Why flooring from torn down barns is all the rage

Superior dimensional stability and a rich patina are just a few reasons more people are seeking reclaimed flooring. This video offers a first-hand look at why this is a great flooring choice, and one of the most sound building practices on the planet.

Not too long ago, customer inquiries in Greater Cincinnati about natural oil hardwood finishes were few and far between.

But today, Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors seems to be using its zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) plant- based oil finish every week.  And interestingly, many applications are in large commercial projects like the new Boca Restaurant in downtown Cincinnati.

The project features regionally manufactured Cherry and reclaimed oak flooring. While the people and planet-friendly attributes of the products are a given, there is another reason contractors are opting for the natural oil finish, says Roy Young, Schumacher’s quality control manager.

“They are selecting this finish for its look, feel and reparability,” he says. “The matte sheen and lack of polyurethane build seem to be appealing as it pertains to minimizing the visibility of scratches.”

Oil finishes are spot-reparable, meaning that areas of the floor can be recoated, without having to sand and finish the entire floor as is the case with polyurethane finishes. Schumacher used this finish on the Cherry floors throughout the restaurant.

In the restaurant’s wine room they installed 12-inch by 12-inch cork tiles, then finished them with low-VOC waterborne polyurethane. And in other sections, they installed prefinished reclaimed flooring made from deconstructed barns. This is also regionally manufactured, and the company’s finish also is zero-VOC.

“We now work with many manufacturers of reclaimed hardwood because these products are becoming very popular,” Young says. “People like this rustic, antique look, and the fact that they are giving a new life to old, historic structures that were torn down.”©

Schumacher & Co. does the hardwood installations and finishing for Carpetland Carpet One , ProSource Wholesale Flooring and Buddy’s Flooring America 

Traditionally, tile has been considered nontoxic and indoor-air friendly. Tile is fired at very high temperatures, which should burn off any organics that might be present in clays or binders.

But architects, designers and an increasing number of homeowners clearly want verification that these products are people- and planet-friendly.  The recent introduction of Aventis – a new line of porcelain tile from Florida Tile — is among the daily examples: “Aventis is composed of 40 percent post-industrial recycled content, and it is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality-certified,” the announcement stresses.

“It’s clear that knowing a product’s people- and planet-friendly attributes is becoming an important part of our business,” says Ben Lanich, regional manager for Carpetland Carpet One Floor & Home in Cincinnati, OH. “So we are making this information available for our customers, and not just for flooring products traditionally considered ‘green,’ but rather, for all of the products we carry.”

Florida Tile is among those products, and is one of many lines Carpetland offers from manufacturers, including Daltile, Crossville and American Olean, that have achieved Green Squared certification and offer several lines that have third-party indoor- air quality and sustainability certifications.

Aventis, offers a contemporary urban design in a six-color palette, which Florida Tile says was meant to  deliver a cool, minimalist look for modern residential or commercial spaces.

“Florida Tile also recently did a total face lift on their showroom in Blue Ash, OH, and since I have a tile background I went because I know a lot of the people that work over there and WOW!,” says Jennifer Osborne, account manager for ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings in Cincinnati. “The range of products and looks is wonderful, including the HD tiles that have so much depth and appear so real when copying natural stone. I have used Florida Tile for quite a while, and I can really say that their prices are competitive in the industry.”

Aventis is offered in 12-inch x24-inch and 24-inch x 24-inch sizes, all rectified for a tailored, non-grout design, plus 3-inch x 12-inch bullnose and decorative M12 mosaics in all colors.

And, don’t forget, it is composed of 40 percent post-industrial recycled content and has GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certification.©

Meet IceStone, one of five people- and planet-friendly counter tops coming to our Milford, OH showroom

IceStone, made of recycled glass and cement, is a pioneer in recycled counter tops.

It offers colors that are unique among the brands that will be available in June at Carpetland Carpet One’s Natural Interiors Design Center at 920 Lila Ave., Milford, OH.

IceStone requires periodic sealing for normal maintenance. Watch this space for upcoming information on the other brands we soon will be offering.

Creative use in glass in everything from mosaic tiles to light fixtures and sinks underscore a trend in 2013. Recycled counter tops, contain glass, quartz and corn-based polymers are also hot.

You can see all the finalists’ designs here.

Like the looks, but not sure how to get started?

Good designs always begin with a focal point, and are best guided with professional assistance. If you are concerned about using people- or planet-friendly products, you will want to check out the products’ third-party certifications, too.

Ample selection is also key. Natural Interiors Design Centers at Carpetland Carpet One in Greater Cincinnati offer all product information and top tile brands including Crossville, Daltile, Florida Tile and American Olean, all of which have Green Squared Certification.

Beginning June 1, the Milford, OH location will also be offering countertops. For more information, call 513-984-9472 or email contact@naturalinteriors.com.

Choosing the correct color, sheen and more

Should you use flat, eggshell or semi-gloss? Do you paint the walls or baseboards first?

Mythic — the maker of zero-VOC paints — answers these questions and more, just in time for your spring painting project.

 Q. I am puzzled about the ceramic bead layers advertised as being part of the finish on Wicanders Cork Flooring. Does this add considerable hardness to the cork surface?  I’m seeing the comfort aspect of cork, and am actually replacing ceramic tile with the cork – so I don’t want to replace hard ceramic with hard ceramic!

A. The ceramic beads are crystals that are embedded in the layers of the UV- cured urethane finish that is topically applied at the plant during the final stages of the manufacturing process. These tiny microscopic particles do not add to the hardness of the cork, but rather to the long-term wear-ability of the finish.

The ceramic beads are very hard and durable, very similar to that of a diamond. Without these particles, the tendency is to wear through a finish much faster than a floor that has the ceramic beads in it.

A good example I share is in the auto industry. Lexus has utilized their Pearl Coat finish on their premium cars for over a decade. If you look at the finish on a pearl coat Lexus finish after 10 years it still looks excellent, conversely the finish on a Chevy premium car after 10 years will be visiting Earl Scheib for a touch up before the car is offered for resale.

– Tim Tompkins

National Marketing Manager

Wicanders/Amorim

Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors in Milford, OH, has become the only flooring retailer in southwestern Ohio to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) to supply hardwood flooring that qualifies as certified wood under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

FSC is the only certification accepted for sustainably certified wood under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rules. Meeting these rules governs whether a commercial or residential building project achieves LEED certification, which can qualify the owner for tax abatements.

In order for FSC wood to qualify for LEED credit, the retailer who sells the wood also must be certified, said Bobby Ammerman, Chain-of-Custody (CoC) administrator for the Center for Forest and Wood Certification, based in Lexington, KY.

“FSC certification ensures that the chain of custody, from the forest to the jobsite, is not broken,” Ammerman said. “Schumacher’s certification means it has procedures in place to order and receive FSC-certified goods, and get them to the jobsite and installed, in a manner that guarantees the goods have not been altered or mixed with non-FSC products.”

Founded in 1927, Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors, a Natural Interiors® Design Center, is known for quality custom hardwood design, along with environmental practices that include using finishes that are better for indoor-air quality. The company’s people- and planet-friendly products and practices are a response to increasing demand from retail customers and architectural and design clients alike, said Roy Young, CoC administrator for Schumacher & Co.

“Achieving FSC certification is a natural extension of our focus on environmentally sound practices that help planet health, in addition to our products and services that are better for human health,” Young said. “Being FSC-certified allows us to fully service the needs of customers and clients who want to meet LEED requirements in their building projects.”

Part of the KW Flooring Group, which includes ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings in Cincinnati, Schumacher & Co. works with more than a dozen manufacturers of FSC-certified hardwood, in addition to supplying wood flooring that qualifies for reclaimed and regional wood credits under LEED rules. (Schumacher’s licensing number is FSC-C109876).

Last year, Schumacher & Co. launched an extensive natural and low-VOC floor finishing program, which includes water-based polyurethane, zero-VOC plant-based oil and specialty finishes like beeswax.

In August, Schumacher & Co. and its affiliates also became the only flooring companies in the region to offer Natural Interiors® health and environmental product scorecards. The scorecards list all people- and planet-friendly certifications and attributes, in addition to chemicals of concern, for all products the stores carry.

– Nancy Kibbee is editor at www.naturalinteriors.com.

Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors in Milford, OH, has become the only flooring retailer in southwestern Ohio to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) to supply hardwood flooring that qualifies as certified wood under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

FSC is the only certification accepted for sustainably certified wood under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rules. Meeting these rules governs whether a commercial or residential building project achieves LEED certification, which can qualify the owner for tax abatements.

In order for FSC wood to qualify for LEED credit, the retailer who sells the wood also must be certified, said Bobby Ammerman, Chain-of-Custody (CoC) administrator for the Center for Forest and Wood Certification, based in Lexington, KY.

“FSC certification ensures that the chain of custody, from the forest to the jobsite, is not broken,” Ammerman said. “Schumacher’s certification means it has procedures in place to order and receive FSC-certified goods, and get them to the jobsite and installed, in a manner that guarantees the goods have not been altered or mixed with non-FSC products.”

Founded in 1927, Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors, a Natural Interiors® Design Center, is known for quality custom hardwood design, along with environmental practices that include using finishes that are better for indoor-air quality. The company’s people- and planet-friendly products and practices are a response to increasing demand from retail customers and architectural and design clients alike, said Roy Young, CoC administrator for Schumacher & Co.

“Achieving FSC certification is a natural extension of our focus on environmentally sound practices that help planet health, in addition to our products and services that are better for human health,” Young said. “Being FSC-certified allows us to fully service the needs of customers and clients who want to meet LEED requirements in their building projects.”

Part of the KW Flooring Group, which includes Carpetland Carpet One Floor & Home, Schumacher & Co. works with more than a dozen manufacturers of FSC-certified hardwood, in addition to supplying wood flooring that qualifies for reclaimed and regional wood credits under LEED rules. (Schumacher’s licensing number is FSC-C109876).

Last year, Schumacher & Co. launched an extensive natural and low-VOC floor finishing program, which includes water-based polyurethane, zero-VOC plant-based oil and specialty finishes like beeswax.

In August, Schumacher & Co. and its affiliates also became the only flooring companies in the region to offer Natural Interiors® health and environmental product scorecards. The scorecards list all people- and planet-friendly certifications and attributes, in addition to chemicals of concern, for all products the stores carry.

Schumacher & Co. and Carpetland Carpet One Floor & Home are located at 920 Lila Ave., Milford, OH, 45150. (513) 831-5000. Architects and designers needing service or samples, contact Nancy Kibbee at (513) 984-9472.

Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors in Milford, OH, has become the only flooring retailer in southwestern Ohio to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) to supply hardwood flooring that qualifies as certified wood under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system.

FSC is the only certification accepted for sustainably certified wood under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rules. Meeting these rules governs whether a commercial or residential building project achieves LEED certification, which can qualify the owner for tax abatements.

In order for FSC wood to qualify for LEED credit, the retailer who sells the wood also must be certified, said Bobby Ammerman, Chain-of-Custody (CoC) administrator for the Center for Forest and Wood Certification, based in Lexington, KY.

“FSC certification ensures that the chain of custody, from the forest to the jobsite, is not broken,” Ammerman said. “Schumacher’s certification means it has procedures in place to order and receive FSC-certified goods, and get them to the jobsite and installed, in a manner that guarantees the goods have not been altered or mixed with non-FSC products.”

Founded in 1927, Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors, a Natural Interiors® Design Center, is known for quality custom hardwood design, along with environmental practices that include using finishes that are better for indoor-air quality. The company’s people- and planet-friendly products and practices are a response to increasing demand from retail customers and architectural and design clients alike, said Roy Young, CoC administrator for Schumacher & Co.

“Achieving FSC certification is a natural extension of our focus on environmentally sound practices that help planet health, in addition to our products and services that are better for human health,” Young said. “Being FSC-certified allows us to fully service the needs of customers and clients who want to meet LEED requirements in their building projects.”

Part of the KW Flooring Group, which includes Buddy’s Flooring America, Schumacher & Co. works with more than a dozen manufacturers of FSC-certified hardwood, in addition to supplying wood flooring that qualifies for reclaimed and regional wood credits under LEED rules. (Schumacher’s licensing number is FSC-C109876).

Last year, Schumacher & Co. launched an extensive natural and low-VOC floor finishing program, which includes water-based polyurethane, zero-VOC plant-based oil and specialty finishes like beeswax.

In August, Schumacher & Co. and its affiliates also became the only flooring companies in the region to offer Natural Interiors® health and environmental product scorecards. The scorecards list all people- and planet-friendly certifications and attributes, in addition to chemicals of concern, for all products the stores carry.

– Nancy Kibbee is editor at www.naturalinteriors.com.