bamboo

Subfloor Types and Basic Installation Considerations

There are many different types of subfloors over which wood flooring can be installed. There are certain basic attributes that are critical for successful wood flooring installations done over all types of subfloors. The subfloors must be dry and will remain dry year round. The moisture content of wood subfloors must not exceed 12%, wood flooring moisture content must be within 3% of wood subfloor moisture content and concrete must not exceed 3 lbs. per a calcium chloride test, or 2 lbs. when installing over radiant heat. The subfloor material must be structurally sound. It also needs to be clean, thoroughly swept and free of all debris. For glue down installations, the subfloor must be free of wax, grease, paint, sealers, old adhesives, etc., which can be removed by sanding. Additionally the subfloor must be level or flat to 3/16” per 10-foot radius.
Wood Subfloors

Nail down installations are most common over wood subfloors, but glue down and floating installations are also possible. Wood subfloors must be well secured, by using a nail or screw every 6” along the joist to avoid squeaking. If the subfloor is not level, sand down high spots and fill low spots with a polymer-modified cementitious leveling compound such as Chemrex Self Leveling Underlayment from BASF. CDX plywood must be at least 5/8” thick for joist spacing up to 16” on center and a minimum of 3/4” thick for joist spacing greater than 16” on center (19.2” maximum). OSB should be at least 3/4” thick. Underlayment grade particleboard can only be used with the glue down method. If using an existing wood floor it must be smooth, level, well adhered and unfinished (if gluing down new flooring).
Concrete Subfloors

Concrete must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, and should have a minimum of 6-mil poly-film between the concrete and the ground. If it is necessary, grind high spots down and level low spots with a polymer-modified cementitious leveling compound or Ardex K-15 Leveling Compound. If gluing down onto concrete which is on or below grade, it is recommended to install sheet vinyl first and then glue the wood flooring on top of the vinyl, as this provides an effective permanent moisture barrier. An alternative to sheet vinyl is to use a concrete sealer approved by the manufacturer of the adhesive that you have chosen. If using EcoTimber HealthyBond Adhesive, the approved concrete sealer is Taylor Nu-Flor 500, which EcoTimber distributes. A concrete slab on/below grade that measures dry today may become moist tomorrow due to rising groundwater. Installing a moisture barrier may be viewed as an insurance policy against concrete becoming wet in the future, which can lead to subsequent floor failure.
Other Subfloors

Gypcrete can be used in floating installations only. Gypcrete, otherwise known as lightweight concrete, is not strong enough to hold together when a wood floor that is glued to it expands and contracts. If the flooring planks buckle and lift, they may pull pieces of gypcrete up with them.

Resilient tile and vinyl tile subfloors can be used with glue down or floating installations. Vinyl must be new and non-urethane coated. Ceramic tile, resilient tile and sheet vinyl must be well bonded to the subfloor, in good condition, clean and level. Do not try to sand existing vinyl floors, as they may contain asbestos, which are harmful to your health.
Installing Over Radiant Heat Subfloors

When installing over radiant heat subfloors it is good to know the facts. Most flooring is not warranted for installation over electric radiant heat systems, as these can heat up too quickly and damage the wood. However, many eco-friendly flooring products can be installed over radiant heat and arewarranted for such use by their manufacturers. It is important to check with the manufacturer because not all products are warranted for such use, and typically only hydronic (hot water) systems are approved. For many warranties, the system must be able to control the surface temperature of the subfloor so that it never exceeds 82°F. Also, it is essential that the subfloor be maintained at within 15°F of its normal operating temperature at all times.

Radiant heat systems keep the wood flooring very dry, so if the system is turned completely off (for example, during hot summer months), the flooring will absorb moisture. When the system is turned back on again it will dry the wood very quickly, which is the most common cause of damage. After the system has been off or not functioning, the floor should be brought back up to normal operating temperature very slowly, over the course of several days.
Eco Friendly Flooring Finishes: Factory Applied & Site Applied

Floor finishes can be applied prior to installation by the manufacturer of the flooring or on site by the floor installer. Each process has advantages and disadvantages:

The following are several advantages to having a factory finish. The factory finish is applied in a controlled environment with no air-borne dust or other impurities. Sub coats containing special additives like aluminum oxide can be added which will greatly increase the wear-resistance of the finish. Extra coats can be easily added by rollers, 9 coats of finish is not uncommon for a factory finish, while 2 to 3 coats is typical for a site applied finish. The finish tends to be much more durable than the best available site applied finishes (about twice as durable is a good rule of thumb). Shorter installation times and labor means a much lower overall installed cost. Factories apply finishes for much less than contractors. Improved indoor air quality - factory finishes are cured by ultraviolet rays in the factory and are completely inert by the time they are put in the box. There is no off gassing of solvents, VOCs, or other harmful chemicals.

There are also disadvantages of a UV-Cured factory finish. The seams between the planks are not sealed, potentially allowing spilled liquids to leak down and damage the wood. Also, the seams may require top coating to seal seams in areas where frequent spills are expected (restaurants, bathrooms, etc.). The end-user cannot change the wood’s color with stains without sanding off the factory finish.

The advantages of a site applied finish consist of creating a smooth, sealed surface over the entire floor. It allows the installer to customize colors with stains, bleaches and dyes. It also allows the installer to select gloss level and permits the use of spot-repairable oil finishes.

There are also disadvantages of a site applied finish. The wood must be sanded prior to coating, resulting in dust, longer installation times and substantially higher labor costs. The end user must wait for finish to dry completely, meaning they are forced out of their home for longer periods of time. Site applied finishes contain solvents and other drying agents that off-gas harmful chemicals into the air for days, weeks or even months after installation (depending on the type of finish). Even “natural” plant-based oil finishes off-gas harmful chemicals. Some “natural” oils have higher VOC contents than urethane finishes. Contractors often make errors that result in finish bubbles, applicator marks, sanding marks, dust in the finish, and poor adhesion. Expensive and highly inconvenient mistakes are common. The long-term durability is much lower than with factory applied finishes.

I was just into my fifth bite of sushi when I looked down and... considered: When I order sushi, I just take it home and pull out the same ole chopsticks from the forks/knives/spoon drawer...

But what about when you eat out?
Are chopsticks recycled? Are they green?

A little quick reading shows that in other parts of the world, it is becoming common to offer a choice of recyclable (but plastic) chopsticks. And in Tokyo, they are trying to recycle disposible chopsticks as fuel. Ikjeld explains,

If bringing your own chopsticks and discouraging the cheap, disposable chopstick industry seems extreme, then consider the following: I stumbled across a young blogger, Apple's site, who, in the old tradition of "pictures are worth a thousand words" wrote,

(from http://www.xiaoyenzi.com/2007/11/chopstick-alert/)

"Chopstick Alert!!

Posted on November 12th, 2007 | by Apple | in Health

When eating out, do you prefer they serve you with the disposable chopsticks or the normal plastic/wooden chopsticks? Many think that the disposable chopsticks are more hygiene because after used, they are normally thrown.

How clean are these chopsticks?

Are they safe for our health?

How many bamboo trees need to be chopped?

No matter how true is this, let's take a look at the following article to let yourself uncover the truth behind those disposable bamboo chopsticks!

Brief information on production of disposable chopstick

1. Cut down bamboo trees from South East Asia country.

2. Production of Central of Vietnam.

3. Bleach using sulfur (??) and Hydrogen Peroxide (???). (Not for disinfection purpose)

4. Drying process.

5. Packing ready to be exported to Taiwan, Japan

6. Shipping

*It takes 1 month to export these chopstick from the factory to Taiwan. Meanwhile, the chopstick is exposed to rat and cockroaches.*

7. Wrapping process without any disinfection.

Upon arrival in Taiwan, these chopstick are sent to small factory to be wrapped without any disinfection process before sending to restaurants.

And directly send to customer's mouth.

There are thousands and millions of  monkeys residing inside these chopsticks.

Can you see it?

Monkey faces inside the chopstick.

The leftover from the chemical (sulfur and hydrogen peroxide) will stay inside these holes until you use them.

Conclusion from an experiment:

• Soak the chopstick in water for one week - it sinks.




• Plant green pea in the soaked water, resulted longer growing process, it stop growing when reach 5-6cm and finally die.




• Smoke from burning these chopstick is tested to be acidic.

Carbon dioxide found in the bamboo chopstick.

• Avoid using disposable chopstick which is very white as it is not the original color of the wood. Chopstick that is too white may have been bleach excessively.




• It is advised to soak the disposable chopstick in hot water b4 use to release carbon dioxide.




• It is best not to use these chopstick for bbq, and leave in the soup as it tend to release more carbon dioxide.

Possible consequences of using disposable chopstick.

• Suffer difficult breathing, vomit, diarrhoea etc. and loss of calcium due to sulfur.




• Suffer Asthma and difficult in breathing.




• Sulfur contains heavy metal chemical such as lead and mercury. Such heavy metal can accumulate in our body and can cause lead poisoning or mercury poisoning.




• Lymph cancer.

If you can't avoid using disposal chopsticks

It is suggested to smell the chopstick b4 use. If any sour smell, possibly it contain CO2. And soak them in warm and hot water for 2 to 3 min to reduce the CO2.

It is still best to bring along your own chopstick.

By continuing consuming disposable chopstick..

• A 20-year old tree could produce 3000-4000 pairs of chopstick




• Taiwanese use more than 100billion pairs




• Which means 29 million of trees are being cut every year

Disposable chopstick affect our environment.

Is it possible that Taiwan will recycle and reuse the used chopstick?

As reported by reliable sources, it was found that the disposable chopstick are being recycle by reusing sulfur & Hydrogen Peroxide.

My two cents:

Although this is an experiment/ a survey conducted by Taiwanese, I think there's not much difference for the disposable chopstick in our local restaurants or dining place. Do you think you will bring along your own chopstick? Or prefer to soaked the disposable chopstick in hot water before you use? Or simply don't even bother about this issue? lol, I think most of us will choose the last. XD

Popularity: 84%"

Well, for myself, I will be investing in an attractive, permanent, funky GREEN MODERN KITS chopstick (maybe I'll make some up & give as gifts? Oh fun!) to bring from now on!

This is the second scheme for the flexible concept I published earlier. The first proposal tried to investigate environmental sustainability through modern technologies and materials (high-tech solution), while this is made from bamboo ,local and recycled materials (low-tech).

Flexible living

Throughout a lifetime the needs of people is changing continuously. Starting out as single, and then becoming a couple, having kids… Through these phases the need for space keeps increasing, but later when the kids move out the need for space changes or decreases. Modern buildings should easily be able to meet these changes or even be reconfigured into completely different purposes.

This is exactly what SuperFlex System is! It’s not only a system for living, but can also serve as pavilion, for sports, flee markets, barn for the farmer, shop for the mechanic, you name it! Or it could serve as a commune for several friends or just one person. It comes in different sizes, just buy more roof components and living units according to your needs and economical performance, or sell those you don’t need any more. This secures that the material and energy that has been put into the building is used most efficient, and make less impact on the environment.

Architecturally the project is divided into three zones. The indoor, inside the living units, quite traditional, except that the units are mobile, can be pushed around, and combined in different ways. The semi outdoor covered space between and on top of the living units, and the outdoor space. The most interesting about the SuperFlex System is the Semi outdoor space. This is the place for much different kind of activities; only the imagination sets the limit. Just move the living units to one corner or outside if you want to have a big party, or play indoor basketball with your friends.

SuperFlex System consists of few and simple components with multiple solutions. The result is advantages for both manufacture and client. The manufacture gets a efficient cheap industrial mass production, and the client gets the opportunity to custom design their own home for the locale climate, building site and individual wishes, within the limits of system, always resulting in high quality, and less errors, meaning less costs.

The Living units
Ad as many you and your family, or friends need.
In case you need less indoor space, remove and sell those you don't need any more. The small space boxes that easy can be produced for different functions and insulated for different climates. You can choose from different wall elements in plyboo, translucent polycarbonate, and transparent glass sliding doors and windows.
The units can be locked together to create a larger inner space, or stand alone.

Roof structure
The roof structures geometry is inspired by Japanese origami techniques. With its repeating pattern it can easily be build as long as needed.
Every second frame has been rotated 30 degrees to divide the surface of the structure into triangles. By doing this the triangular planes stabilize the construction.
The surface clearly shows its modularity and separates the elements that makes it, and makes it perfect for industrial production.

Three types of boards, plyboo/bamboo- and transparent or translucent polycarbonate boards, and it’s possible to leave the structure partly open as well, or maybe even panels with solar cells or solar water heating systems.
This makes it easy to adapting each project to the specific site, climate and wishes of the client.

Flooring
The floor in the semi outdoor area is made of concrete, unless locale reusable/sustainable material is available, such as recycled bricks, or stone is available.

Location adaptation examples:
Hawaii and Pacific Islands, in the tropical and subtropical climate the roof is manly covered with plyboo panels to shade, only near the ground the panels is transparent or translucent polycarbonate boards. The gables can be left open.

Canada, Alaska and Northern Europe, the roof is manly covered with transparent or translucent panels, to efficiently use the free heat from the sun.

The average person spends 80% of their lives indoors. Public awareness about the health effects of poor Indoor Air Quality has increased demand for building products that do not pollute the air in our home or office.

Conventional paints, finishes, flooring, adhesives, cleaning products and carpeting are known to contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, polybrominated Diphenyl ethers (PBDE), phthalates and many other hazardous chemicals that can result in health problems like allergies and asthma, especially in children.

Using Low- or No-VOC materials, reclaimed or sustainably-harvested wood products, wood alternatives such as bamboo and palm wood, natural flooring, carpets, rugs, and decor can make your house greener.

Building with tested and proved green materials also provides an alternative to products that degrade the environment we want to leave for our children and grandchildren. In buying green building materials, you can cast your economic vote for a better world, personalize your home or office, and make the air you breathe cleaner.

When a company calls a building product green, do you believe the claim, or do you automatically think "green washing?" According to a poll conducted on behalf of Icynene, an insulation manufacturer, the majority of consumers think the "green" label is just that -- a label, a marketing trick.

That interesting tidbit comes from a piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer, one of many recent articles that analyzes the difficulties inherent in weeding out bogus claims when it comes to green building.

However, this particular news story differentiates itself from the crowd by not only discussing some of the problems facing those who want to build or remodel green, but also discussing good alternatives.

According to the story, tests published by Consumer Reports indicate that some cork and bamboo flooring (which are heralded as bright green flooring options) may not wear or retain their color well, meaning they would need to be replaced more frequently than other flooring options which are often considered less green.

The article doesn't stop there though:

"For a natural, resilient and least-pricey green-flooring option, choose sunlight- and dent-resistant linoleum, which starts around $4 per square foot," said ShopSmart editor Lisa Lee Freeman.

It's a thought-provoking and, ultimately, helpful article. Read the whole thing here.

Image via nacu