Age-old legends say that early, European-inspired "floating floors" were first popularized by homeowners in search of flooring products which were not actually attached to the subfloor of the home. Because property values were set according to the value of the home and all products directly attached to it, resourceful homeowners chose flooring products which did not actually attach to the subfloor in order to reduce the taxable value of their home.Whether or not this legend is true, the reason floating floors are gaining popularity in the United States today is because of their beauty, versatility, and ease of installation. Floating floors are unique in that they are installed by gluing sections of the floor to each other, while not actually attaching the floor to the subfloor itself in any way. Floating floors can be made from a variety of materials, but most typically are made of hardwoods or plastic laminates.
Most floating floors can be installed on, above or below grade, over virtually any subfloor. Installation requires very little preparation. Typically, a foam underlayment is rolled over the subfloor. The planks are then glued to each other, allowing the entire installed floor to expand and contract as one large mass. When installed properly, this method will eliminate the possibility of gaps forming between planks as the seasons change and humidity rises and falls.
Combining the latest in floating floor innovation with over a century of proven hardwood flooring excellence, Bruce® Hardwood Floors has introduced Coastal Woodlandsª-one of the industry's largest collections of floating floors. Made of genuine hardwoods, each Coastal Woodlands style is offered in three-strip-wide engineered panels. Coastal Woodlands is a three-ply, engineered product, and features an individual fingerlock center ply for enhanced flexibility, easier installation, and dimensional stability. Precise tongue-and-groove construction, true square edges, and large panels make installation quicker and easier than ever thought possible.
Offered in a complete range of colors and species, the Coastal Woodlands product line includes: Oak in Nutmeg, Butterscotch and Natural; Beech and Plantation Beech; Maple Natural and Country Maple; Asian Pine; Iroko; Kempas, Cherry Natural and Country Cherry; Nyatoh; Merbau Natural. All Coastal Woodlands products feature an easy-care urethane finish, and are covered by Bruce's Benchmark Lifetime Structural Warranty and 5-Year Wear Layer Warranty. Routine maintenance is as simple as regular vacuuming to remove dirt and grit, and an occasional cleaning with Bruce's Dura-Luster® Cleaner.
"Whether or not there's truth to the stories about floating floors and tax-dodging I can't say for sure, but I can attest to the practicality of modern floating floor systems for today's homeowners," says Maureen King, director of marketing for Bruce Hardwood Floors, "Floating floors are attractive, durable, affordable, easy to install, and easy to maintain...all of which clearly add up to the perfect flooring choice for today's active families and their homes."
For more information, write, Bruce Hardwood Floors, Marketing Department #CW-NAPS7, 16803 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75248. (NAPSI)
