Ceramic is rugged and easy to maintain and is water proof which makes it popular in tough environments and bathrooms, kitchens, and many more
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is a man made material, manufactured from petroleum. Vinyl was invented in the 1930’s. By the 1950’s vinyl was a major competitor against other flooring options. Vinyl was a low cost water resistant flooring option. Vinyl has many advantages as well as many disadvantages.
Some advantages are that it is low maintenance. To clean vinyl all you need is a wet mop and vinyl cleaner and it will take out all of the stains. Also vinyl is water resistant. Because of that characteristic vinyl is perfect for bathrooms or kitchens or rooms with a lot of moisture. Vinyl is also comfortable. Vinyl does not get cold, which makes it comfortable to walk on. Vinyl does come also padded which makes it even better.
Vinyl is also inexpensive. Decent quality vinyl can cost $2 - $5 per sft. Vinyl may be available for as low as $1 per square foot, but may not be as durable, or nice as higher end vinyl. In general vinyl will cost less than tile, but will be more expensive to install. Vinyl that is properly installed and maintained can last from 10 to 20 years. The quality of the vinyl determines the life span of the vinyl. The installation of vinyl is very easy. The subfloor just has to be leveled which you might need a professional for. Also the subfloor has to be completely dry.
Commercial Flooring
In commercial flooring the first thing that you do is consider what the floor will be used for. You have to match the flooring to the environment use, and traffic. Any flooring material that you choose is going to have an upfront cost. Most of the time more expensive flooring option may pay...
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...now. During this research paper I have contacted a Lowes Home Improvement Store representative. I have visited Home Depot to look, examine, and compare prices of the different flooring materials. I have also contacted a Civil Engineer. His name is Roosevelt Civil. He is located in Orlando, Florida. Engineers have been working hard to develop new flooring materials as well be shown. Flooring has been going thru the process of innovation for a long time and will continue to innovate. Now there is sustainable flooring. Sustainable flooring is flooring made from sustainable materials. There is also resilient flooring. Which is basically flooring made from material that has elasticity. This allows the floor to be flexible. In conclusion flooring materials will continue to grow and impact construction in ways un imaginable. If there is heated floors now, what is next?
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification program for green buildings with stringent requirements for building energy efficient and environmentally responsible structures. Some requirements of this program include specific building materials, smart grid capable, gray water reclamation systems, green space minimums, high levels of insulation and low thermal transfer glass (US Green Building Council). Green buildings are a must if we are to sustain our current level of growth. Despite the higher initial cost of these buildings, the long term energy savings make these buildings a smarter choice for
A question with a more elusive answer might be: Where are the factories? Where does production ceramic ware come from? The answer: Until recently a small Ohio town.
It is elaborated in the article, Global China: Material Culture and Connections in World History: " The significance of porcelain for the study of world history is due in part to its unique physical properties. Fired at very high temperatures, porcelains can withstand the ravages of time and nature, surviving for centuries to tell their stories, regardless of the seas or soils in which they are submerged and which quickly destroy items of cotton, silk, wood, and paper. The malleability of the [fine white] clay and the hard, white surfaces of the bodies render porcelain a material that can cater to demands and tastes from all over the world, making it a highly exportable commodity that easily crosses geographical and cultural boundaries" (Pg.4)
LEED is building the future of our construction field and it is growing rapidly. Green building through LEED is bringing about lifetime of returns that start with lessening operation costs, reducing energy, and decreasing water bills as much as forty percent. Businesses across the world are using LEED to increase the efficiency of their buildings as well as freeing up resources that can be used elsewhere to create new jobs, expand building operations, and investing in up and coming technologies. Green building technologies are drastically shaping how buildings are constructed making them more stimulating to look at as well increasing the retail values of many homes. LEED certified projects is the construction of tomorrow and will be for many more years to come.
In addition to being used for flower pots, terracotta is also often used for water and sewage pipes, bricks, and sculptures. It also states “The word “terracotta” comes from the Italian words for “baked earth”.” Since terracotta pottery is made by baking terracotta clay. The article also clarifies “Terracotta is often used to describe as a color word too, as well as to describe the natural brown-orange color of terracotta products. Terracotta has been around for a long, long time. In fact, it was the only clay product used until the 14th
Michael Holder, in the article “IKEA Argues for Business to Go All-In On Sustainability,” examines how businesses nowadays need to follow the footsteps of IKEA with the method of sustainability in mind. Holder mentioned that IKEA produced “...LED lighting which improved the lifespan and energy efficiency…” of the usage of this product. Normally, IKEA produces fluorescent bulbs in which it does the opposite of LEDs. This information indicates that the original business model has changed. Not only this action is tremendous for the environment, but it helps develop more business. It gets people excited to see what the company IKEA’s business model had sold when they involved innovation and growth within sustainability. IKEA is officially cutting back on the materials that tends to be unrecyclable. Also, they are attempting to reuse waste materials into actual resources, which is an highly important aspect of the sustainable lifestyle in which what IKEA is trying to achieve with their
The scope of the sustainable development is conceptually divided into three parts: environmental, economic and social; each of these pillars must be on an equal stage, promoting a model of growth without exclusion (social), equitable (economic) and safeguard natural (environmental) resources (MIT Press Journals, 2017). Considering the words mention above, an interesting approach we could focus on is the way the industry uses the materials to develop projects.
The U.S. furniture and bedding industry totaled revenues of $75 billion comprising some 82,567 businesses in 2013. Revenue from wholesale business operations totaled $33 billion during the same year, shared between 4,021 businesses. Manufacturing in the U.S., numbering 4,906 businesses, accounted for $25 billion of revenue in 2013. With the exception of furniture manufacturing in the U.S. which shows an annual revenue growth rate of 2.4% from 2009-2014, furniture wholesale and retail have seen an overall decline in revenue of -3.2% and -1.5%, respectively (IBISWorld, 2014). Over the next three years, as the housing market and general economy continue to stabilize after the 2008 recession, retail sales of furniture and home items are expected to grow by 1%, reaching a total $90 billion by 2017 (Euromonitor, 2013).
Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objects of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimal waste, and create healthy, productive environments (“Sustainable Design”). Focusing primarily on the sustainable design principles, there are five, including: low-impact materials, energy efficiency, quality and durability, design for reuse and recycling, and renewability. As sustainability appears to become the necessary trend in architecture, the question concerning the cost versus outcome of “going green” really an investment or a waste of time and money comes to mind. With our research provided below, we believe the expenses may truly be with the investment in the end.
What can hugely affect the durability of your project is the materials you use. It is essential for your long-term investment, the efficiency of your home, and safety of your family. We would help you choose what materials would work best in every part of your home. Depending on your preferences, we always see to it that you get the best material according to your budget. We always strive to give you a home that is both efficient and
The following are the current, more popular trends diploid in architectural design: Consideration of Green environment: We all understand that we reside in a world that is more environmentally conscious than ever. The protection of our Mother Nature extends to architecture. It is evident that more architects are trying to adopt eco-friendly items into their designs. This includes the selection of materials that don't leave much of a carbon footprint. Most places have enacted laws which most architects are governed like efficient use of land and energy, storm water filtration, waste-product reduction, native landscape use and minimal disruption of the habitat (Association of Cost Engineers, 1999).
Yan, J. & Plainiotis, S. (2006): Design for Sustainability. Beijing, China: Architecture and Building Press.
Sustainable buildings are becoming somewhat of a necessity in the world today. As the demand for green building develops, so does the demand for green building materials. Just as the old techniques and building materials seem to disappear in the assembly of things, they are now making a come back. Green building focuses on the efficiency of major resources like water and energy. As the cost for sustainable materials and products are on the decline, building green seems to be the most cost effective kind of design and construction. Looking specifically at green materials and their impact on the production of structures, it is evident that they are a prime choice for building material. The use of green materials should be promoted because they are better for the environment, more healthful for the consumer, and better for the economy.
It's also important to know that the granite itself is only part of your final cost. You need to get the stone cut to fit for your counters. The more complicated the cuts, the higher the