The Simple Patios Product Line is exemplary of everything FloorMall has based its success on. Great, well made products at remarkably competitive prices. This selection of quality patio furniture has specifically been priced lower than any of the other brands found online. And to prove that FloorMall stands behind the quality of the Simple Patios product line, each piece of furniture is covered with a 50 year warranty.

When you buy from Simple Patios you get peace of mind, free shipping and great outdoor furniture at rock bottom prices. And while it’s true that FloorMall has only recently entered the patio furnishings market, they’ve already managed to amass a huge collection of outdoor furniture. So whether you’re looking for chaise lounges, swings or wood tiles–Simple Patios will have products you can trust.

Sure, there are expensive wood floors available but if you are going for a natural wood design and are open to a variety of alternatives to the more costly types such as oak hardwood flooring than there are some options available you should consider. Bamboo is becoming popular these days and the eco friendly crowd has the advantage of Cork flooring as well as bamboo for natural wood/environmentally friendly flooring choices. Not only that but also these flooring types are considered inexpensive compared to their more ‘North American’ flooring brethren.

Cork flooring is a beautiful alternative to standard more expensive wood flooring and has many qualities the more traditional expensive flooring lack. Being moisture resistant and tough, durability is an important consideration when choosing cork floors.  More importantly for frugal tastes is that cork flooring can be had for a fraction of the price of expensive hardwood varieties without sacrificing classic beauty and elegance.

Interestingly enough, cork flooring is installed in areas of the actual Library of Congress and has been known to maintain its longevity for up to one hundred years or more which is amazing. How is that for a vote of confidence for a very well priced flooring material that has yet to reach its true value based on its past obscurity in the flooring market? When more people realize the truly amazing attributes of cork flooring the price will surely rise for this exotic and durable flooring product.

Cultivated from the cork oak trees in the western Mediterranean, the harvesting programs from cork manufacturers is regenerative and eco-friendly. Cork has insulation properties and a natural elasticity that makes it very comfortable and healthy to walk upon and suitable for soundproofing. One would think that not only is this strikingly practical flooring material expensive but difficult to install, this is far from the truth.

Cork flooring can be purchased reasonably over the Internet through both wholesalers and retailers of flooring products. Research will guarantee an educated buying decision so do your homework and get at least 3 estimates and work the seller for a great deal. The price of cork flooring will vary from Internet sources to brick and mortar retailers. Prices average anywhere between $2.00 – $5.00 per square foot. Installation is something you can attempt on your own but the money you will save over regular hardwood flooring could be put into professional installation to play it safe and ensure the job is done correctly.

Because of Cumaru’s considerable density, woodworking can be difficult. Nailing or screwing, especially, as the floor tends to rejects being impaled. Staining is all but out of the question as most varnishes will not be accepted onto the surface of the wood.

Cumaru’s popularity ranges between casual home installations to commercial locations. The dark heartwood set against the lighter sapwood has the appeal of an exotic floor and the variation that is sought after in retail locations around the world. Flooring is not, however, the only application that this wood is used for. Musical instruments, such as pianos, are also constructed from Brazilian Teak. But because of the strong weathering ability,  decking is the most productive alternate use. A seasonal pressure washing can restore a grayed cumaru deck to its natural luster.

As with almost any exotic hardwood floor, exposure to light and elements will darken the wood. It has been reported that the change is not so radical as some of the other species, but it is quite noticeable after six months to a year.

A notable feature of cumaru is the feather-like graining.

The multitude of uses for Cumaru flooring makes it a natural choice for just about any application.

                 Pre- and Post- consumer products play a large role in the construction of a new building in regards to earning points. Additional points can be earned according to the percentage of recycled products. For example, your home is $1 million dollars. To earn the first point for post-consumer products, a total of $100,000 would need to account for post-consumer products. To gain the second point, $200,000 is required. However, for pre-consumer products, double the amount is necessary as these types of materials are graded as 50%. Therefore, twice the dollar amount is necessary in pre-consumer products to achieve the same LEED points, $200,000 in pre-consumer products for the first point, and $400,000 for the second. Cork flooring, bamboo flooring, rubber flooring, and FSC certified hardwood flooring can greatly assist with the earning of these points.

                The role of flooring in earning LEED certification can be significant, helping to achieve the result of a building that reduces the impact on the environment, as well as saving money in the long run.

Here at FlooringNow, we showcase products and species that are geared towards the current trends in flooring worldwide. And the current trend in flooring is going green. Environmental consciousness has broken through to the masses and spurred forward a surge of products endorsed by organizations promoting the conservation of old-growth forests around the world, developing and utilizing new and effective ways to produce and distribute green flooring products.

The wave of green flooring throughout the industry has inspired the popular Floormall.com to create its own line of flooring: Terra Verde. The purpose is to give buyers the flooring they want while minimizing the effects on the global ecosystem. Full product series are available, from domestic hardwoods like hand scraped maple, to exotic woods like Jatobá. Terra Verde flooring holds promise as an environmental contender in today’s market as the continual growth of green products expands in every field.

Terra Verde flooring sports its own site with the aesthetics of something you might see in a site displaying artistic wood specialties. The aesthetic and pleasing format makes it easier than ever to decide which products you want to view, sort by construction and origin. Solid domestic, exotic engineered, and everything in between are neat and refreshingly easy to sort by.

With an impressive history in regards to customer service, order accuracy and satisfaction, Terra Verde’s skilled and informative customer service representatives can guide the uninformed to make an educated decision, or assist professionals to get unparalleled savings for their projects.

South American Ipé is particularly resistant to both fire and insects. Grade A – the fire-resistance grade assigned to cement – also applies to Ipé. Even in the natural form, a towering 140 foot tall, 6 foot wide tree, Tabebuia Serratifolia shows moderate aversion to flame.

The dark brown, chocolate coloring of this specie seems to entice people towards it, eliciting a positive response in any atmosphere. Like most hardwoods, Ipé darkens over time. It should be noted that decking is the popular choice for this wood because of its hardness. Finishing can be difficult due to the density, and outdoor use eliminates the need to apply extensive coating. The weathering process of outdoors negates quickly any finishing applied, especially in damp or wet regions. If indoor flooring is the intended use, it is recommended to compare pre-finished Brazilian Walnut with the added trouble of finishing at home. The overall durability, however, supercedes many finishes.

Engineered hardwood flooring may be preferred over solids for the simple reason of workability. Ipe is notorious for being difficult to nail. Most professionals recommend pre-drilling holes for the nailing process: yes, this wood is that hard.

A plethora of other qualities mark cork as a preferred choice for your flooring needs, such as its natural aversion to fire. Even before harvesting, the Cork Oak Trees in the Mediterranean are often left the least-damaged in brutal forest fires. The bark on these trees – known scientifically as Quercus Suber – resists the heat of the flames, and this characteristic is certainly present later on, when the material is processed into tiles. Of a similar note, this helps to make the material a fine insulator, whether it is as flooring, or underlayment.

The list of features grows further as you learn about Suberin, a waxy substance produced by the tree that repels insects, and also influences the Cork Oak’s Latin name. If you’ve ever held a cork from a wine bottle, the slight feel of it being waxy is contributed by this substance. Suberin also helps to prevent rot when the cork is exposed to moisture for extended periods of time. Additionally, this miracle brew helps to prevent mold.

The actual harvesting process of the trees is as different from other woods as its qualities are. The Cork Oak is not cut down when obtaining cork. Instead, the bark is carefully peeled away from the trunk, leaving a thin, membranous layer that transfers nutrients to the tree, sustaining it without its protective “skin.” The intricacy of this process ensures that the tree survives the experience. The bark then re-grows, and is ready to be harvested again in just under a decade – normally around nine years. Portugal produces most of the cork for the world, and has accommodated this industry by placing important preservation laws to conserve the trees, and refine the method of harvesting so that virtually no trees are lost. Furthermore, almost none of the product is lost in the refining process, making Cork one of the leading choices in green housing. Cork Oaks live over two centuries, during which time they will be harvested over twenty times, and at the end of their long life, will be replaced by two saplings.

The wide variety of cork products almost necessitates an equally vast variety in flooring choices. Colors range from tan and brown to green to chocolate and black. Each color can be placed into almost any atmosphere and blend with the feel that is trying to be produced.

Tigerwood is an excellent choice for the environment as well. With certification from the FSC – the Forest Stewardship Council – Tigerwood has a record of being less strenuous on the Brazilian neotropical forests it is harvested from. This moderation, of course, means preservation of the Earth’s natural resources.

As appealing to the eye as Tigerwood may be, in truth it may be the durability that leads the customer to decorate their home with this remarkable wood. Tigerwood is incredibly durable, with a Janka rating ranging between 1700 and 1900. It also boasts a natural resistance to both decay and insects, making it preferable for outdoor use. Even before preservation methods, the lifespan extends well past twenty years. This only reinforces the sense that this is a perfect choice for long-lasting beauty, inside and out.