Green Flooring Fundamentals
By Susan Rich
Homeowners have countless choices when it comes to fixing their floors. One option is to re-sand and re-stain an existing wood floor. If that won’t do, it’s possible to tear out the old floor and start anew, using new or reclaimed wood products or environmentally friendly materials like cork or linoleum. In some cases, setting a new floor over an old is the best option, especially if the existing floor — for example, vintage linoleum — contains asbestos. A licensed contractor can help you decide which option will work best for you. Here are a few choices to consider:
Wood
Hardwoods or softwoods, from white oak to Douglas Fir, the original floor in a vintage home was more than likely wood. This floor is style-neutral, practical, and timeless. Scuffs, dings, and dents — even the curlicue scrapes from pet claws — all add to the patina that gives a wooden floor its charm. This kind of floor can be sanded and sealed several times before it needs to be replaced.
www.mcgeesalvage.com |
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Bamboo
With its variegated striations, record-setting re-growth, and incredible strength, this is one kind of grass be glad you don’t have to mow. But these qualities are what makes bamboo an excellent choice for a floor. With its rock-solid surface, stain resistant qualities, and stunning appearance, a bamboo floor can be a real show-stopper — with sister varieties a perfect stand-in for countertops, cupboards, and cutting boards.
www.teragren.com |
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Cork
Uncork the beauty of this soft-on-the feet flooring. Cork is nothing more than the shaved bark of Quercus suber, an oak tree indigenous to the Western Mediterranean region, harvested in countries such as Portugal and Spain. One cubic inch of cork holds more than 200 million air cells — which is what makes it an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator. Cork floors are resilient, durable, and moisture resistant. Because it is a tree bark, cork is naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and insect resistant. It’s also non-toxic, does not off-gas like a vinyl floor will, and is naturally fire retardant.
www.wecork.com
www.novafloorings.com |
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Linoleum
This updated classic is as smart a choice today as when most of us scuffed across waxed linoleum in countless schoolrooms across America. Made from linseed oil and flax on a jute backing, linoleum is the
epitome of environmentally friendly flooring. Its smooth surface is hygienic, anti-static, and fully biodegradable. The surface is easy to clean. Linoleum comes in a wide range of colors and styles, including rolls, tiles, and a “click” product that allows for do-it-yourself installation. Although commonly seen as the brand name Marmoleum® (by Forbo Floors), this product is available from other manufacturers.
www.forbo-flooring.com
www.armstrong.com |
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Carpet
Although colorful shag carpets are making a comeback, scratchy synthetics are not. Today’s gotta-have it carpet is made of wool. Merino wool — with its silky, no-poke texture — tops the luxury grade; otherwise regular wool blends satisfy the homeowner’s need for a color-fast and durable foot-warmer for those cold winter nights. A wall-to-wall carpet makes a great room insulator; throw rugs strategically scattered will also help keep rooms cozy.
www.ecohaus.com |
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