Some good news have provided a glimmer of positivity in the midst of gathering clouds on both sides of the Atlantic. The housing market, having led the downward plunge of the global economy three long years ago, has rebounded strongly in August of this year, beating expectations even despite the disruption caused by Hurricane Irene.

Existing-home sales rose to an impressive 5.03 million units, which is a 7.7 percent improvement over August of last year. Some of the conditions leading to this have been a nationwide increase in rent prices which has motivated consumers to consider investing in equity, as well as wider availability of credit for homebuyers and low overall housing prices that still persist from the housing collapse.

At the same time, environmental associations as well as builders and construction companies have mounted renewed efforts to make home building a more sustainable and less polluting industry. Several “green” organizations, such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) are scheduled to launch a new initiative that will appeal both to industries and worldwide governments, including the Obama administration. The initiative will discuss methods and approaches to enable a broad global shift towards green and sustainable economies in developing and advanced industrial nations alike.

The initiative will pay particular attention to deforestation and sustainable lumber growth. The Forest Stewardship Council has been playing a significant role to promote environmentally responsible wood harvesting for the past two decades; the new “Rio +20″ initiative will build on those efforts by also promoting energy-efficient building standards, more sustainable city planning standards and greener vehicles.

Floormall is proud to be part of this effort, with our online store stocking a wide number of green flooring options, as well as helpful information and guides. We are always there to help homeowners make an environmentally responsible choice while sacrificing neither quality nor affordability.

There are a lot of major decisions and purchases homeowners have to make throughout the ownership of their home.  It’s always a good idea to preference these decisions and purchases with a hefty amount of research.  This is especially true of hardwood flooring–where the different options and styles available are vast.  One of the best ways to narrow down your options is to read up on some product reviews. (more…)

You’ve been shopping for famous flooring brands but are stumped trying to look for the perfect dealer. Should you buy online or from conventional stores? The dilemma goes on. Now you can be at peace of mind with a host of good online flooring retailers offering a wide range of flooring solutions sourced from only the highest quality floor manufacturers. Sweat no more as you can seek advice and help from these pros while focusing on what matters most in your interior project – the floor.

First, you can choose between tile flooring or laminate flooring. The difference between the two is something only you will know, and that great difference is the cost. Tile flooring gives a shiny and lively look to your home while laminate flooring is very affordable and easy to install. Pick one which suits your needs and enjoy whichever is best. Also hot on the popular list of flooring solutions is decorative hardwoods.

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A home’s floor sets the stage for every other design concept. The floor is one of the largest surface areas of a house and is the basis for walls, fixtures, art and more. Updating the flooring in a home can improve the value of the home in ways few other improvements can.

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