Mother Nature’s Warm Floors

The editorial below, written by Richard Cuerrier (one of the owners at Clayton Flooring Inc.), was published in the Kingston EMC on October 14th, 2010. We thought we would re-publish it as it pertains to floor coverings that are greener, warmer, and more comfortable than the alternatives!

TORLYS Classic Cork Whistler "Western Saddle"

TORLYS Cork floors are an excellent and easy way to enjoy a warmer and more comfortable floor in a variety of areas in your home. Consider cork as an alternative floor covering in bedrooms, kitchens, and main living areas as it is more comfortable and warmer to stand on. Plus, TORLYS Cork floors are quieter than hardwood and ceramic tile floors. If you suffer from joint pain you’ll enjoy the benefits of a floor that is naturally more comfortable and more forgiving than some of the alternatives. If you have allergies or difficulties breathing you will appreciate the natural hypoallergenic and mould resistance of cork. If you are worried about VOCs or off gassing you’ll appreciate the fact that TORLYS Cork floors do not emit harmful VOCs and have no formaldehyde added. Finally, when you live on a TORLYS Cork floor you are contributing to a greener planet by choosing a floor covering option that is manufactured by recycling cork instead of harvesting it so you can have a warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside as well.

The second floor covering type that will help keep your home cozy for the winter takes us back to basics and, like cork, makes use of renewable resources! Wool carpet is a wonderful way to warm up your bedrooms and living areas, it is softer, warmer, and more resilient than most man-made carpet fibres and is produced by Mother Nature. Many believe carpet can contribute to allergies or breathing difficulties, specifically when used in a bedroom, but the reality is that wool carpets are engineered by Mother Nature to resist the growth of bacteria and dust mites. In fact, wool carpets are anti-allergenic and because they are made of natural fibres they don’t emit harmful gasses! Nature’s Carpet, available at Clayton Flooring Inc., has a phenomenal line of attractive wool carpets featuring elegant designs that will give you a warm, quiet, and comfortable floor covering you’ll enjoy for years.

A third option made using natural materials that is certain to add flair and make any room radiate with warmth is linoleum. Linoleum was invented in 1860 and has been a common floor covering option commercially and residentially ever since. In the 1960s linoleum was slowly replaced as a mainstay in the kitchen by patterned sheet vinyl products but has been making a significant comeback in recent years due to its hypoallergenic properties. Linoleum is available in bright and vibrant colours as well as more subtle tones that coordinate with almost any decor. Using various colours, patterns can be designed to enhance the look of a room, kids love playing on floors that look as though they have roads. Forbo Marmoleum is made using linseed oil, lumber industry waste, and rosins from pine trees. The backing is made using natural jute and the colours are added using environmentally responsible pigments. All of this makes your linoleum floor a biodegradable option that will perform well even in commercial environments.

Finally, whether you’ve chosen TORLYS Cork, Nature’s Carpet Wool carpeting, or Forbo Marmoleum, you’ll have to decide how to have the product installed. Of the three options, cork is the easiest for the do-it-yourselfer to handle while wool carpet and linoleum are best left to qualified floor covering installers who have had experience with these types of floors. Not sure what to do? If that’s the case, visit Clayton Flooring Inc. today to learn more about these environmentally responsible options that will give you warm floors that look and perform well for years.

Clayton Flooring Inc. is an installer founded, locally-owned and operated floor covering store that does not employ sub-contractors to install their floors. Every Clayton Flooring Inc. installation is carried out by an owner who appreciates that you’ve provided them the opportunity to help meet your floor covering needs.

Estimates are completed by a store owner and there is never a fee and they are free of any obligation! They can be arranged through the website (www.claytonflooring.ca), by telephone (613.389.8888), or in person at 2782 Princess Street in Kingston.