VIFAH Snapping Deck Tiles
"getting hardwood deck is easier than ever"

Thursday, August 03, 2006

What are Snapping Deck Tiles?


Snapping Deck Tiles (or sometimes referred as Interlocking Deck Tiles or Wooden Deck Tiles) is a do-it-yourself product designed for the average homeowners. It instantly gives consumers a solid hardwood floor on the patio, balcony, roof top, next to a pool or spa, and also kitchen and bathroom areas in a couple of hours - without the hassles of building a deck in the conventional way in multiple days. Most importantly, the floor is economically reusable - just simply unsnap the deck tiles on one floor and resnap them on another floor !

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

How does Snapping System work?

Each tile has connection points along its edges. To connect two tiles together, position the connection points along the entire edges, apply downward pressure on the connection points until all of the connection points are snapped together.

Sharing Your Experiences !

Extracted from a note from Richard, a customer in New York, on 07 July, 2006
"Hi again. Just fyi, I put your sample tile through a rigorous test - freezing and thawing, as well as trying to burn with cigarettes - and it still looks perfect!"



Extracted from a note from Beverly, a customer in New Jersey, on 02 August, 2006
"The snapping deck tiles are an absolutely fantastic product. They are constructed to be used easily and efficiently yet are stable and sturdy. Working with them was also an easy task, as it was simple to lay them out and snap them together. The only tools that were essential in constructing the deck were a ruler and jigsaw. As for the cutting of the deck tiles, simple, simple , simple. This product created a lovely deck, out of a shingled balcony. I know that the tiles will withstand time for they are manufactured with excellent materials. We will enjoy our new deck for many years to come."


Monday, July 31, 2006

Environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable

VIFAH Snapping Deck Tiles are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable.

As one of the original, leading metal and wood factories for more than a decade, VIFAH passionately creates Snapping Deck Tiles of exceptional quality while keeping to its mantra that the natural environment must be always protected. These tiles are made from FSC-certified eucalyptus, plantation-grown acacia hardwood, FSC-certified teak, non-endangered shorea hardwood, and especially eco-friendly bamboo.



VIFAH is actively managing its tree farms and other natural resources. In the Dac Lac province alone there are over 200 tree plantations that supply eucalyptus, shorea, and teak for their factories. The eucalyptus and teak are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Shorea is plentiful, considered non-endangered, and approved by the government for harvest, and they are re-planting it in areas where it is harvested.



Plantation-grown acacia is grown in other areas of Vietnam and is another hardwood used extensively. Eucalyptus and acacia are the fastest growing trees and can be harvested in 15 – 20 years. Shorea is typically harvested in 30 – 40 years and teak is slower growing and is harvested in 50 – 60 years. The growth rate of the trees determines the cost of the wood. In Dac Lac we saw plantations with mature trees ready for harvest, newly harvested and replanted areas and acreage with trees that were 5 – 10- 20+ years old.



For instance, non-endangered shorea, a hardwood growing naturally and plentifully in Vietnamese protected forrests, is a good material for Snapping Deck Tiles. In Vietnam, shorea has been the wood of choice for centuries in shipbuilding, furniture, houses, and many other uses. Because of its hardness and the natural oils present in the wood, shorea products are extremely resistant to fungi, termites, rot and decay. In addition, the wood is also carefully kiln-dried prior to production. It is indeed heavier and denser than teak. Some basic statistics from Wood Explorer Database that compares teak to shorea.


Shorea Teak
Price Shorea furniture is generally half that of teak furniture
Environmental Status Non-endangered Endangered
Density 52 lbs per cubic feet 39 lbs per cubic feet
Impact Strength 35 inches 25 inches
Work to Max Load 14 inch lbs per cubic inch 11 inch lbs per cubic inch
Toughness 491 inch lbs 227 inch lbs
Weight 49 lbs per cubic feet 37 lbs per cubic feet
Hardness 1642 lbs 1038 lbs

Very high quality bamboo (really grass, a non-endangered species) is grown in the northern part of Vietnam near Hanoi. Vietnamese bamboo was considered to be of higher quality than that which is found in China, and China is indeed importing a large amount of bamboo from Vietnam.

VIFAH makes its own hardware, fittings, and plastic bases for the tiles from recycleable materials.