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U.S. Trends in Ceramic Tile

eroyer — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:40:11 +0000

Representatives from Daltile visited ebuild’s corporate office to show off new products and talk about tile trends. Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director, said that 2011 trends include:

Daltile's Spark collection

•     Clean, monochromatic looks
•     Textured designs
•     Fabric-look pieces
•     Wood-look planks for floors and walls
•     Contemporary graphics
•     Glass and metal tile accents
•     Rectangular sizes
•     Extra-large sizes (18” x 18”, 24” x 24”)
•     Narrow grout lines

Nevertheless, traditional looks in beige hues still are the most popular with U.S. builders and homeowners. “Beige is king,” said Lynda Whittle, brand marketing manager for American Olean, a sister brand of Daltile. – Jean Dimeo

2010 Greenbuild Product Preview

ktomasulo — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:49:29 +0000

When the 2010 Greenbuild Conference and Expo opens next week in Chicago, more than 1,000 manufacturers will take to the exhibit floor to showcase a range of sustainable selections. The trade show mainly focuses on commercial construction, but included among the wares are a number of products designed for or appropriate for residential use. Here are 14 products that will be on display at the show, including a dual-flush toilet with in-wall tank, recycled-content tiles, and formaldehyde-eating gypsum.

And don’t forget to check out the Greenbuild Residential Summit, featuring a full slate of workshops on green-built homes, on Nov. 18. Click here for more information. –Katy Tomasulo

CalStar. Utilizing 40% fly ash, the manufacturer’s pavers and architectural facing bricks offer the look of traditional clay products while requiring 50% to 85% less energy to produce, the company says. The pavers (shown) come in standard and tumbled finishes in eight colors, as well as a Holland line with chamfers and lugs. www.calstarproducts.com. Booth #L508.

Delta. The Vero collection, boasting clean, ribbon-like lines, includes WaterSense-certified lavatory faucets that flow at 1.5 gpm and 1.5-gpm showerheads. Showerheads feature H2OKinetic technology, which the manufacturer says provides the feel of 2.5 gpm despite the lower flow. Both units are available in chrome and Brilliance stainless. www.deltafaucet.com. Booth #1845.

Duo-Gard. New to the company’s line of translucent daylighting systems, these decorative panels come in an array of patterns and colors, including botanicals, rippling waves, and colored grids. Made of 100% recyclable acrylic or polycarbonate, the panels come in translucent styles, to allow diffuse light throughout the room’s interior, or opaque; backlighting and LED illumination systems are available. www.duo-gard.com. Booth #1730.

ECR. Like the original Freewatt system, the Freewatt Plus alternative energy system produces electricity and heat for the home, but it also provides up to 1,800 kW of backup power in case of outages. The system’s microCHP technology combines an Energy Star-rated, high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler and a Honda engine/generator to generate heat, producing electric power as a byproduct, the company says. An integrated transfer switch automatically transitions from grid-connected power to backup power. www.freewatt.com. Booth #2350.

ThinkEco. The Modlet automatically cuts power to appliances when not in use, reducing standby loads and cutting costs by 10% to 20%, according to the firm. The device monitors real-time power equipment consumption; a Web-based interface allows users to create and refine an energy savings plan to cut power when it’s not needed. Initially being introduced for commercial use, the Modlet will be available for homes in the spring. www.thinkeco.com. Booth #1492.

IdeaPaint. Single-coat, roller-applied IdeaPaint can be used to turn a surface into a dry-erase board suitable for kitchens, a child’s room, or a home office. The formaldehyde-free, low-emitting product recently earned Greenguard certification. www.ideapaint.com. At Greenguard, Booth #1545.

Native Trails. The Yanama vanity features solid FSC-certified cherry wood and a 16-gauge hand-hammered copper foot that coordinates with the company’s sinks. The unit measures 24 inches wide by 21 1/2 inches deep by 34 inches high. The foot comes in an antique or brushed nickel finish. www.nativetrails.net. Booth #2257.

Smith & Fong. Plyboo Strand FSC-certified bamboo plywood and flooring are urea formaldehyde-free and carry Indoor Advantage Gold (plywood) and FloorScore (flooring) certifications. Plywood panels come in 3/16-, 1/2-, and 3/4-inch thicknesses; the flooring comes in 3/8- and 9/16-inch thicknesses. Both are available in Havana, Sahara, and Neopolitan finishes. www.plyboo.com. Booth #461.

CertainTeed. According to the company, AirRenew gypsum board cleans the air by capturing formaldehydes and other aldehydes from the indoor air and converting them into inert compounds that remain within the board. The drywall also includes the firm’s M2Tech, a water-resistant core and mold-resistant paper face that provide protection against moisture. www.certainteed.com. Booth #1439.

NanaWall. NanaGlass SL25 frameless opening glass wall system features no vertical stiles, providing for uninterrupted views and efficiently extending the living space by enclosing balconies. With a top-supported track, the panels slide open to one or both sides; they can glide along a balcony rail or extend to the floor. The panels are engineered to withstand wind loads up to 80 stories in 90-mph wind zones. The system comes in custom sizes and configurations. www.nanawall.com. Booth #1088.

Accsys Technologies. To make Accoya lumber, the company starts with sustainably harvested wood then manufactures it using a non-toxic acetylation process that makes the product more dimensionally stable and durable than tropical hardwoods. The wood carries FSC and PEFC certification, as well as Cradle to Cradle Gold. It is indigestible for many insects, including termites, the firm says, and is suitable for uses such as decking, windows, doors, cladding, and structural components. 972.233.6565. www.accoya.com. Booth #468.

Enovative Control Systems. Designed to optimize central water heating for multi-tenant buildings, the D’Mand Circ recirculation pump operates on an as-needed basis, minimizing heat loss and pump runtimes and reducing natural gas consumption and heating costs by up to 30%, the maker says. Pipe deterioration also is reduced. The product can be used in retrofit applications. www.enovativegroup.com. Booth #1917.

Crossville. The Empire Porcelain Stone collection now comes with 20% recycled content, certified by SCS. Reminiscent of natural marble, the tiles come in a range of sizes and shapes, from mosaics to 21-inch-by-21-inch large format to plank shapes. Polished and unpolished finishes are available. www.crossvilleinc.com. Booth #1281.

Toto. The DuoFit In-Wall Tank System locates the tank within the wall and the toilet off the floor, creating 9 extra inches of bathroom space, providing for easier cleaning, and adding a contemporary, European look. The system can be installed in 2x4 or 2x6 walls and supports up to 880 pounds. The dual-flush unit offers 1.6 gpf for solid waste and 0.9 for liquid waste. www.totousa.com. Booth #1922.

Eco Research Group Finds Harmful Chemicals in Vinyl Flooring, Wallpaper

ktomasulo — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:25:28 +0000

A notable percentage of vinyl flooring and wallpaper contain substances linked to cancer, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, asthma, and birth defects, a Michigan-based research group announced this week. Nevertheless, several prominent vinyl industry groups refute the claims, saying government and independent research shows they are not harmful to humans.

The Ecology Center of Ann Arbor said roughly 5% of the 1,016 flooring samples it tested contained lead; those 52 products comprised vinyl sheet flooring and vinyl tile. In tests of wallpaper containing PVC coatings—representing 96% of the total research sample—more than half contained such hazardous chemicals as lead, cadmium, chromium, tin, and mercury.

The Ecology Center posted its findings on its www.HealthyStuff.org website. That same site also contains reports on past research it has done regarding toxic chemicals in toys, pet products, cars, handbags, back-to-school products, and children’s car seats.

According to the Vinyl Institute, the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, and the Wallcoverings Association, their preliminary review of the center’s data shows that the metals were not found in a vast majority of the tested PVC/vinyl products or were there only in extremely low amounts; in some cases, the amounts were lower than the safety levels for lead in toys.

The vinyl groups also said in a statement that most PVC/vinyl products manufactured in or imported to the U.S. are made without intentionally added lead or cadmium. Also, many manufacturers have implemented or are developing voluntary certification programs that stipulate avoidance of such metals.

Some of the center’s findings involve products that are suspected of causing health problems but haven’t definitively been banned. One example is phthalates, which in the case of building products may be used to make PVC products flexible. The center said its tests of flooring samples “contained numerous phthalates, at up to 12.9% by weight. Limited testing for phthalate plasticizers indicates most vinyl flooring contains four phthalate plasticizers recently banned in children’s products.”

Most PVC wallpaper also contains phthalate plasticizers.

The vinyl groups contend that phthalate-plasticized products have been used for decades and have been thoroughly evaluated for safety by government and independent scientific organizations. They are widely accepted for use in consumer, medical, and other types of products.

“The FDA reviewed phthalates in medical devices and did not find any evidence of harm,” Allen Blakey, vice president of industry and government affairs for the Vinyl Institute, told EcoHome. “The Consumer Product Safety Commission reviewed phthalates in toys and did not find they were causing any harm. The National Toxicology Program reviewed phthalates, Health Canada reviewed phthalates, the main health committee of the European Union reviewed phthalates, and they all pretty much agreed they had not found any evidence of harm. But there are researchers who have found that if you feed rats and mice massive quantities, you can interfere with the male sex organs.”

Linoleum, cork, bamboo, and hardwood all tested free of lead, cadmium, mercury, and other hazardous metals, the center said.

Craig L. Webb is Editor of ProSales. This article originally appeared on ProSales Online. Assistant Editor Evelyn Royer contributed to this report.

SURFACES Products, Day 2

klove — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:16:58 +0000

Given the means and the option, numerous home buyers would probably choose hardwood flooring as their first choice. Perhaps this explains why there are so many wood flooring exhibitors at SURFACES this week. But, many offerings at this year’s show are, at best, average, with thin top layers and inconsistent finishes. And the less said about the vinyl offerings the better.

But SURFACES also presented a number of exciting flooring products, such as cool corks, slick bamboo, and cheerful-looking glass in ice-cream colors. Some good wood products commanded a presence as well. Here are some of the notable offerings from this year’s SURFACES.

Enviro Hardwood: The manufacturer recovers teak hardwood from a manmade South American lake that was created in 1960 to produce hydroelectric power. About 1 million acres of rainforest was flooded and lost, so the company’s diving recovery teams use underwater chainsaws to reclaim the trees. Lumber from the effort makes these 2- to 5-inch-wide flooring in a wonderful array of natural colors. They come in random lengths. www.envirohardwood.com.

SURFACES Products, Day 2 originally appeared on BUILDER Online.

Surfaces 2010: Flooring Industry Tries to Sustain Itself During Downturn

klove — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:43 +0000

Credit: Nigel Maynard

While it may not be as large as the International Builders’ Show that was held only two weeks ago, SURFACES, the show about all things floor related, kicks off its annual convention today in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Expect the mood to be subdued but hopeful as manufacturers try to break new ground in product introduction and attendees try to find ways for their businesses to stay afloat in these trying times.

“SURFACES 2010 will continue to deliver the products, tools, technology, and education that floor covering professionals will require to not only sustain [themselves] during this challenging economic climate, but grow and profit,” the show materials state.

Flooring, like all other sectors of the housing market, has been hit by the housing downturn as fewer houses are built and homeowners scale back on whole-house renovations. But unlike home building, the flooring industry has one saving grace: Existing-home owners often tackle smaller projects such as installing new carpet in the family room or den, or adding ceramic tile in the kitchen.

Attended by floor covering retailers, distributors, installers, architects, designers, and builders, SURFACES (owned by Hanley Wood, publisher of BUILDER Magazine and www.builderonline.com) will feature more than 700 manufacturers and suppliers displaying products in such categories as carpet, tile, hardwood, rugs, and laminate flooring.

In addition to a new products pavilion, the show offers education workshops and seminars and live demonstrations. On-Floor Education Stages will focus on four “hot topics” related to the floor covering industry: Sustainability, Design & Trends, Business & Technology, and Installation.

Despite the economic climate, manufacturers at SURFACES are likely to introduce some interesting new products that will be of interest to builders, architects, and remodelers:

Crossville will exhibit new products in its Porcelain Stone line and will feature Cotto Americana, a price-conscious line for residential and commercial projects. The company will also show Urban Renewal, a metal tile with 50% post-consumer recycled content. www.crossvilleinc.com

In keeping with the eco trend, Enviro Hardwood will highlight new offerings in its recovered hardwood flooring, which the manufacturer pulls from a manmade lake in Suriname, South America.

Anderson Floors will display its Virginia Vintage Crossfire, a handscraped, wide-plank maple flooring. It will come in four colors and with the company’s Luster-Lock Ultra finish for three times more scuff and abrasive resistance. www.andersonfloors.com

Look for Armstrong’s Luxe Plank, an easy-to-install resilient vinyl floor in hardwood colors and textures as well as in longer plank lengths. The line signals Armstrong’s entry into the floating luxury vinyl plank category, the company says. www.armstrong.com

Dal-Tile will present a product from its Stone a’la Mod line with “patterns and shapes that go far beyond the basic natural stone tile,” the company says. www.daltileproducts.com

In another nod to innovation in low-cost flooring, Congoleum will debut a new generation of sheet flooring with AirStep Evolution. The product features the Stain Defense System technology that makes it easy to clean and maintain. It’s available in four designs and 18 colors. www.congoleum.com

SURFACES continues through Thursday Feb. 4.

Nigel F. Maynard is a senior editor for Builder magazine.

Surfaces 2010: Flooring Industry Tries to Sustain Itself During Downturn originally appeared on BUILDER Online –where you can find more article like this.

Down Economy Driving Stone Trends

ktomasulo — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:51:07 +0000

Like every aspect of the building sector, the stone industry has witnessed a change in purchasing decisions and style choices due to the faltering economy: Excess is out, authenticity is in. In its “Perspectives” annual trend report, Charles Luck Stone Center provides a forecast of stone’s relationship to architectural and design trends, including how simpler tastes and a desire for the familiar are driving color and texture choices, as well as sizes and styles.

Below are the highlights from “Perspectives.” For a complete, detailed run-through of the trends, including numerous image examples, visit www.charlesluck.com/perspectives.

Whiteness: A need for serenity is driving a clean, understated aesthetic with shades of white as the focal point; monochromatic, semi-plain decors with no clutter. For stone, this means tumbled looks (instead of polished), tone-on-tone, and a resurgence of classic white marble.
Authenticity: Increasing importance of a story behind the material and for genuine materials. Trend will drive interest in reclaimed stones and those that exhibit a vintage patina or weathered look.
New Modern: Modern architecture is merging clean lines with natural elements; natural colors like grays, beiges, and whites. In stone, this translates to linear forms, large-format pieces, honed finishes, and metallic minerals.
Eco Design: Green building will drive use of natural, tactile materials, and natural-evoking browns and greens. Expect to see growing demand for locally sourced stone and more material reuse.
Artisan: An attraction to handmade products and those that tell a cultural story and feel one-of-a-kind will lead to more hand-crafted and hand-tooled stone products with a mix of textures and finishes; mosaics and accent detailing also will become more popular. –Katy Tomasulo

Armstrong Partners With Carpet Manufacturer

ktomasulo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:04:15 +0000

Armstrong extended its flooring portfolio with yesterday’s announcement that it has partnered with Beaulieu of America to distribute that company’s carpet products to builders under the Armstrong brand. According to Armstrong, the collaboration provides builders with an extensive selection of flooring—vinyl sheet and tile, laminate, hardwood, and carpet—to offer home buyers, but with just a single brand name and point of contact.

The products are organized under a six-tier program spanning all price points. Integrated selling tools, including coordinated displays and samples, are being offered to inspire customers and ease confusion, Armstrong says, while helping builders sell upgrades. –Katy Tomasulo