Eco friendly flooring pays you back in more ways than one.
When it is time to install a new floor or if you are building new, eco friendly flooring is an amazing new option for you.You will certainly have an eco friendly home when you install a floor made with cork, bamboo, reclaimed wood, linoleum (made from flax seed oil), and eco friendly carpet. In addition there are earth conscious manufacturers that reduce waste and promote environmental practices in the production of their flooring options.
Cork FlooringSkip the "Pergo" and go for something unusual. Cork floors are extremely durable and beautiful. They can even stand up against high heels!The bark of a cork tree is used to make the eco friendly flooring which means the tree is never cut down and will regrow it's bark in about 3 years. Compare that to the 30 years needed to regrow a traditional hardwood tree. Eco cork flooring is resistant to all liquids which explains why cork has been used for centuries in wine bottles. It is even insect-resistant. Termites will leave it alone. Top it off with being germ-resistant. Germs cannot breed on the cork surface so this is a great choice when allergies are a high concern. It will not absorb dust and does not give off harmful chemicals. Cork will however absorb sound which makes it great on second story or anywhere that noise reduction is desired. When you want the floor to be as warm as possible, cork again makes a great choice. It holds warmth in and will block cold from penetrating through to the surface. Finally, cork floors are about half the cost of other hardwood floors. I don't think you can go wrong with a eco cork floor.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo has many similar benefits to cork. It is extremely durable, much more so than maple and oak.It grows quickly and can be re-harvested about every five years. Since bamboo grows in tropical areas, the material is very resistant to warping, moisture, spills and stains. It makes great eco friendly flooring in bathrooms and kitchens. Unlike cork, bamboo is suitable to be used over a radiant heat system.
Reclaimed Wood FloorReclaimed wood is salvaged from building timbers, barns and old floor planks. The wood is refinished or re-cut into new floor boards.Reclaimed wood is a bit hard to find and the supply of a particular type may be limited by each manufacturer. Another form of reclaiming wood is using new wood that was destined to be destroyed. For example, trees that were cut during landscaping work. Normally these trees would be destroyed or buried. Smart companies work with landscapers to make this "waste" useful. Some companies seek out buildings that are scheduled to be destroyed or are abandoned and beyond repair. They recapture and reuse the wood while clearing out a potential safety hazard.
Linoleum Floor
Linoleum is another form of eco friendly flooring. It is made from linseed oil (flax seed), wood flour and rosin (sap). It can be colored with a wide variety of pigments.The nice thing about linoleum is that it is biodegradable. As it decomposes it does not release dangerous chemicals into the soil. Old linoleum can also be burned in an energy-recycling system that will capture as much energy as was used in the process of creating linoleum originally. When done in an earth friendly manner, linoleum can be installed with little to no glue or harmful solvents. Dust and dirt will not adhere to the floor making it easy to clean. This makes it a good choice for people with allergies. The linseed oil actually helps keep harmful bacteria from growing on its surface. Linoleum will require some maintenance to ensure its longest life span of about 40 years. (If you ask me, very few people are going to want the same floor for 40 years - but that's just my opinion.) It is also a relatively cheap options and if you go with tiles you can probably install it yourself.
Eco Friendly Carpet
Carpet seems to be the biggest "bad" guy among the traditional flooring options. The biggest issues center around harmful gases and chemicals used in the manufacture and treatment of the carpet. Carpets are often breeding grounds for allergens and store toxic materials brought in by shoes.Eco friendly carpet will not make these problems go away but there are other benefits such as sustainable materials and recycling. Eco friendly carpet can be made from corn sugar, recycled plastic bottles or recycled carpet. A traditional carpet can take up to 20,000 years to decompose in a landfill and will leach toxic chemicals into the earth. Eco friendly materials allow a carpet to decompose without harming the environment. Carpets made from recycled material will keep bottles and old carpets out of the landfill for years to come. Another environmental aspect of carpeting is how you clean and treat it. Carpets will store chemicals used in the process for many years. Make an effort to clean with gentle and natural cleaners to keep your air as clean as possible.
Shopping Cheat SheetStart your search for an eco friendly flooring provider here.Fast Floors - for bamboo and cork floors Eco Friendly Flooring - for bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood, and linoleum Mohawk Flooring for eco-friendly carpet, reclaimed wood, and recycled laminate Lumber Liquidators for bamboo and cork floors
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