Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: ? Wood floors in CommonHouse?

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

Hi - Sorry -- didn't find the answer to why you shouldn't wear outside shoes on 
bamboo floors in the FAQs of the site you linked to.  The only thing I saw was 
avoiding dragging in dust, grit, dirt etc.  This is a good thing for ALL floors 
not just bamboo.

My question is ... why have a floor you can't walk on in your shoes?  If I had 
to change shoes every time I went in the CH I'd never go in it.  Our CH is 
highly used and it would be a nuisance to change shoes all the time.  Also, 
there are two of us in power wheel chairs plus one person who uses a walker 
plus a service dog.  That would obviate any benefit to changing out of shoes.

The flooring in our CH is oak in the main sitting and dining areas.  Cork on 
the traffic areas.  We have 65 adults and 25 kids.  Everyone picks up their 
mail in the CH so the traffic is steady 7 days a week.  The kids stream in and 
out to use the play room, the tween room and the LR.  After 11 years, we've 
just had the floors cleaned and refinished.

My suggestion:  use flooring that is easy to care for and doesn't require a lot 
of behavior change that can annoy people and reduce use of your CH.

Best --

Ann Zabaldo
Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC
Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
Falls Church VA
703 663 3911

On Nov 22, 2011, at 10:03 AM, DWeil20688 [at] aol.com wrote:

> 
> Hi
> 
> In answer to questions re bamboo floor, we were told by the builder of the  
> common house to never wear outside shoes on the bamboo floor. I checked the 
> Internet and found the reason for that and no high heeled shoes. See 
> _http://www.builddirect.com/Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-FAQ_8749.aspx#How_ 
> (http://www.builddirect.com/Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-FAQ_8749.aspx#How)  
>  
> do I maintain my bamboo flooring.
> 
> Don  
> 
> 
> 
> In a message dated 11/22/2011 8:34:02 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
> jimkacki [at] mymts.net writes:
> 
> 
> Hi  Don,
> Just curious -why do you say don't wear outside shoes & high heels  on  
> it.  The manufacturers say it is harder than hardwoods -see  the quote  
> below from Eco -Friendly Flooring Inc.
> James
> Why  bamboo? It makes sense. By using bamboo, we do not diminish  
> hardwood  forests that have taken decades to mature, and we help to  
> preserve  the habitat of our often endangered wildlife. Bamboo  
> produces new  shoots each year and individual stems are harvested from  
> controlled  forests every three to five years. If bamboo is not  
> harvested after  five years it falls over, unable to continue growing.
> How durable is it?  This very hard and very durable material is an  
> average of 13% harder  than maple. It is 27% harder than northern red  
> oak and expands and  contracts 50% less. Most people with pets find it  
> harder and longer  lasting that most other floor coverings.
> 
> 
> 
> On 21-Nov-11, at 2:17  PM, DWeil20688 [at] aol.com wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Hi
>> 
>> The  Solterra common house has a bamboo floor. In many ways it is  
>> superior
>> to wood. It is stronger, good looking, and more flexible  (great for
>> dancing).  The  main disadvantage is that it is  best not to walk on  
>> it with outside
>> shoes. We use  inside shoes stocking feet or covers on outride shoes.
>> High-heel   shoes must never be used.
>> 
>> Do Weil
>> 
>> 
>> In a  message dated 11/21/2011 1:29:22 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> heidinys [at] earthlink.net writes:
>> 
>> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>> We  are expanding our CommonHouse-- we have grown  from 12  
>> households to 18.
>> 
>> We are planning for wooden floors in   our CommonHouse... not yet  
>> purchased.
>> I just  realized we did not ask you  for input.
>> Do you have wooden floors  in CommonHouse?
>> if so,   please let us know what you think  of the experience, in other
>> words,   Would you do same  flooring again?
>> 
>> thank You,
>> 
>> Ruth J.   Hirsch
>> Cantines  island
>> Saugerties
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