FLOR modular tiles- a personal review

You see them everywhere... from magazines like dwell to Ikea catalogs, FLOR modular tiles are the in thing for any modern space. I always thought FLOR products were cool looking when I saw them, but I didn't really get interested in them until I saw that FLOR products are green products in accordance with LEED and Build It Green standards; carrying a sign-off from Green Label Plus. With FLOR's use of recycled and renewable materials and their "Return and Recycle Program" FLOR modular carpet tiles are much more than an innovative designer flooring.

To get a closer look and feel for FLOR's products I decided to place an order for some samples of their different carpet tiles ranging from super shaggy, "Shaggy Sheep" to the much more basic, "Fez".

I have to admit I had a lot of fun with the samples... I did everything from spill stuff on them to see how easy they were to clean, to cutting and ripping them to test the durability. I really liked the results I saw, these carpet tiles could really be worth their weight in a multitude of circumstances. Being that you piece together this flooring with multiple tiles, it would be simple to take care of spills by removing the effected tiles, cleaning them, and putting them right back after they dry. Liquid spills will not permeate through the backing of these tiles so you don't have to worry about spreading. The tiles work quite well with vacuums and brooms, but I did have a negative experience with the "Shaggy Sheep" tile. The "Shaggy Sheep" tile has a very long, twisted shag that really sheds under certain conditions. Heavy traffic, strong vacuum suction, and pets do not mix with the "Shaggy Sheep". This tile gets very messy, leaving fibers all over the place to pick up and the tiles themselves are not easy to clean like the others I tested. Besides the shag, the overall experience was very positive.

FLOR has a lot of different choices when it comes to their products. They have all different colors, patterns, textures, and even carpet tiles for different places such as outdoors and commercial settings. FLOR modular carpet tiles are made in the US and have a decent price point in comparison to high-end area rugs and designer carpeting; along with the assurance that the products are certifiably green.

If you're interested in FLOR modular carpet tiles or would like to make a purchase, please check out their website:

http://www.flor.com/service/flor/index.html

Where to buy locally in the Sacramento Valley:

Lumens Light + Living, 2028 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814- 916.444.5585
http://www.lumens.com/

Some area Lowe's retail stores
http://www.lowes.com/

Or you can buy direct from FLOR and have them shipped...FLOR has programs in place to offset CO2 and fossil fuel and energy usage to minimize environmental impact. Go check it out...

Throwing Tires In Your Yard Isn't Just For Hillbillies Anymore!

Now I'm not literally telling you to throw car tires in your yard... I'm talking about rubber mulch made from shredded, recycled car tires for your landscape. Once you've checked out this product you'll never go back to wood mulch again.

What was once stacked as high as an elephant's eye in junk yards and dumps has reinvented itself into all kinds of useful products for the green movement. I love running on tracks that are made from recycled tires and I enjoy crazy art made from them, but recycled rubber tire mulch brings it home for the general homeowner who wants to make a difference.

Recycled rubber tire mulch is a product that provides multiple benefits with very little drawback. Wood mulch has to be constantly replenished through the seasons, and easily gets blown all around or floats away when a good storm comes through. Not the same with rubber mulch... you get a product that that is long lasting and has the density to stay put while still allowing for moisture to permeate through to plant roots. Recycled rubber tire mulch's only negative draw back is it's up front cost. Wood mulch will usually always have a lower price point due to it's lower production cost, but down the road you actually get a better savings when you go with the rubber mulch. All you have to do is estimate how much you would spend replenishing your wood mulch over the years and then do the math! Bite the bullet and spend the money for the recycled rubber tire mulch... you save money in the long run.

Below is a picture of rubber mulch that's been in my front yard for over a year and a half now:

Since installing it in my own yard I've been thoroughly pleased with the results. It's usually recommended that you install a weed barrier under your mulch, but I went ahead and applied it right over the existing soil. So far I have noticed very little weed growth compared to the rock and landscape fabric I had originally. I strongly believe that the density of the recycled rubber tire mulch helps deter weed growth even though it's not an advertised selling point marketed by the manufacturers.

With all of this said, I really do have to recommend that you start throwing "tires" in your yard. You get to save money over time, you get a product that lasts against time and the elements, and most of all... you get to be green and sustainable with your choice to use recycled rubber tire mulch.

Below is a list of Sacramento Valley businesses who sell recycled rubber tire mulch. It can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowe's, but they carry one brand and it's very over priced and not locally produced.

The Brickyard, Sacramento and Vacaville- 916.290.4800 and 707.470.1600,

http://www.thebrickyard.com/

Resource Building Materials, Rancho Cordova- 916.985.2625,

http://www.resourcebuildingmaterials.com/HOME/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Rocklin Rock Sand and Gravel, Rocklin- 916.624.7625,

no website...

Foothill Landscape Materials, Shingle Springs- 530.677.4716,

http://foothilllandscapematerials.com/