News

VOC's Dangers

Violate Organic Chemicals (VOC), are chemicals found in various products like paints, dry-cleaned clothes, air fresheners, moth repellants, glue and wood preservatives like wax and finishes. When it comes to cleaning your home, you want to make sure that you’re using safe products, especially if you have children or pets. Finding products with zero VOC can be tricky, but it’s not too difficult.

VOC can have several health risks, short and long term.
Some short term effects are:
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Visual disorders
• Eyes, nose, and throat irritation

Some long term effects are:
• Loss of coordination
• Damage to liver and kidneys
• Constant fatigue
• Cancer

VOCs are known to be used in the production of laminate, vinyl, and carpeting; however, there are laminate, vinyl, and carpeting options that emit low to zero VOCs.

Call us for more information on VOCs, it's relationship to flooring, and how you can avoid these health risks at (408) 509-8627- (408) 333-9771.

Types of Moldings

Moldings are used to hide transitions between floors because of uneven heights, different types of flooring, and/or because of shifts from floors to stair or cabinets, they are also used as decoration, whatever the reason may be, there are several types of molding.

• T-molding is used as a transition from one floor to another of equal height or to join Hardwood Floors between two rooms, like in entrances.

• Flush stairway tip, this type of molding has a lower cut trim which is used in stair steps, stair rests, and raised floor perimeters to connect floors to give a uniform appearance.

• The step overlap has a profile that rises over the flat surface of the floor.

• One-quarter rounded molding, a curved molding, covers the expansion spaces where the floor meets the baseboards, cabinets, or stairs.

• Reducer strip, this type of molding achieves a successful transition between different types of flooring, like between laminate or hardwood and carpet.

In addition to being decorative, they help beautify the project, by hiding unpleasant separations and protecting joints that happen because of expansion or contraction of the soil. With this subtle but ingenious decoration, they achieve an elegant and sophisticated appearance.

Call us for more information on molding for hardwood floors at (408) 509-8627- (408) 333-9771 or visit our showroom in 1190 Mountain View Alviso Rd, Ste N 94089, Sunnyvale, CA.

Cork Flooring

Before considering this product, it’s important to highlight that cork is no longer in trend and is not recommended.

Cork is obtained from the bark of European Oak trees. Today there are many aesthetic possibilities and formats, without removing its main characteristic of irregular grains, which provide it with beauty and elegance. Cork Floors are treated with either seals or varnishes, which increases its resistance, impermeability, and durability.

Cork Floors have many advantages:

• They're easy to install.

• They provide a spongy feeling that is pleasant when walking.

• It has thermal insulation and decreases loudness.

• They are malleable and non-slip,

• They’re hypoallergenic.

Disadvantages:

• They're expensive.

• They have several aesthetic possibilities, but there is not as much variety of designs as other types of hardwood floor do.

• They can’t be installed in rooms where there's sun for a long time; constant exposure and sunlight will affect its hue.

Hardwood Polyurethane Finishes

Polyurethane finishes are available in three different types of sheens.
- High gloss polyurethane is the highest performing gloss; it's heavy duty, robust, flexible, very shiny, and used mainly on metals like iron and steel and also on newly poured concrete.
- Semi-gloss, typically used on hardwood, furniture, and other wooden surfaces. It's fast drying, within 24 hours, and provides a subtle shine.
- Satin is also quick drying, it's durable, and adds minimal shine for a more matte look.

Water-based polyurethane is the most popular option; it's odorless and transparent. Many people enjoy it because it requires less ventilation in areas where applied, but it's less durable and more expensive than oil based and requires more coats. Because of certain chemicals in oil, it needs to be applied in areas where there's high ventilation. Another slight defect is that it doesn't dry as quickly; however, it's durable and resistant to moisture and heat. If you prefer to keep the natural color of the wood, oil-based wouldn't be a good option since it changes color over time.

Call us for a FREE ESTIMATE on your hardwood floor at (408) 509-8627 or (408) 333-9771. You can also visit our website at www.evergreenhardwoodfloors.com.