Even if you are incorporating green building products into your home's design, you can still consider hardwood flooring as one of your green flooring options if it's FSC certified.
Okay, you want flooring for your home that is long-lasting, looks great, fits your budget, and agrees with your earth friendly principles.
You’re in luck.
There are now many flooring options that are attractive, durable, affordable, and kind to our environment.
So how do you find the right flooring products for your home? David Dixon of Classique Flooring in Portland, Oregon, gave us the scoop on 5 green flooring materials to help you make that decision. He is a regular exhibitor at the Better Living Show which is the largest green festival in Portland.
FSC Certified Hardwoods
Thanks to its beauty and durability, hardwood flooring is one of today’s most popular flooring choices. The only problem is, the cutting of hardwoods can be disastrous to the environment if done irresponsibly.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization created to promote the responsible management of the world’s forest. To assure the wood flooring you select is an environmentally smart choice, look for FSC’s stamp that certifies your flooring was grown and harvested in a way that protects forests for the long term.
Wool Carpets
If you prefer to have your floors carpeted, wool carpeting is the way to go. Wool is soft and comfortable , durable, and naturally fire retardant. It absorbs and releases moisture and humidity, allowing it to help moderate temperatures, keeping your floors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Wool is stain resistant, resilient, and recyclable. Best of all, wool is a very renewable resource.
Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum is often mistaken for vinyl, but the two are quite different. Linoleum is not made from petroleum products, but instead is comprised of renewable materials, like linseed oil, pine rosins, wood flour and limestone. The backing on linoleum is often made of jute or burlap. Besides being eco-friendly, linoleum is durable, easy to clean and available in just about any color you desire.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring has become one of the most well-liked floor coverings being used today. Bamboo grows abundantly, both in the U.S. and abroad, making it truly sustainable. When bamboo is cured, it becomes strong and resilient, making it a great choice for high traffic areas. It’s easy to install, so bamboo is a smart selection for do-it-yourselfers. Bamboo is also one of the best choices for people with allergies and asthma, plus it is available in a number of styles and textures.
Of course, one of the biggest points in favor of bamboo is its beauty. The many varieties of bamboo on the market allow consumers a broad range of styles and finishes, making it ideal for nearly any room in your home.
Cork Flooring
Cork flooring offers a vast variety of benefits. It’s soft and comfortable because the air trapped inside its natural cellular structure acts like a shock absorber, cushioning your legs and feet. That same cellular structure allows it to reduce noise and vibrations.
There is a naturally occurring substance in cork known as suberin that makes cork resistant to moisture, repels insects and mold, and makes it fire resistant as well. Top that all off with durability and ease of maintenance and it’s easy to see why cork flooring becomes more popular every day.
Davis said that we will continue to see more green building products flooring manufacturers taking steps to make their products environmentally safe and instituting programs to help recycle carpet and other flooring products.
When there are so many viable options on the market today, there really is no excuse not to choose eco-friendly flooring. Whether you prefer hardwoods, carpeting or other types of floor covering, your green choices are plentiful. Your floors will look beautiful and you will have done a service to your planet.
