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The Secret History of Floors
Did you know that the U.S. flooring industry is continually growing? Currently, there are about 22,000 businesses dedicated to the flooring industry in the U.S. — and this isn’t counting the many businesses dedicated to cleaning these floors.
Most of us don’t give too much thought to floors on a regular basis. They’re like walls — they’re there, they provide stability, and we may have to clean them once in a while, but aside from that, they hardly seem to make great conversational pieces.
The truth, though, is much more fascinating. Mankind has had a long history with floors. Here are several interesting floor facts you’ve probably never encountered before.
Unique Historical Facts About Floors
- Not surprisingly, floors used to be pretty basic. They were often simply compacted dirt surfaces inside of homes. At some points in history, families would drop trash on to the floor, and allow it to be compressed. Animal blood was often used to help harden the surfaces more quickly.
- In some areas of the Western continents, Native Americans would spread sunflower and peanut shells along the floor. The oil would come out of the shells as people walked on them, smoothing the floors and keeping them compact, hardened and dust-free.
- The Romans were innovative in many ways; one of these examples included heated floors, one of the first ever examples of below surface radiant heat systems. The stone floors — used by the wealthy — were heated through a venting system.
Interesting Facts About Floors Today
- Trying to add life to old tiles? Many college students choose to duct tape their floors with bold geometric designs. The floors are kept scuff-less during the year, and the colorful, room-brightening tape can be removed at semester’s end.
- The rubber flooring industry is wroth about $14 billion. Although cleaning rubber floor mats is not typically a difficult task, rubber floor cleaning products should always be used so as to avoid damage.
- Wood is currently the most popular type of floor; people like it for its beauty and durability.
Do you have tips for cleaning rubber floors? Let us know in the comments.