The term
eco-friendly flooring always evokes mixed reactions from homeowners. While some assume that it will mostly be old, weary and run down materials that’d be the last thing they’d want to install, others think that eco-friendly is another fancy term for ‘expensive’.
Neither Are True.
Today, almost every homeowner likes to boast about the green credentials of their home. And there’s nothing like sustainable and green flooring to give a boost to the green credentials of your home.
And contrary to popular notion, today there are a wide range of eco-friendly flooring materials that look beautiful, function flawlessly and will not nickel and dime you to death.
Let’s explore some of them.
Cork
Cork is one of the newer green flooring choices that is silently making its presence felt all around the world. Since it is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree without cutting the tree down, it is a completely renewable type of flooring. The advantages of cork flooring though, goes beyond that. It is fire retardant, has anti-microbial properties and also reduces allergens. The flipside is that cork may not be an ideal choice for areas where there are frequent spills of food or beverages. Cork is available in a wide range of colors, designs and finishes.
Bamboo
Bamboo is becoming the de-facto replacement for
hardwood flooring in many parts of the world. It has a more exotic look as compared to hardwood, is a green choice because it regrows faster than wood and has excellent stain and scratch resistance. The ability to be stained in an endless array of possibilities gives it an edge over hardwood.
Linoleum
If you are thinking about the large sheets of vinyl that were synonymous with Linoleum in the past, then you need to look at the new types of Linoleum flooring available now. Made from a mixture of cork dust, pigments, limestone, linseed oil and wood flour, Linoleum is a completely green flooring choice that is now available in numerous colors and designs. If you seal it, it remains impervious to stains and scratches too.
Glass Tiles
Glass tiles are made from old recycled bottles and are a completely renewable source. With an ability to reflect light rather than absorb it, glass is an ideal choice not just for flooring but also for walls in rooms which need the additional brightness. Glass flooring is also resistant to mold and mildew, does not scratch and is available in a limitless array of designs and patterns.
Concrete
If you thought that the use of concrete was limited to the sub-flooring, think again. It is the most unlikely addition to the list of sustainable flooring options. It can be polished to look like tiles or you can inlay other materials like glass in it to create a wide range of design possibilities. The best part is that polished concrete is one of the most durable flooring materials ever. It will probably outlast your home itself.
So, if you are an environment savvy homeowner, then you can consider one of these flooring materials for your home renovation.