7/13/2022 0 Comments Asbestos Flooring in 2022My building was built in the 1990's... My flooring was replaced in 2008... It is 2022... |
Asbestos was a common filler in the U.S. starting in the 1920’s and continued to be used in flooring and adhesive production for decades. It was a preferred material, as it is strong and fire resistant. It is fibrous, which is what gave the products additional strength; however, that is one of the reasons it is a dangerous material. When scraped or broken apart, the fibers of asbestos can get airborne and be ingested, which can cause many forms of cancer and other health related issues. |
The downside of this method is that the material on top is now adhered to the asbestos containing products. When you start removing the top floorcovering, the materials underneath also start coming up. If the asbestos containing materials start to break or release at all, the job must stop, and abatement must be completed. If the material on top is adhered directly to asbestos containing adhesive, there is no safe way to remove the material without disturbing the original adhesives and/or voiding your new material's warranty without abatement.
Working with a quality flooring contractor that investigates under the existing products, performs tests before work starts, and determines the total scope of work, projects can minimize delays and unexpected abatement costs due.
Federal Register, Volume 59 Issue 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994) (govinfo.gov)
Asbestos Regulations- Federal & State Laws about Exposure (mesotheliomahub.com)
How long does asbestos stay airborne once disturbed? (oracleasbestos.com)
Top 3 Mistakes Commercial Spaces Make When Making the Change!
by Dana Hetrick, Flooring Specialist- Lucas Commercial Flooring Group
Why are commercial environments making the change? There are a lot of advantages of LVT/ LVP. Commercial resilient products are low maintenance, without the waxing requirements of its predecessor, VCT. Spills are easy to wipe away with a paper towel or mop up with a micro-fiber mop. The variety of patterns allow for a minimal look or more variation to hide spills that aren't immediately addressed. When looking at making the change, most evaluate the products themselves, not their current environment. Isolating the material without evaluating the space can lead to undesirable results. Here are 3 things that should be considered before making a change from Carpet to LVT/ LVP to avoid unwanted results: |
One of the first noticeable changes in the environment of a space are the acoustics: how loud are the background noises of a space? Are there a lot of people in open spaces having phone conversations? Is there traffic noise? How many interruptions are there from people coming and going with doors opening and closing? Sound travels several ways: directly to your ears or it can bounce off surfaces until it dissipates. Soft surfaces help to minimize the sounds bouncing around, so as sounds travel to the carpet, they are dissipated by that soft surface. Removing that soft surface and replacing with a hard surface can create a louder environment than what occupants are used to hearing.
If acoustics are not considered before making the change from carpet to LVT, the noise and disruption level in a workspace may have a negative effect. If there are other soft surfaces in the space- ceiling tiles, fabric furniture, drapery, etc., the change to a hard surface may not be much of a change at all.
2) Level Subfloors All flooring forms to what it is being installed on, so what is under your existing carpet? Are there any additional layers of flooring hidden beneath the existing carpet? Do you have concrete or wood subfloors? How level are your floors? Do you have a lot of sunlight that will highlight subfloor imperfections? One advantage of carpet is that it can hide a multitude of subfloor sins, which prevent you from knowing exactly what is going on underneath. The only way to find out what is going on is to remove that carpet; however, partnering with a flooring specialist allows for additional investigating and planning on the front side to know more about what to expect on the final installation. Additional floor preparation may be needed and planned for before making the switch to make sure your new floor is as smooth as possible. |
Whether moisture is spilled from the top or hiding in the subfloor, moisture can be a problem for LVT/ LVP. Traditional roll carpet is a breathable surface, allowing moisture to move through the material to evaporate; however, LVT/ LVP can trap moisture between the subfloor and the product, which can mean big problems. Care should be used in selecting an LVT/ LVP for kitchens, water filling stations, or other locations that have a lot of moisture and/or spill potential. Moisture that sits too long on the surface of the flooring can seep between seams and get trapped under the flooring. This can lead to adhesive and/or flooring failure. Subfloors, both wood and concrete, should also be tested prior to replacement for moisture levels to determine if moisture is present. Natural springs, poor drainage, missing vapor barriers, and other factors can cause moisture to reside in subfloors. Checking the moisture levels in the subfloor can prevent future issues with the LVT/ LVP floors.
5/9/2022 0 Comments
#WhereAreWe Wednesday
New Social Media Campaign Launching May 11, 2022
The post will ask for Comments guessing the name and/or location of the outdoor art piece. At the end of the day, the art piece will be shown in combination with the inspired vignette, along with information about the art and it's location.
Lucas Commercial Flooring will feature a different area of the Metro every 4-6 weeks, starting with their office location, North Kansas City. We are also accepting recommendations for accessible outdoor art pieces for future highlights. Please send a picture or link to information on the art piece to office@lucasflooringkc.com.
Follow our Facebook, Linked In, or Instagram accounts to see what Outdoor Art will be featured this week!
2/5/2021 0 Comments
It's Official... again!
We have received our official certificates from the City of Kansas City and the Missouri Regional Certification Committee that confirm that Lucas Commercial Flooring Group, Inc is a certified WBE/ SLBE/ DBE! In addition, Lucas Commercial Flooring Group, Inc has been WBE Certified through the State of Missouri. This process, due to the efficiency and thoroughness of the City of Kansas City certification, was a smooth and quick process. You can find our listings in the Diversity Directory at the following locations: KCMO DMWBE / Section 3 / SLBE Management System (mwdbe.com) Firm Search - State of Missouri (mo.gov) |
12/9/2020 0 Comments
Lucas Commercial Flooring Group, INC certified as WBE, SLBE, and DBE by the City of Kansas City, MO
Lucas Commercial Flooring Group is proud to announce our certification as a Women's Business Enterprise, Small Local Business Enterprise, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise through the City of Kansas City, MO.The process to become certified is an in depth look evaluating the control, management, day to day operations, and company structure to confirm that the company is 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a woman. Lucas Commercial Flooring Group, Inc. is owned and operated by it's President, Dana Hetrick. |
11/19/2020 0 Comments
Healthcare Design During a Pandemic
Just for the "Health" of it, we wanted to get insight into the Healthcare Design industry in the middle of a Pandemic, and we were fortunate to have Krystal Gantz Fensky with ACI Boland sit down to discuss what she is seeing in the Healthcare Design Industry. "The thing that has drawn me to healthcare design is the impact our team's designs have on how people feel and interact in a space. We can aid healing simply reducing one's anxiety. How a space is designed can be so impactful and every aspect must be considered. " - Krystal Gantz Fensky, |
Q. What new material trends do you see in the healthcare segment?
If an area needs sheet vinyl, and another does not need that type of durability, or cleanability we can improve the bottom line. More manufacturers are creating PVC free flooring too, so I believe this tells us they are working on more sustainable solutions to help with LEED, or be on the RED list.
Q. What new color trends are you seeing?A: For healthcare we are continuing to see influence from residential and hospitality trends. However, in healthcare we do have to be mindful not to be too trendy in colors, because they do not update every couple of years like some other market segments do. Therefore, we use a more neutral color palette, with pops of color in those areas that are more affordable to change out. We have always seen blue and green, as those are more calming colors, but we are seeing other pops of color in artwork, signage, and furniture fabrics. | Q. Do you have a personal favorite new trend?No personal favorite, however I am excited to see all the new trends and how they can help us design a healthier environment for everyone that enters a healthcare facility. Creating a more positive environment for people that inhabit these spaces daily gives me a great feeling. |
Q. Has COVID 19 affected material selections? A. We have always considered the cleaning capabilities since we are in healthcare. Due to COVID we are really looking at cleaning codes more intensely because our clients are asking more questions about cleanability. Now, we can see clients wanting to investigate the effect of certain things, like hand sanitizers to make sure they will not create a future problem for the materials they can land on. | Q. Are any types of materials now being avoided? If so, why?A: We are trying to get away from specifying materials that require a lot of maintenance. Especially in healthcare where they are already cleaning everything for sanitary reasons. We do not want to add anymore task for housekeeping, or maintenance. For instance, VCT flooring requires more upkeep, so by not specifying, we can avoid the maintenance of waxing. |
10/12/2020 0 Comments
Community Spotlight: Hospitality
Now that many have been working from home, cooking at home, and entertaining themselves at home for 7 months, we are asking ourselves what can we do to get out of our home? This edition of the Community Spotlight is about the market that gets us out of our homes: Hospitality. Melissa Miller with TK Architects International knows all the ins and outs of the hospitality industry, and she has shared some of her wisdom with us. "We are working very hard to accommodate the "new normal" and bring the movie industry back. ...our challenge is how to make semi-natural barriers that allow customers to enjoy their visit without feeling uncomfortable or crowded." -Melissa Miller, Architectural Designer/ Job Captain, TK Architects International |
Q. What new material trends do you see in the theater/ hospitality segment?
Q. What impact is COVID-19 having on your projects? What about how you engage clients?
Likewise, contactless delivery is changing how to food has handled. More and more apps for ordering are being used instead of a traditional concessions counter. Within our office, we are doing a lot more Zoom/MS Team calls, while still continuing to use our phone to communicate with our clients.
Q. What impacts have you seen on material selections?
Q. Anything else you would like to add or want people to know?
Therefore, our challenge is how to make semi-natural barriers that allow customers to enjoy their visit without feeling uncomfortable or crowded.
Back in March, when Spring Break was the main concern on most school agendas, Lucas Commercial Flooring was approached by Oakhill Day School about a project they wanted to complete to make their school a more secure facility. Their goal was to create a new welcoming space to allow visitors to enter the school in a more secure fashion. Although security was the top priority, it also opened an avenue to update what their visitors see when they enter the school and create the future look for the Elementary School. "It turned out amazing!" |
- Durability - Maintenance - Aesthetics - Future Planning Lucas Commercial Flooring Group provided a detailed proposal that included Good, Better, and Best pricing options that detailed advantages of the selected materaials, color palette examples for each option, and realistic expectations for each pricing option in regard to life span and budget. This allowed the school to evaluate the best values available for different budgets. After settling on the right option for the project, the final selection process started for Oakhill Day School. During a new uncertain time, where we were all working, learning, and meeting from home, we navigated the new waters of emailed renderings, direct shipped samples, phone/ video communication, and some socially distanced meetings. We worked together to discuss the details and make sure everything would work well together and not limit their options for future renovations throughout the school. At the end of the day, Oakhill Day School selected some beautiful flooring products that will welcome visitors, staff, and students with a pop of color and interest! |
7/27/2020 0 Comments
Community Spotlight: Education
As we quickly approach August, Education is on the minds of everyone in Kansas City. This makes our first interview with Michelle Landvik, Interior Designer with Hollis + Miller Architects, especially exciting. "I really like education design because it has an impact on society. We are creating experiences for children to stimulate their learning experience. Giving them a magical world, which is very exciting. In education design, the clients are also just regular people that you can relate to on a personal level, so you can really help create a sense of community. It feels very rewarding, not only as a person, but also as a parent." - Michelle Landvik, Interior Designer |
Q: What new color trends are you seeing?
Q: What new material trends do you see in the education segment? A: Not currently seeing any new trends. Working at home is possibly affecting what I see, since meeting with material reps is not happening like it used to. | Q: Do you have a personal favorite new trend? If so, what? A: I do like that we are turning away from the grays. On the coasts, they are already seeing more warm neutrals being used again. |
1/9/2020 0 Comments
2020 Book Drive
At Lucas Commercial Flooring, we wanted to find a way to help Reach Out and Read accomplish their book goals. What a better way than hosting a book drive and collect as many new and gently-used books as we can!
Besides our own donations, we would love to get your help! Here are several ways to donate:
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