{"id":1541,"date":"2021-05-02T15:06:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-02T15:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dalsouple.com.au\/?post_type=articles&p=1541"},"modified":"2021-05-02T15:06:46","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T15:06:46","slug":"problems-with-flooring","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/dalsouple.com.au\/articles\/problems-with-flooring\/","title":{"rendered":"Problems with Flooring"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Sometimes the final “look” of a flooring is not as it appears in the promotional literature and advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here we have to realise that the flooring is perfectly laid in the imagery on a “perfectly” flat and smooth surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It shows an “ideal result”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-It has to for marketing purposes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In “reality” an “ideal result” is not achieved- the problem not being with the floor covering but with the actual underlying surface that through minute variance can cause a “domino” effect across the surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may look smooth and level but don’t just go by a visual look or feel. Prove it the old-fashioned way by using straight edge rulers and levels over a certain distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where bumps and ridges lie below the top layer -and it can be seen on the surface- we call this “telegraphing”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most rubber products manufactured in the world today are made to within very high tolerances of less than 1% surface variance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To blame the product for an uneven appearance is not acceptable- but often the first and easiest way to point the blame for the failure of an entire project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is where “expertise<\/strong>” in laying flooring- especially rubber is required. The way the flooring looks can almost certainly be co-related to the field experience over the years<\/strong> by an installer that specialises in this field. So an “experienced” installer <\/strong>helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designers and architects need to understand this concept rather than being dismissive and saying we no longer will specify this or that product because of the way it looks after install. Naivety is rife with all due respect when this attitude is taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things needed to be looked at in perspective rather than giving sweeping generalisations about the product and its performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So here’s an interesting article to explain things in a more un-emotional and reasoned fashion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no such thing as a maintenance free floor. Flooring is designed for foot traffic and is expected to carry many years of stress from people, animals, wheeled traffic, furniture, ageing. Carpet needs contant vacuuming and vinyl needs constant polishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this page, we’d like to show the problems with using flooring other than rubber such as\u00a0 timber, lino, vinyl, cork, carpet, and ceramic tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many vinyl floor tiles in the 1970’s had an aspestos backing. A few years ago Melbourne University were renovating one of their buildings but first found their vinyl tiles had this deadly substance. This added a great cost to the renovations. It’s very important that if you suspect you have old vinyl tiles (as opposed to rollform vinyl), then you need to get it checked out by a professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some vinyl claims to be environmentally friendly as it’s made from recycled PET bottles. But it still ends up as landfill at the end of its life. Many architects and designers are now steering away from vinyl and not even wanting to use them in hospitals. Some chemicals that have previously been used in vinyl are considered to be carcinogenic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vinyl usually needs a polish on top and can quickly looked scratched and not have as long a guarantee. Have you noticed the floor polisher at the supermarket? This is because they are there every day! Sure you can buy vinyl for as low as $30m2 but we believe you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In early July 2012 we visited Treehouse Childcare Centre at Stocklands in Sydney. Dalsouple was installed there in small areas as feature circles in green and pink. After 3 years the rubber is not worn, but the vinyl next to it is very badly scratched and doesn’t look like it will last very long.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther non-rubber floors and their issues……<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
VINYL PROBLEMS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n