Deciding To Go With Natural Flooring

April 23rd, 2010 by admin

Natural flooring is becoming a popular option with many home builders and designers. Traditional hardwood floor look great, but now these new options can offer the same high quality and durability with a unique look that will have much less of an impact on the environment and the available natural resources.

There are a lot of materials on the market that make good eco friendly flooring materials. If you are looking for a good alternative, there are a lot of good choices. The manufacturing process involved with them has also made it possible to get the quality and the look you really want.

Bamboo has been a popular natural flooring option that many people have chosen. It acts just like hardwood, often it is as hard as red oak or hard maple. Most importantly, harvesting bamboo won’t hurt the plant, and it will be harvestable again in three to five years.

Expanko cork flooring has become another popular choice. This material can be very attractive and won’t have a harmful impact on our natural resources. A cork oak tree can produce hundreds of pounds of cork ever seven to ten years, and it won’t have a detrimental effect on the trees when it is harvested. When it is installed, this natural flooring is a natural insulator, and offers hypoallergenic qualities as well.

If, on the other hand, you really must have a traditional hardwood floor, you should consider a source that cuts wood from a demolished building. By reclaiming these structural timbers, you can have a surprisingly attractive floor and the impact on the forests will be lessened.

There are other recycled materials that make quality natural flooring as well. For example, recycled cork and rubber can be combined to form an extremely durable and attractive substance. There is also Forbo marmoleum flooring (not vinyl flooring) that is made from linseed oil, pine flour, and natural jute backing – all renewable sources for a great looking floor.

If you are considering natural flooring as an alternative to traditional hardwood, ask yourself a few questions first. Is the material really made from recycled or renewable sources? Is the manufacturing and harvesting process a sound one? Is the material biodegradable and how long will it last?

Be sure that you can answer tall these questions before you purchase your eco friendly flooring. This will help you make sure you get a floor that both looks great and is a lot easier on our natural resources. Contrary to most beliefs, it is possible to do both. Don’t forget to look at amazing Oceanside glass tile as well.

 

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