Green Flooring Ideas
| Bamboo, Cork, Laminate, Misc, vinyl |
Vinyl flooring is enjoying a comeback, largely due to its green properties. Made of natural materials such as linseed oil, rosin and wood flour, it is durable and easy to clean. Armstrong and Konecto offer a wide array of styles and color options. Cork, from companies like North River and Wicanders, also make good choices for a green kitchen, as they are made from rapidly renewable resources.
The newer engineered versions of bamboo are great. They stand up to abuse from pets, high heels and heavy weights better than the old bamboo flooring.
Laminate flooring emissions come in well below the permissible emission levels for formaldehyde and VOCs. Also, many of the adhesives and coatings used in the manufacture of laminate flooring are water-based products, and laminate flooring comes free of solvents and wood preservatives, other chemicals that could agitate allergies or asthma. For these reasons, laminate flooring is a healthier choice than hardwoods, if only because the chemical process of off-gas emission is decreased, especially in the first few weeks after installation.
You can get new flooring and be green at the same time! Check the links above and on the side for green flooring ideas in your area.