As I mentioned in my ‘about me’ video blog entry, when I first started here at BuildDirect three years ago I had a lot to learnabout building materials. But, this was kind of exciting to be in a position to learn a lot of new, and useful, histories, tips, applications, and methodologies.
Around the same time I signed on here, we were about to launch our lines of cork flooring, Evora cork. So, I had some reading to do, and some writing too. At that time, we didn’t have a blog, but we had our BuildDirect University section which I helped to create. After all, we figured that there were a number of people out there just like me; homeowners who didn’t really know much about flooring, yet knew what they needed that flooring to be able to do. So, my research was meant for everyone’s benefit.
In any case, cork flooring was very interesting to me for many reasons. And one of the most fascinating things about it was that it remains to be a popular material for the entire spectrum of life. By this, I mean that cork flooring is popular in nurseries and kids’ rooms on one end of the scale, but also for places like retirement homes and other interiors frequented by the elderly.
The part of this which caught my attention was that the popularity in these seemingly disparate locations is largely for the same reasons. Kids are still finding their feet, and being unsteady on their pins, this often causes them to take tumbles. The elderly are also concerned about falls. Cork flooring is often chosen in these areas for it’s cushioning properties, for falling objects, and falling people too. Even in between childhood and golden age, cork is a popular choice for exercise rooms frequented by all ages, where a impact absorption is a benefit for those working out.
I think it’s kind of cool that cork meets the needs of people at opposite ends of the age spectrum, as well as the years in between. In this, it’s easy to see why the use of cork has paralleled the course of human history so closely.
One thing which has come to light in traveling from Canada to China are the cultural differences. Some of these differences are pretty obvious and often well documented. For instance, some of our expectations of food are considerably different, in that what we would never dream of eating is quite often a delicacy in China. This is to be expected. More on that later, maybe. Yet, other differences come as more of a surprise.
Just by way of an example, let’s take a look at Rob Banks on his flight from China back to Canada after a week of touring the laminate factory. While making a trans-Pacific journey, what could be more natural than a series of group calisthenics while in one’s seat, led by the flight attendants? Let’s hear what Rob had to say about it, as it was happening…
To continue our series, this is the second part of how a bevel is added to a laminate floor. Rob Banks, BuildDirect’s Co-founder gives us an inside look at how laminate flooring is made, with lots of close-ups of the machinery involved. This second method of applying a bevel to laminate floor boards is a molding process. It’s a bit more involved, but ultimately produces a more desirable effect.
Take a look:
And here’s a second video, which shows you how the laminate wood flooring is cut from sheets into individual boards. Take a look:
To continue our series on laminate wood flooring and how it’s made, here’s another video of Rob Banks, Co-founder of BuildDirect who recently visited our factory in Beijing. This time, Rob takes a look at narrow board laminate flooring with a beveled edge. How do they make it? Well, take a look at this:
There’s more to come in this series, so stay tuned!
Recently, Co-founder of BuildDirect Rob Banks took a trip to China to visit our composite decking factory, and a few of our laminate flooring factories too. While he was there, he took some video footage, and asked some questions about how laminate flooring is actually made.
This is the first entry,in which Rob and factory manager Danny talks about how the paper layer of laminate floors are prepared to be permanently attached to the high-density fiberboard (HDF for short). Take a look:
Your property is a work in progress a lot of the time. Things are moving this way and that, as your space evolves according to how your expecatations of it change. This can often mean big changes. But a lot of the time, it also makes for some subtle changes too, which are just as important.
Take a look at this blog entry about patching a wood floor. In this case, a gap where a heat register grill used to be required some attention. What to do? Well, a wood floor patch as taken from another part of the property which is less viewed - the dark recesses of a closet in this case.
Take a look at the pictures. It’s not completely seamless, as the flooring which is more exposed to light tends to be less vibrant in terms of color. Yet, it’s still an attractive result, and a fairly simple workaround too without having to go out and color match for a single piece - which would have resulted in a difference in color anyway.
I guess with anything else, in this case the simplest solution was also the most effective.
A trend that still seems to be holding sway in the world of wood flooring is the trend toward the handscraped effect, and handworked wood surfaces in general. Those looking to buy handscraped wood flooring in particular are after a more lived in look than they can get with smooth-planed hardwood.
I suppose even the illusion of an authentically worked wood surface lends an air of comfort, and also a sense that the surfaces are hard won. And ultimately, there is a feeling that the surface has a history locked inside of it too. This effect obviously extends beyond flooring, and also applies to cabinetry and furniture too, for those who want that down-home, back to basics look.
For hundreds of years, and up until the present day, true hand-worked millwork, wood flooring, cabinetry, and other elements have been made by religious communities in rural areas all over North America. In looking into it a bit, I found a Squiddo lens about Amish furniture.
And yes, the irony of finding something about the Amish on the Internet is not lost on me. At least you know that the Amish will never spam you, right?
Amish woodworkers favour the species which are native to the areas in which they live. So, lots of oak, cherry, and maple.
Among other points made, the lens talks about the work-ethic found in their beliefs which drives them toward precision and excellence. And these principles comes out in the work they do. For them, working with wood is more than just about practicality. From their standpoint, woodworking is spiritual too. You’ve gotta respect that.
Cheers,
Rob.
Amish family in a carriage image courtesy of Diluvi.
Well, as of today I’ve switched mediums. Well, not switched so much as diversified. Instead of the usual wood flooring, and wood-related post, I give you my introduction of BuildDirect on video. Here’s our first foray into the world of the video blog.
So, there it is; a bit of a ‘hello’. What we’ll be doing over the course of the next few weeks is giving you a direct insight as to who we are, what we do, what we care about. And hopefully, what we’re putting out there will resonate with you. Then, we can start talking!
The state of the economy is not exactly my area of expertise, although I’m as affected by it as anyone, in my immediate circle at least.
But one voice which is very well trusted is Forbes magazine, who have featured an article about the lumber industry and the negative impact the downward spiral of the economy is having on the lumber industry. Foreclosures and the virtual moratorium on building new homes has presented itself as an economic sock on the jaw, with added boots to the gut. Unemployment, credit problems, inflated inventory levels, and any number of other economic knock-on effects is worrying even the most seasoned veteran.
According to the article, the next few months are about survival, with the hope that the economy will start its ascent in 2009 sooner in the year rather than later. For us here at BuildDirect who have the advantage of being able to circumvent a good deal of the traditional processes as far as holding inventory is concerned, it will be interesting to see how this dark period in economic history will change the industry in the long term.
For me, it seems that the nature of business itself is on the verge of transformation, when the methods and attitudes of the past must be seriously re-examined, overhauled, or entirely re-invented where necessary. In some ways, it’s kind of an exciting time to live in, at least where innovation in business is concerned. The loss of savings and jobs part of things isn’t so grand, of course.
That being said, we’re all hoping that whatever model is shaped to carry us forward into the 21st century will be sustainable for the long term, with a prosperous future kept in mind along with more immediate gains. A lot of the time, business practices are focused so much on the instant payoff that the fact that human faces and real lives are attached and are dependent upon the big decisions is forgotten . Hopefully, this blind spot of our current model can be done away with too.
Here on this here blog we’ve talked a lot about how practical wood flooring is, how it can add resale value to a property, and how great it looks. But, what about the spiritual benefits of wood floors? Well, here’s an article about wood flooring and the principles of feng-shui.
Feng-shuiis an ancient Chinese philosophy which concerns itself with the balancing of energies in a physical space. The ultimate goal of feng-shui is to increase the health of those who live and work in that space. So, whether you put any stock into feng-shui or not, that’s a goal that’s hard to argue with.
The role of flooring in feng-shui is that of a stabilizing force, which is pretty much in line with its practical purpose too.
Be sure to read the comments in the forum section of the attached article. There are plenty of stories of people who are making an attempt not only to add some visual benefit to their spaces through wood flooring and other elements, but also to get a sense that their interiors can be a real place of refuge from a busy life.
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In any case, cork flooring was very interesting to me for many reasons. And one of the most fascinating things about it was that it remains to be a popular material for the entire spectrum of life. By this, I mean that cork flooring is popular in nurseries and kids’ rooms on one end of the scale, but also for places like retirement homes and other interiors frequented by the elderly.
For hundreds of years, and up until the present day, true hand-worked millwork, wood flooring, cabinetry, and other elements have been made by religious communities in rural areas all over North America. In looking into it a bit, I found a 
But one voice which is very well trusted is Forbes magazine, who have featured 
The role of flooring in feng-shui is that of a stabilizing force, which is pretty much in line with its practical purpose too.
