The popularity of eco-friendly flooring reflects an increasing awareness and concern for environmental sustainability, and for the flooring to be sustainable, it must be made of natural and renewable resources. Environmentally-friendly flooring is becoming a popular option for its environmental and health benefits in many home or office projects. Read ahead to learn about eco-friendly hardwood flooring and the variety of options that are available to transform your space with sustainability in mind.
Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is an eco-friendly hardwood flooring option that originates from the bark of the cork oak tree, and it is safely harvested so that it doesn’t harm the tree. The bark grows back within eight years which makes it a superb renewable resource and cork flooring is becoming popular with homeowners due to its ease of cleaning, durability, and sustainability. Cork flooring can resist cracking, it is naturally antimicrobial and hypo-allergenic, and is resistant to mould, mildew, and termites which is a valuable feature for those with allergies or other respiratory conditions.
Sweeping and mopping occasionally with a damp cloth is all that you need to do to maintain your cork floors and keep them looking great. Small scratches blend into the overall pattern of the flooring, and when cork floors are sealed with polyurethane and maintained properly, they can last 40 years or more. Cork flooring is dense and spongy, so it is an excellent flooring material to install in rooms where standing or noise absorption is required, such as in kitchens and basements. Cork flooring is available in a variety of colours and patterns, which can recreate the look of hardwood floors.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring consists of wood layers connected with low-toxicity glue and topped with a hardwood veneer. It is a durable flooring option since the veneer of wood covers a composite core, and there are fewer trees felled during the manufacturing process. Engineered hardwood flooring is considered carbon neutral because it requires fewer fossil fuels to produce than carpet or vinyl for instance, and is a healthy option since only low toxicity glues are used to create it. Scraps from engineered hardwood flooring can be recycled into wood chips, sawdust, or used to create clean bioenergy instead of being sent to landfills.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
If you are looking for flooring that is beautiful and want to make responsible choices for the environment, solid hardwood flooring offers timeless style and warmth while being a sustainable and eco-friendly hardwood choice. Similar to cork, hardwood is manufactured from a renewable resource, has a low carbon footprint when it is sourced locally, and is environmentally friendly, in addition to being durable and long-lasting.
Solid hardwood flooring can be refinished multiple times which allows homeowners to restore its original beauty and helps to extend the flooring’s lifespan, which translates into a long-term investment for your home. It is more eco-friendly than an entire floor replacement, and hardwood is biodegradable, can be recycled, and can be burned for fuel. The most common types of hardwood that are used for flooring are red oak, white oak, maple, hickory, birch, walnut and American cherry. When compared to other flooring options such as carpet or linoleum, hardwood floors are more durable, require fuss-free cleaning, and are much more sustainable. These features make hardwood flooring a superb eco-friendly choice for renovations, and also if you have pets, kids, or respiratory allergies.
Smith Bros. Floors is family-owned and operated and has been in the industry for more than a century. We provide impeccable customer service from site visit, to quote, to installation and follow-up to ensure that you can have the right flooring for your lifestyle and needs. Contact us today to find the perfect floor!