feel better physically, but I also have the peace of mind that I am not creating more non-biodegradable waste in the world from the chemicals used to maintain and produce carpet.
Another attribute I love about wood flooring is that it is so easy to keep clean; I can sweep it and damp-mop with an Earth-friendly mixture of a capful of vinegar and water and presto; good as new! Next time you're walking in your home and sneezing or wheezing, take a moment to look around you --- your worst enemy could be right under your feet!
Author's Name: Jen Fox
Posted Date: January 31, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Filed under: Home Flooring Choices, Jen Fox
View or post your comments here (1)
BLOGGING GADGETS
Tags: allergy, carpet, dust mites, Hardwood flooring, wood flooring
Social Bookmarks: | | | TrackBack (0)
