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What is ZERO-ADD®?
ZERO-ADD® technology eliminates the use of formaldehyde and uses a process with low VOC additives for every aspect of manufacturing. This process eliminates harmful emissions without compromising performance, durability, or design.
What are VOCs?
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound. At concentrated levels, VOCs emitted into your home are known to have short- and long-term effects on health. Thanks to our ZERO-ADD® technology, LIFECORE® flooring’s VOC emissions are over 70% lower than regulated industry standards for compliance.
What are the Advantages of Hardwood Floors?
Hardwood floors represent nature at her most beautiful, adding tremendous value to your home and décor. In addition, their organic origin and non-electromagnetic nature makes them the healthiest choice for your environment. Hardwood floors, in general, tend to attract less dust, allergens, and molds (the way other flooring types can) and LIFECORE’s ZERO-ADD® specifically takes those health benefits a step further with no added formaldehyde.
What is the Difference Between Engineered, Laminate, and Solid Wood Flooring?
• Engineered floors are real wood that is manufactured using five layers of natural wood under a premium top layer of your chosen hardwood species. Each layer is “cross-grained,” which means they run in perpendicular directions for more stability.
• Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood with a photographic appliqué layer under a clear protective layer.
• Solid floors are a single piece of hardwood.
What are the Benefits of Engineered Floors over Solid or Laminate?
Unlike laminate, engineered floors are organic, not synthetic, wood. They boast a veneer that is thicker and much more durable. An engineered floor can be sanded and re-finished, whereas a laminate floor cannot. Solid flooring tends to expand and contract with changes in your home’s relative humidity. This can cause “gapping” or “cupping.”. Because of cross-graining, engineered floors are more dimensionally stable than solid, with less expansion and contraction. As a result, engineered flooring can be installed anywhere in the home, as opposed to solid floors, which can only be installed in certain areas.
What is Pre-Finished Hardwood?
Pre-finished hardwood simply means that floors come out of the box stained and coated.
What Does “Veneer” Mean?
A veneer refers is a word for the top layer of wood, which is comprised of your chosen species. This layer comes in various thicknesses, the most common being 2MM.
How Long do Hardwood Floors Last?
With proper care and maintenance, hardwood floors can last indefinitely.
What is Smoked flooring?
Introduced by Gustav Stickley, smoking (or fuming) involves briefly enclosing the wood in an environment where organic substances are introduced into the atmosphere. The wood remains in the environment just long enough for the tannins to be brought to the surface, thus darkening the wood naturally from within. No substance is actually applied to the wood during this eco-friendly process.
What is a Double-Stained Flooring?
Double staining (also called “enhancing”) involves applying a dark, eco-friendly stain to the wood first. This stain is then wiped off, leaving color in the grooves of the wood. The second coat of lighter stain is applied, giving the wood a deeper, contrasting color without obscuring the natural beauty of the wood grain.
What are “Saw Marks” (also called Sawn-Cutting) ?
Like hand scraping, wire brushing and sculpting, saw marking is a “distressing” technique used to add texture and character to the wood’s surface. As the name implies, it is done using either a bandsaw or sashsaw to mark areas of the wood for a distinct look.
Where does Reclaimed Flooring Come From?
Reclaimed wood comes from a variety of sources, including old buildings, houses, and barns. Once at the factory, each plank is inspected and the best wood is chosen. The wood is then prepared for milling same as if it were lumber that came straight from the forest. As with any recycled material, the process of “reclaiming” wood allows the prestige of being considered among the most eco-friendly choices for your home.
How is Engineered Flooring Installed?
Engineered floors can be nailed or stapled to a wood subfloor, or glued down to a wood or concrete subfloor. This makes engineered wood floors ideal for slab and basement installations, but they can be used in any room above, on, or below grade.
Where can Engineered Flooring be Installed?
Engineered floors are more versatile than solid, as they can be installed on, above, or below grade.
Will my LIFECORE floor change color?
Like a fine wine, certain species will “age” (darken) over time. Though our finishes are extremely durable, they are still sensitive to UV Rays, and prolonged exposure to sunlight may deepen the color of the floor depending on the species. As a precaution, we suggest moving area rugs during the first few months after installation to ensure the floor darkens evenly.
Can I Sand or Refinish an Engineered Floor?
While some, smooth finished engineered flooring can be sanded and refinished, it is recommend that you consult the warranty that comes with your floor and will depend on the thickness of the veneer. LIFECORE engineered floors have different types of distressed finishes. This finish gives a beautiful look that as it wears will look even better. Refinishing sawn marks, scraped, or wire brushed areas will make it more difficult. We do not recommend refinishing our organic reactive finishes; they have no applied stain and the natural color penetrates through the entire veneer.
What Should NOT be Used for Ongoing Maintenance of Pre-Finished Floors?
Water, wax, furniture polish, soap, lemon oil, vinegar mineral spirits, and any other cleaning agent or household product not recommended in our Care and Maintenance instructions. These will damage the coatings and result in the loss of warranty.
What is a Janka Hardness rating?
The Janka Hardness test measures the force required to embed an 11.28 millimeters (0.444 in) diameter steel ball halfway into various species of wood. This method leaves a hemispherical indentation, which is then measured. Based on its resistance to denting, the species is assigned a rating that shows how hard it is. The higher the rating the better the ability of wood species to withstand denting and wear.
