CSI Project Solutions

Terrazzo, derived from the Italian word "terrace," is thought to have been first put to use in 15th century Venice.  A vast amount of terrazzo remains in Italy's ancient architecture from this time period, supporting this assumption; however, archaeologists have also discovered the use of a matrix and marble chip flooring system used in Turkey that may be as much as 10,000 years old. Italian craftsmen historically used discarded marble chips to create floors on exterior terraces around their homes.  The marble chips were embedded in clay, and when the clay dried, the surface of the flooring was ground down, making it smooth and durable.

Resilient flooring refers to a type of material that has "give" as weight compresses its surface, and "return" (to its original surface profile) after the weight has been removed.  Common types of resilient flooring are made from materials like rubber, linoleum, cork, asphalt, and vinyl.

Laminate flooring is a product that represents the most significant change in floor covering materials in the last twenty five years, and its history has been an interesting one.  This type of material can be traced to Sweden in the early 1980's. It was originally developed as a possible use for high pressure melamine.  Early versions of the product had a base composed of several layers of resin impregnated paper which were pressed together under high pressure.  This created a highly  wear-resistant composite material.  A decorative top sheet was then applied to the base, and the completed composite material was glued onto a carrier material and cut into sections.

Acoustic ceiling suspension assemblies came into use because architects, engineers, and designers needed an affordable way to lower the ceiling height of modern rooms. Lower ceilings help to control noise, increase the efficiency of heating and cooling systems, and provide a place to mount light fixtures. There are several variations of acoustic ceiling suspension assemblies; most common are concealed systems and accessible systems.

Acoustical ceilings are used by interior designers seeking an affordable way to lower the height of a modern room and also deaden ambient noise. Typically, a grid work of metal strips is hung from the room's true ceiling and individual panels of sound-absorbing material are dropped into the sections. Heating and cooling ducts can be hidden behind acoustical ceilings, along with wires for overhead lighting and pipes for plumbing fixtures.

Ceramic tile has been used as an artistic, functional, and enduring building material for the last 4000 years or more. Ceramic tile is nothing more than a mixture of clays which are shaped and fired at a high temperature to create a hard, dense product.  This product can be left untreated or receive a glazed wearing surface.

Gypsum board, also known as GWB, wallboard, or drywall, is a common construction product used all over the world to finish the inside of walls and ceilings. It is typically finished with a variety of surface applied products, including wood, fabric, paint, and plaster.

Non-structural metal framing, or light gauge metal framing, has become one of the best options for supporting plaster walls. Typically, light gauge metal framing is considered to range from 25 ga. to 18 ga. Non-structural metal studs can be produced from 1 5/8” to 14” widths to meet a great many framing requirements.

Flooring restoration can be done in many different ways, depending on the type of floor, the type of damage the floor has sustained, the amount of damage the floor has sustained, and the condition to which the floor needs to be brought back.

In both residential and commercial situations, flooring tends to be ignored until something goes wrong.  There are many reasons for restoration or repair.  Floors could suffer from simple problems such as age, wear from traffic patterns, scratches, or cracks, to name a just a few, or they may suffer from more complex issues. Problems stemming from structural or water damage, for example, will require research into the underlying problems, so that those can be found and corrected before restoration is undertaken.

Stile and rail wood doors are produced with vertical (stile) and horizontal (rail) framing members and have inset panels made of wood, glass lites, or louvers. They come in a variety of designs and may be used for interior and exterior applications.

If you have an older home with double-hung wood windows, you may want to consider replacing them with energy-efficient wood or vinyl windows, which have insulating glass. Even if storm windows have been added to your home over the years, they are not as energy-efficient or attractive as modern replacement windows.

Panel doors include sectional doors and single-panel doors. Sectional doors are classified as industrial, commercial, or residential quality. Sectional doors consist of two or more horizontal door sections hinged together to lift vertically.