Surface Blog

Carlisle floors showing up in LEED Platinum homes designed to be “net zero”

• Posted by
• Christine Halvorson

One of our customers, architect/designer Marc Batchelder of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, recently sent us word that the super “green” home he designed was completed this past spring and has now become a LEED Platinum certified home—only the 218th one in the country! Certification comes from the U.S. Green Building Council. and recognizes homes that are designed and built to be energy and resource efficient and healthy for occupants.

The floor chosen by Marc Batchelder was Carlilse’s FSC Certified 100 percent Reclaimed Antique Long Leaf Heart Pine in Premium Grade, in 3- to 9-inch random widths. He also chose our Amber Custom Coat prefinish because of its no-voc content. The homeowners installed it themslves.

The house was designed to be a “net zero” home, consuming less energy than it produces for the family of two that lives there. Everything in the house is electric, with a PV system installed, that will generate all the electricity they need. Also, the home’s location was optimized and oriented toward the sun for peak passive solar gain. The roof overhangs will shade the windows in the summer and let full sunlight in during the winter.

Batchelder points out that when he and his wife, Cheryl, began this construction project more than a year ago, there were only 28 LEED Platinum homes in the country, so you can see where this “green” building trend is going.

The home was built by Little Green Homes and is 1,460 square feet of efficiency. The home has a solar hot water system and numerous other features that led to its recognition as a LEED home. It is the first such home in New Hampshire’s seacoast region. The home was recently featured in the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association green buildings open house tour on October 3.

Carlisle’s floors were installed in the home and Marc writes us “We have been enjoying the wood floors since we moved in in April and look forward to enjoying them for years to come. The floors get instant attention from everyone who comes in to view the house. Thanks again for these fantastic floors.”

Here’s a video update to this innovative project, courtesy of WMUR-TV in New Hampshire.

Posted on Oct 20, 2009 AT 11:14 PM in Green Building • (2) Comments

Monday Morning Mailbag: Short customer notes make us just as happy as long ones

• Posted by
• Christine Halvorson

Wow! Your product is great but your support and service is better. I own a construction company in Dallas and have used your floors on our jobs. I decided to put some in my home and (sales guy) Robert Plut walked me through it. He is awesome! I also appreciate the thank yous and follow up. You have a great company!

Rick Wojciechonti, Flower Mound, Texas

Posted on Oct 19, 2009 AT 03:26 AM in (0) Comments

Pre-finished and engineered Carlisle floors are excellent choices in commercial,  retail projects

• Posted by
• Christine Halvorson

…one floor, one board at a time. That’s how we make all of our floors. It’s also been a Carlisle motto from the beginning, meant to convey our process and our intense focus on customization and customer support. This focus extends to the many commercial and residential projects we get involved in as we attempt—and usually succeed—in meeting the demands of design and designers, of brand, of tight budgets and tight schedules, and of the high standards under which you do business.

Your project may call for an unheard of board width, a precise hue or a first-ever mix of wood types. Our design consultants are experts in wood species, wood grading and the almost infinite possibilities of various stains and finishes. They can recreate any look your project demands.

© Callison/Chris Eden 2009

Prefinished and engineered floors are relatively new to Carlisle, but they’ve already been discovered and relished by designers and project managers—with good reason. They’re easy to install, and they’re durable and adaptable. Carlisle’s prefinished options can be ordered with a Custom, Commercial Grade coat for heavy traffic areas, for example.

Engineered floors are easy to swap out when it’s time for a whole brand makeover or one tweak to one location. They’re our most popular choice for installing over concrete. And whenever we work on a commercial project, our design consultants make a free, on-site visit for consultation. Carlisle’s team of designers carry the same discerning eye and professional experience as your design team, which means a mutually agreed upon vision is easily realized.

Posted on Oct 16, 2009 AT 05:19 AM in Hardwood Flooring • (0) Comments

Carlisle’s Hickory floors featured in Lighthouse Point “green” development in Plymouth, MA

• Posted by
• Christine Halvorson

We’re excited to be working with Richard McLaughlin of Terrene Sustainable Building Supply in South Yarmouth, MA on a project he’s developing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with a focus on “green building.” Terrene is one of several retail partners we work with in helping customers find the right floor for the project. You can see our own president, Don Carlisle, speaking about the partnership with Terrene Sustainable Building Supply on ““What’s in Store”“:http://www.wideplankflooring.com/blog/detail/whats-in-store-terrene-and-carlisle-wide-plank-floors/, a Boston-based television program.

The Lighthouse Point Residences were constructed this past summer and eventually 14 homes will be ready for purchase there. Carlisle’s Hickory floors, done in 3- to 7-inch widths, are featured in the development’s model home which opened in August. You can see photos of the model below. The Hickory floors were finished with four coats of a Tung Oil natural finish.

Richard says he’s been selling Carlisle floors to his customers for about 8 months and really wanted to showcase the floors at Lighthouse Point, where the whole focus of the housing project is green building design and construction.

“Visitors to the site are very impressed at the grains and richness in the wood,” Richard said. “The finish is amazing. We have put Cherry into the next unit with the Tung oil as well. We have just received White Oak to be installed in the third unit. I am sure that when the buyers see these floors they will choose Carlisle floors when they go to design their own units at our development.”

“Sustainable building practices aren’t just good for the planet. They also increase energy efficiency, reduce maintenance, and provide a healthier, more comfortable living environment for families and pets,” he writes. “That’s why we made such a strong commitment to integrating green construction and design into the residences at Light House Point.”

Got a question about Carlisle floors? We’re always happy to talk. Call us at 1-800-595-9663.

Posted on Oct 13, 2009 AT 05:20 AM in Green Building • Home Building & Contracting • (0) Comments

Monday Morning Mailbag: Michigan remodel with Eastern White Pine garners visitor comments each time

• Posted by
• Christine Halvorson

We got this nice note from a customer for a project that dates back to May of 2007. Andrew Davidson used Carlisle’s Eastern White Pine when he renovated his Michigan home then and he writes:

“I couldn’t be happier with the decision. I attached a picture, and I can tell you the one thing people comment on when they walk in our house, is the floors. It came out great,” Andrew wrote.

Well, we’ll let you judge for yourself, from the picture below. Did it turn out great, or what?

Thinking about floors? We do it all the time. Give us a call at 1-800-595-9663.

Posted on Oct 12, 2009 AT 05:36 AM in (0) Comments