Stop Global warming with the Cool Carpet (TM) option
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April 25, 2008 under Green Buildings
The Cool Carpet ™ option is one step you can make to stop global warming with your commercial carpet. Create a “greener” building with “green” product choices.
- Chill global warming by offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- All the carbon offset credits for Bentley Prince Street’s Cool Carpet products are validated by the Climate Neutral Network.
- The Cool Carpet ™ option will neutralize the impact of CO2 emissions over the lifecycle of your carpet
- Bentley Prince Street has a mission to achieve a zero environmental footprint by the year 2020. Sustainability is a priority in the use of raw materials, recycled materials and renewable materials. Bentley Prince Street provides customers with recognition of their environmental stewardship.
- The Cool Carpet ™ option is available on all Bentley Prince Street products for an additional charge of 20 cents per square yard on broadloom or modular product purchases.
The Natural Step
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April 18, 2008 under Green Buildings
The Natural Step is a non-profit advisory and research organization focused on accelerating global sustainability. Is an international organization (NaturalStep.org) that can guide a company towards an ecologically, socially, economically sustainable path. The sustainability experts, scientists, and businesses create solutions that will lead towards a sustainable future.
Commercial flooring is manufactured by companies with a mission towards global sustainability.
U.S. Green Building Council
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April 11, 2008 under Green Buildings
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization to educate businesses on green buildings. Check out the usgbc.org to learn about green building, join as an organization or sign up for courses and workshops.
The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) is a separate organization that supports USGBC by administering credential programs related to green building practices.
A rating systems was developed called the LEED ®, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This LEED Rating System offers LEED-based education programs. Check out gbci.org to find out how to volunteer, to have rating resources or to register for an exam.
Green buildings - green carpets
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April 4, 2008 under Green Buildings
If you can’t build a “green” building, you can take numerous steps towards making your business and your building “green” by using products manufactured by companies with missions towards global sustainability.
Even the government is on track with the Greening the Government Executive Order 13123 states that the “federal government shall significantly improve its energy management in order to save taxpayer dollars and to reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution and global climate change.”
The first step you can do to achieve a zero environmental footprint is to use commercial flooring that was manufactured by companies using renewable energy, with missions to reduce waste and recycle as well as reduce harmful emissions in the air.
Top 13 re-uses of carpet tile in your garage, car & tools
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March 28, 2008 under The Many Uses Of Carpet Tile
- Tool Box Liner – use a piece of carpet tile to line your tool box. It keeps the noise down when the tools are in the tool box.
- Adhesive Spreader – cut a carpet tile with serrated edges to use as an adhesive trowel.
- Backer Rod – cut carpet tile into strips to form a base before applying backer rod to fill large gaps in masonry.
- Ladder Protector – when you drop down your attic stairs – use a carpet tile to prevent marking up the floor.
- Spackle Tray – didn’t bring a spackle tray to work. Don’t worry, use a carpet tile instead.
- Work bench – use carpet tile as a work surface when you are not at your work bench.
- Rag – use a small piece of carpet tile and soak with paint thinner to remove paint from fabrics. Make sure you check colorfastness first!
- Truck Bed Liner – how about putting some carpet tiles in your pick up truck bed to prevent scratching.
- Cup Holder - cut out a small circle and line your cup holder in your car. This will catch the condensation.
- Seat Protector – use a carpet tile underneath a baby seat to prevent the indentations.
- Ladder Support – If you are using a ladder on rocks, you can use carpet tiles to stabilize the base of the ladder.
- Car Matt – the number one usage for carpet tile. Save your factory matting and use a carpet tile instead.
- Garage floor protector – use a carpet tile to catch dripping oil from a car in your garage.
Misc. re-uses of carpet tile
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March 21, 2008 under The Many Uses Of Carpet Tile
- Spacer – use a piece of carpet tile as a spacer between breakables in a moving box.
- Glide – use an upside down carpet tile on a hard surface floor to allow you to move heavy objects.
- Note Pad – you can scratch information onto the back of the carpet tile when you don’t have pen and paper available.
- Funnel – Bend carpet tile into the shape of a funnel.
- Greeting Card – use a sharpie and sign a going away card from your office employees.
- Trash Can Protector – use inside a trash can to catch spills or use underneath can.
- Handle – Cut and tape on a carpet tile strip to give you a better hold on rolling luggage.
- Artist Tray – use carpet tile as an artist tray. Cut a hole in tile for your thumb, spread paint and go to town.
The top 6 re-uses of Carpet tile outside the home.
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March 14, 2008 under The Many Uses Of Carpet Tile
- Target Practice – Use household paint and create circles on the back. Tie it to a tree for a target to throw a football or lacrosse ball at it.
- Child’s Slide – For the adventurous and older child – cut the carpet tile into strips and use as a way of speeding down a slide.
- Walk way – use carpet tiles as a stepping stone over muddy surfaces.
- Entrance Matt – use a tile at your front step or back porch for a convenient walk off tile.
- Kneeler – use a cushion backed carpet tile as a kneeler for yard work.
- Placemat – use a carpet tile as a placemat for your outdoor furniture.
The top 10 re-uses of Carpet Tile in the home.
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March 5, 2008 under The Many Uses Of Carpet Tile
The Many Uses of Carpet Tile
By, Tom Mikulski
Carpet Tiles are one of the most useful products ever invented. They come in a variety of colors, sizes and yes even shapes. They come with and without cushion attached. Here are some of the many uses I have found for carpet tile.
- Drink Coasters – cut carpet tile into circles and use as a drink coaster.
Plant Saucers – Put tile upside down on floor. The carpet tile will prevent overflow water from staining your floor.
Basement Carpet –This is the residential owner’s smart choice for a basement. If the carpet tiles should get wet, you can take them outside and dry them in the sun. - Storm Shield – How about this idea? Put carpet tile over windows in an emergency to help prevent debris from flying and hitting glass.
- Dogs Dish – Use a carpet tile underneath a dogs/cats dish to catch the spills.
- Bath Matt – use for when you get out of the shower.
- Dogs/ Cats Crate – Use a tile to line the bottom of your favorite animals crate.
- Shelf Liner – use carpet tiles as a liner for wire shelves.
- Floor protectors – use as a floor protector underneath furniture.
- Christmas tree Stand protector – put a carpet tile underneath your Christmas tree stand to prevent the water from damaging your floor. Thanks to MVO for that suggestion!
Testing Floor Moisture Emmissions
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February 15, 2008 under Moisture Issues
The testing of moisture emissions is recommended for an owner, general contractor and flooring contractor to determine the level of moisture or the relative humidity in the concrete. Three commonly used tests are the PH test, Calcium chloride test and the Wagner RH test.
PH Test - The first test that should be performed is a simple PH test. High alkalinity levels are what you want to avoid. The high alkalinity levels can be an indication of too much moisture in a slab.
Calcium Chloride Tests - The most often used method of testing is to use Calcium Chloride Tests. This test uses Petri dishes filled with Calcium Chloride. The Petri dish is weighed before it is used.
The dish is put directly onto a patch of concrete that has been roughed up and cleaned of all contaminates. The dish is covered with a plastic dome and left to absorb the moisture vapors for a period of time no less than 60 hours and no more than 72 hours. The Petri dish is then reweighed and the amount of moisture vapor is calculated from a formula. This test measures the amount of moisture vapor emissions over time. Results of under 3 lbs of moisture emissions over a 24 hour time period for 1000 sf area is the benchmark. Some materials will allow you to go to 5 lbs of moisture emissions. Results like 10 or above indicate serious moisture emission issues. I have seen Petri dishes filled with water from an overabundance of moisture vapors.
Wagner RHÂ Test - Another method to test for moisture emissions is a Wagner RHÂ Test that measures for relative humidity levels inside the concrete. This test is recognizes as a more accurate testing method.
The test is performed by drilling a hole into a concrete slab and a RH gauge is inserted into the whole and left there. The advantages of this method are that the moisture levels are measured down in the slab instead of the top ¼ “ of the slab. This will give a more accurate assessment of the moisture levels present.
The additional reason for this test is that one can track the progress of moisture levels. For instance, lets say that the concrete slab is poured in Month 1. Six months later the owner installs his HVAC system and the HVAC system starts to draw the moisture in and under the slab out. If there is excess moisture in the slab, the use of a wagner rh test will allow you to monitor the improvement in the moisture levels over time. It has been my experience that it can take 3-4 weeks of continuous HVAC running to reduce a moisture reading to the acceptable 75% and below relative humidity levels that most manufacturers require.
Moisture, Concrete & Commercial Flooring
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February 8, 2008 under Moisture Issues
Most of the products that are used in commercial flooring are glued directly to the substrate whether that substrate is wood, concrete or on top of another flooring product.
My discussion will focus on installations over concrete substrates. Most people do not realize that concrete is porous like a sponge. In fact, water is required for the cement to hydrate and solidify. It takes time for the chemical process called cement hydration to produce crystals that interlock and bind together. It is not advisable to install flooring on top of fresh concrete because the water must be evaporated in the hydration process.
Moisture vapors can and do permeate though concrete. If the concrete is on grade and there is no or an incomplete moisture vapor barrier, then moisture vapors can wick up through the concrete. Today’s flooring and adhesive manufacturers have answered the call to provide more eco friendly adhesives. Many of more environmentally adhesives give off less harmful vapors into the atmosphere. The effect is that these adhesives are often less forgiving and less able to resist moisture than the old solvent based adhesives that used to be on the market.