Buildipedia Staff

Buildipedia Staff

The Buildipedia research and writing staff consists of dozens of experienced professionals from many sectors of the industry, including architects, designers, contractors, and engineers.

Wall Coverings

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

This topic includes information related to wall coverings applied during construction.  Wall coverings are an element of interior design used to cover and decorate an interior wall surface.  Common types of wall coverings include: vinyl coated fabrics, cork, wallpaper, and textile wall coverings.  Each type of wall covering is a manufactured product available in a variety of sizes, colors and textures.

Carpeting

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

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Carpeting is a decorative sheet or tile floor covering that is both practical and versatile.  Used in both residential and commercial buildings, carpeting accounts for more than half of all floor covering installed each year.  Carpeting was originally known as "rugs," which were commonly used on walls and tables.  They were not typically used as a floor covering until the 18th century.  The word carpet can be traced to the Armenian “karpet,” “kar” meaning to knot or stitch.  Early hand tied and knotted rugs were spun from plant fibers and the sheared wool or hair of sheep and goats.  Weaving of carpets started prior to the 1600's and flourished through the 1700's.  Carpet manufacturing today mixes old methods and new innovation, providing a low cost floor covering with significant design flexibility and relatively low maintenance, which also insulates for sound and temperature.

Resilient Base and Accessories

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

In architectural terms, the wall base is a band of material covering the lowest part of a wall.  Its purpose is to cover the joint between the vertical wall surface and the horizontal floor surface.  The base also protects a wall from the abuse of vacuum and other cleaning machines, as well as from the damage caused by foot traffic and furniture.

Cork Flooring

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

Cork is one of the more beautiful and comfortable floor materials available.  Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree typically found in the Mediterranean countries of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Textured Ceilings

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

This topic includes information related to textured ceilings installed during construction.  Textured ceilings are manufactured specialty ceilings that have a distinct textured surface.  Gypsum or metal panels are available in a variety of sizes, colors and textures.  Gypsum panels use a suspended ceiling system.  Metal panels can be secured with a suspended ceiling system or nailed directly to a wood substrate.

Linear Wood Ceilings

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

This topic includes information related to linear wood ceilings installed during construction.  Linear wood ceilings are suspended ceiling systems.  Long linear wood boards are used in conjunction with acoustical felt and a supportive railing system.  Finished boards are either spaced apart, abutted or overlapped.

Linear Metal Ceilings

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

Linear metal ceilings are panels hung from a suspension system in wall-to-wall or floating ceiling applications. Typically used in spaces where the design has greater importance than the efficiency of the lighting, linear metal ceilings are a type of suspended ceiling. Suspended ceilings have been used by architects and designers as part of the interior design for public spaces and commercial buildings for decades. The primary purpose of a secondary ceiling, such as a suspended ceiling, is to conceal the vast collection of building support systems which lie above, including the building structure and electrical and mechanical systems. Linear metal ceilings are a low maintenance finished ceiling option, and they have a high visual impact in interior or exterior spaces.