FAQs
If you have any questions regarding our products or services, please contact us by calling or e-mailing us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
- What are the options you offer with leather? What is what?
- What is "green" about leathers?
- Where can I use leather tiles?
- What sizes are available?
- How will a Recycled leather floor wear?
- How will a Hide leather floor wear?
- What the differences are between hide leather tiles and recycled leather?
- Does Leather Absorb Sound?
- How do I install a leather floor?
- Are leather tiles suitable with radiant floors?
- How is Recycled Leather produced?
- How do I care for my Recycled Leather Floor a/o Wall?
What are the options you offer with leather? What is what?
EcoDomo works extensively with designers and architects extraordinaire for whom we develop specialty applications, finishes, and colors. Our main leather collections are as follows:
We offer specialty lines and applications using belts, horse cinches, and other specialty types of leather applications and surfacing with EasyVelcro panels, leather signage, medallions, laser engraving, and printing.
What is "green" about leathers?
All of our leathers have been used in LEED certified projects and have contributed to certifications up to LEED Platinum. They are a rapidly renewable resource which is derived as a by-product of the meat industry. Our recycled leathers originate from remnants of hides which come from tanneries - one of which manufactures leather for BMW car seats. The recycling process uses 99.8% of the products input in the manufacturing process in a closed-loop water filtration system. In addition, the waste we generate is sufficiently clean to be used in residential landfills. All of our products have been tested to be low-VOC -either by Greenguard, California Section 01350, or ISO methods.
EcoDomo was founded on the premise of developing green, sustainable materials for the architectural and design community and has been an active member of the United States Green Building Council since 2005. Our product, packaging, methods of production are all consistently aligned with a goal to be profitable and sustainable.
Where can I use leather tiles?
Leather tiles and flooring can be used anywhere except for full bathrooms in a residence. They are excellent for light-commercial applications for floors and walls. Our leathers have been installed on ceilings, staircases, furniture, board rooms, commercial hotel and bank lobbies, restaurants, gyms, elevators, fireplaces, theaters, and in numerous specialty decor applications.
Our Rainforest Collection, in plank and tile floating format, can be used below grade.
What sizes are available?
We offer a variety of sizes in each of our collections. Our standard sizes are 12" x 12" and 18" x 18" . We offer ten other sizes ranging from 2" x 6" up to 24" x 24" for tiles. We love a challenge and we've manufactured for clients tiles which were 48" x 46" , planks which were 3" x 48", or simple 2" x 2" mosaics.
How will a Recycled leather floor wear?
This is the most frequent question we get from everyone. Leather floors…but what will happen to it?
All our Echelon Recycled Leather Tiles have been manufactured specifically to be used as a flooring. The Recycled Leather Floors will wear in a manner similar to a linoleum floor and will have indentations comparable to cork. Our tiles are practical while being of uncompromising beauty. Our tiles have been used successfully for entire executive hotel floors, board rooms, hundreds of residences, including in residential staircases & kitchens.
What the differences are between hide leather tiles and recycled leather?
The EcoDomo Recycled Leather Tiles have a look, feel, and fragrance so similar to normal leather tiles that some customers have confused both products! Just as “recycled paper” is considered paper, “Recycled Leather” is…leather. Besides a significant price advantage, our Recycled Leather Tiles have the following key characteristics:
- Recycled Leather Tiles are stable while hide leather will expand or contract significantly depending on the temperature conditions.
- Recycled Leather are designed to be easy – for installation, use and maintenance. As easy as any other resilient floor – just uniquely beautiful and luxurious.
- Recycled Leather tiles have an exceptional wear and tear – while Hide Leather tiles will develop rapidly more character on a floor.
- You contribute to the environment with both materials. Recycled Leather floors are made of a minimum of 65% of post-industrial waste - you are contributing to eliminating landfills when you purchase our product! Hide leather is made from a by-product of the meat industry. All of EcoDomo’s products have been used in LEED® -rated buildings.
Does Leather Absorb Sound?
Leather is naturally sound absorbent and helps to dampen noises in an environment. Our Rainforest Collection of floating tiles and planks are also rated for condo use by design. They are easy to install and absorb sound. Leather is a great application for restaurants and home theaters, for example.
How do I install a leather floor?
Installing a leather floor is simple and as easy as installing a cork floor. Leather tiles are glued down to a high-quality plywood floor using contact cement adhesives after a short acclimatizing period. We supply extensive installation instructions for applications or can help you locate an experienced installer for large projects.
Our Recycled Leather can come pre-glued with our exclusive EasyContact™ Technology. Our EasyContact adhesive application allows our tiles to install directly over drywall, primed concrete, or plywood with no further adhesive application. You simply remove the liner and apply the tiles directly to your substrate. Installation is hassle-free and completed in minutes.
We have extensive technical support for your project from conception to realization – including on-site visit and training for large projects.
Are leather tiles suitable with radiant floors?
Recycled Leather tiles can be used with some radiant floor systems when the settings do not exceed a maximum heat level of 82 degrees farheneight- a common limitation which exists for laminate floors. Contact your radiant heat floor provider or EcoDomo for details and limitations prior to installation.
Hide Leather tiles should not be installed over radiant heat floors.
How is Recycled Leather produced?
Leather is recycled just like paper - it's pulped and bonded again together.
Recycled leather tiles uses a completely natural process within a closed-system.
step one – real leather scraps are collected from furniture, shoe, and other factories
Step two – stones grinds the leather to shreds. This process is similar to what tree fibers go through for paper-making
Step three – The leather pieces and water is mixed with naturally binding and other ingredients. The majority of the binding product includes natural rubber and acacia wood bark. Acacia wood bark has natural binding properties. The Acacia tree is a rapidly renewable specie.
Rubber is tapped from rubber trees, in a process akin to maple-sap.
Step Four -The leather pulp is formed in a sheet or roll and mechanically processed for size, color, and texture. The pulp is approximately 3” thick or more before it gets compressed into a dense leather tile !
Once the finishes are applied, then you have recycled leather tiles !
How do I care for my Recycled Leather Floor a/o Wall?
The care required for a leather floor is similar to what you need to do for a wood floor. Your leather floor will carry characteristics of the environment and the lifestyle of the area in which it is installed. It will develop both character and a lovely patina over time. Normal maintenance includes, vacuuming with a soft brush, damp mopping with a very well wrung out mop. We recommend using Carnauba-based wax for our Milano Floor Tiles.
- Never place a rubber backed or non-ventilated rug or mats on top of tiles
- Wax floor tiles as needed
- Wipe up spills immediately with damp (not wet) mop or cloth
- Recycled Leather walls don’t require special once properly installed.
The care required for a leather floor is similar to what you need to do for a wood floor. Your leather floor will carry characteristics of the environment and the lifestyle of the area in which it is installed. It will develop both character and a lovely patina over time. Normal maintenance includes, vacuuming with a soft brush, damp mopping with a very well wrung out mop. We recommend using Carnauba-based wax for our Milano Floor Tiles.
CORK FAQ
Q. What is cork flooring?
Cork floors are made from left over industrial waste of the wine stopper industry. The cork is bark from a cork oak tree. The bark is several inches thick and used mainly for wine stoppers. The left overs are ground and processed back into sheets. Much of the cork flooring supply comes from southern Europe, particularly Portugal, where the cork oak species is plentiful.
Q. Why is cork flooring such an great green choice?
Cork is renewable due to the natural cycle of the tree which produces it. The cork is extracted after 9 years from the base of the tree. The cork oak trees, harvested by hand, remains unaffected as the bark grows back. It is a naturally resilient, sound-deadening, hypoallergenic material.
Q. What colorings are available in cork?
EcoDomo offers a variety of custom colors and applications in cork planks and tiles. We specialize in custom applications for leathers and cork tiles. We offer custom patterns, sizes, and unique colors. We can provide a color match for your cork flooring needs with low minimum requirements.
Q. How long will cork flooring last?
With proper maintenance and care, cork flooring can last for decades. You can see installations of 100 year old cork in various parts of North America in public buildings. It is an excellent, resilient flooring choice
Q. Is cork flooring easy to care for?
Regularly spend a little time on some light cleaning of your cork floors surface either with a light dust mop or a vacuum cleaner, preferably without a beater brush. Wet cleaning is not advised, however a very slightly damp, well-wrung out mop can be used so long as the moisture from it is light enough to quickly evaporate and therefore not settle on the floors surface. We recommend, like for leather, the use of a ph Neutral cleaner.
Q. Why is cork is great for hallways and condos?
Cork flooring can be installed virtually anywhere on-grade or above-grade; in the floating floor type it can also be installed below-grade. The billions of cells found in a cubic inch of cork naturally absorb sound. The design of the floating floors, in particular, are rated for use in condos with sound abatement requirement. The cork has a significant quieting effect in areas where it is installed.
Q. What about custom applications? Can you stitch cork and install it on walls? Laser engrave? Print?
Yes, EcoDomo can stitch cork and make unique designs and wall installations with cork for a unique environment. All of our specialty applications we do in leather are available with our cork classic line.
Q. What lines of cork do you offer? What are my options?
