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J UNE 2019 | 37 Resilient Flooring Here in Canada, Capri Collections is keenly rep- resented by LSI Floors."Complementing the luxury vinyl tile of LSI, this offering has high-quality cork patterns/colours in both glue down tiles/planks and floating floor, an array of colourful to subtle rub- ber cork and recycled rubber tiles and rolls," says Christine Neufeld, marketing manager. "Both cork and rubber offer unprecedented durability, comfort under foot, and sound deadening characteristics. The blending of these two materials provides a visual impact not captured by any other flooring material." Made from the bark of the cork oak tree, cork is a natural, rapidly renewable material. The tree is unique in its ability to regenerate its outer bark. The harvesting of these trees allows it to store up to five times more carbon than one that is not harvested. The first use for this bark is wine corks with flooring as the second most common use. One of the facilities taking advantage of the unique characteristics of cork flooring is the 24,026-square- foot Cabot Public Library, which was renovated from a grocery store into a library in 2016 using the Capri Eco-Clicks cork floating floor. With methodical atten- tion by the architects and installers, and the proper placement of expansion joints and transitions, the floor is able to successfully "float" as intended, even with the weight of heavy book shelving. "The warm wood tones that the natural cork pro- vides created the welcoming environment we wanted for the library," explained Jerri Ott, project archi- tect with Schelle Architect of Cabot, Arkansas. "With a variety of activities, including story time, art and crafts, and community meetings, hundreds of peo- ple walk on the cork floors every day. The floors look beautiful and are easy to maintain. The cork added a design element, while also offering the floating option needed for the substrate issues." Torlys Inc. has introduced its new RigidWood Vinyl collection to its already extensive vinyl pro- gram in the Smart Floors brand. The new product offers a full range of 15 stunning visuals with rich registered embossed textures and painted bevels. "Not only is this collection beautiful, but the new RigidWood Vinyl has remarkable dimensional sta- bility with no peaking, gapping, or cupping, while withstanding temperature swings from -40°C to 60°C," says Brian Gencher, VP of marketing and product development. "The unique integration of fibreglass in the construction creates the perfect combination of flexibility and rigidity so it will con- form to the subfloor better than any other rigid LVT." He notes minimal subfloor preparation with essentially no telegraphing, coupled with the pat- ented Uniclic joint produces an easy and fast installation. It can be installed without transitions in spaces up to 80 feet by 80 feet. "Superior durability and lifelong performance is built into RigidWood with Torlys Maxx Finish, a nano technology to pro- vide incredible scratch and stain resistance," says Gencher. "Comfort is also a key benefit with the Torlys FoamPlus Blue attached underlayment for superior sound dampening and shock absorption." RigidWood is a safe and sustainable solution that is FloorScore certified and phthalate free. Microban antimicrobial product protection is even built into the finish and also infused into the attached FoamPlus Blue underlayment to inhibit the growth of mould and mildew from top to bottom, keeping the room fresh. Gerflor North America has introduced the DLW Linoleum Landscape Collection for 2019. "Gerflor DLW has a number of linoleum product lines and this is the first one we've launched specifically for the North American market," says Catherine del Vecchio, senior marketing director. "We created 43 coloured designs inspired by what we see in nature. Sky-blue to brilliant ocean blues, lush forest greens, sandy des- erts, snowy mountains, beiges and terracotta, and blues that are close to nature like sky-blue, as well as sunset colours." She adds that because they are marketing to health-care and education sectors, the colour pallets work for both sectors. "In education primary colours are readily used, whereas health environments want softer, neutral colours." The Landscape Collection is available in 2.5-mil- limetre calendered sheet flooring in six-foot, six-inch wide (up to 98-feet, five-inch long) rolls. All Gerflor DLW Linoleum products are naturally bacteriostatic, inhibiting the spread of infections – ideal for health- care and education spaces. "We know the Canadian market is a huge advocate of linoleum, more than the U.S., so that's why we decided to stock it at our loca- tion in Montreal," she says. Del Vecchio explains that because it is built for commercial applications, DLW is available in sheet rolls that work in commercial, health-care and educa- tion environments. "Our surface treatment does not require any waxing. Cleanup is simple with soap and water, which is beneficial for maintenance budgets. It can be sheet welded as well to maintain the seamless finish." Made with 100 percent bio-based ingredients, the Gerflor DLW Linoleum Landscape Collection is recyclable and biodegradable. INSTALLATION Mapei has introduced two new solutions for install- ing resilient wood flooring: Mapecontact MRT and Mapecontact SRT. These double-sided tapes are ideal for concrete slabs containing high moisture content, as well as for installers in need of quick installation times. Mapecontact MRT is designed for the rapid and permanent installation of solid vinyl sheet, vinyl tile, vinyl plank, virgin smooth-backed rubber flooring, natural and prefinished cork flooring, and cork under- layments on floors and walls. Composed of dry-film, foam-core tape, Mapecontact SRT is designed for the rapid and permanent installation of solid vinyl sheet, vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring, as well as solid and engineered exotic and domestic wood flooring, acrylic impregnated wood, finger block parquet, and bamboo. "Because Mapecontact MRT and Mapecontact SRT have no limits on moisture vapour emissions, moisture testing is not required regarding these two tapes," says Jeff Johnson, business and market- ing manager for Mapei's Floor Covering Installation Systems. In addition, Mapecontact tapes are spe- cifically designed to provide an instant bond that permits immediate foot traffic – even the immediate placement of furniture. Mapecontact SRT also provides the added benefit of sound reduction. "This is perfect for interior residential or interior commercial use – any place where people must live or work on multiple floors," says Johnson. "With its sound-reduction properties, Mapecontact SRT is the ideal choice for use with resilient wood flooring so popular in today's interior design." A RigidWood Vinyl collection from Torlys Inc. Application of Mapecontact SRT from Mapei Inc. Capri Eco-Clicks cork floor from LSI Floors. DLW Linoleum Landscape Collection from Gerflor North America.

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