Surface Blog

Welcome to Surface, a blog by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Join us in discussion about hardwood flooring wood grains & styles, home decor, green building products, trends and more.

Big and Small Green Building

Posted by Lindsay Barczuk

Over the past few weeks, I read about two very different approaches to green building.
The first type of green building are the green "McMansions", if you will. They triggered stark disapproval by an eco-terrorism group - who claim that the 4000 sf homes are oxymoronic to green building. Obviously, a larger home will require more initial building materials and ongoing resources for maintenance.
The other - more innovative and noteworthy - type I read about occurs in Luling, TX, where they really do use fewer natural resources. These tiny homes are only 200 sf to start!
Do you all think there is a limit to square footage for a green home?

Posted on March 7, 2008 at 04:35 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments
Green Buildings - LITERALLY!

Posted by Lindsay Barczuk

We've done a lot of work with an Interior Designer on Mercer Island, WA - who named her company Six Walls. She was visiting our Denver showroom a few years back and took the time to explain why she chose the company name. She said that most people think a room has only 4 walls - but including the ever important floor and ceiling - there are actually six walls. Clever, I thought.

Now, we are teetering on the edge of adding yet another wall - or surface - on which we can imprint our personal touch. In this case, we are talking about Green Roofs - roofs made of soil, grasses and other organic materials that are designed to promote improved stormwater runoff, protect buildings from the heat of the sun, and more. People have even taken this so far as to create a pasture for grazing animals on the roof of their building!

Here's a picture of a Green Roof in Tokyo from Dissonanc3 on Flickr via Ecogeek.org

It's a great idea and, while it may not be ideal in desert climates like in the Southwest, there is certainly something to be said about incoporating a little more color into one's exterior design.

Posted on February 20, 2008 at 10:04 AM in Green Building • (2) Comments
Green Bamboo or Bust?

Posted by Lindsay Barczuk

EcoTimber, a fellow provider of Green Flooring, recently announced that they are expanding their offerings to include bamboo flooring. We've heard a lot about bamboo in recent years and I think there are definitely some advantages to using this material - mostly because of the quick regeneration cycle and reduced cost. For many consumers out there, this flooring option is a great one.
Carlisle has never considered offering bamboo. To begin, bamboo is a plant - not a wood. We sell only high quality wide plank wood floors. Bamboo is an imported product and, while the growth patterns and harvesting techniques are favorable, the transportation implications taint the overall "greenness" of the product. Another question that only time will answer is the long-term aesthetic appeal to the American public.
For now, Carlisle remains focused on the tried and true GREENness of our North American FSC certified Antique and Selectively Harvested Woods.

Posted on February 19, 2008 at 01:48 PM in Green Building • (1) Comments
Recycling History: The Claremont Riding Academy

Posted by Rich Marrila

Good morning everyone. I have attached some pictures of a building that we have secured some great Heart Pine from in New York City. This building is not being demoed, but they are taking the wooden frame work out of it and replacing it with steel to preserve the building. I did a quick google search, and there is a lot of info available on this building.

The Claremont Riding Academy, the last riding stable in Manhattan, was located at 175 West 89th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues in New York City. Built in 1892, and a National Historical Site that was designed by Frank A. Rooke [1 ], Claremont was the oldest continuously operated equestrian stable in New York City[2], and a regular attraction for horsey tourists.
Claremont was a very sophisticated yet homey environment. It was an unusual multistory barn, its floors connected by ramps, housed its horses in individual stalls in the basement and on the second floor. There was an indoor riding ring, but it was quite small and obstructed by posts.

Posted on February 12, 2008 at 09:34 AM in Green Building • (1) Comments
Green Living Ideas hosts Carlisle Podcast

Posted by Lindsay Barczuk

A few months back, I was interviewed by Green Living Idea's founder and Carlisle customer Sean Daily. We discussed a variety of topics from our selective harvesting techniques to reclamation of old wood to tung oil and more.
If you have a moment, check out this podcast - you can even download it to your iPod! Nothing will keep you moving at the gym quite like this discussion

Posted on February 5, 2008 at 01:10 PM in Green Building • (0) Comments