Being Green Underfoot – Flooring Options: Green House Cleaning Tips
Does “going green” run counter to a flooring home improvement project? It can, if you don’t fully evaluate the choices you have available to you today.
Deciding to replace worn out or out-dated flooring can be exciting and confusing. Do you choose wood, carpet, laminate, tile, linoleum, vinyl, cork, bamboo?
It seems like the choices can be endless. If you’ve made the decision to remodel with green or mostly green products, some of the decisions are already made for you.
Formaldehyde
It may seem as if carpeting isn’t a great green choice. It can be, it simply depends upon what your budget will allow. Carpeting, per se, isn’t a non-green option, but the padding and glues used can wreak havoc in 10-20 percent of the population. Non-green options will include a preservative – formaldehyde – which is anything but green and definitely not healthy.
Formaldehyde is a known lung irritant that can create health issues for individuals with lung problems such as those who suffer from asthma, COPD, emphysema and other lung ailments. Even without a pre-existing condition, formaldehyde can be problematic for healthy individuals and pets. And consider this – if you have small children in the house, they will likely be in contact with the carpet most often (as will pets). Would you really want them that close to a toxic substance?
Chemical Stains
Natural wood flooring is another great option, but you’ll want to avoid hardwoods colored with chemically created stains. Like traditional paints, which have high VOC ratings, chemically derived stains will have odors that can last for years. Breathing this in over time can cause similar issues as formaldehyde for sensitive types.
Slow Growing Hardwoods
If the epitome of “green” is sustainable, then choose natural hardwoods that are faster growing and more easily replaced. Slow growth trees may produce stunningly beautiful flooring, but if it takes another 100 years to grow a tree big enough to make more, is it really worth it?
Vinyl – vinyl flooring is purely manufactured. It’s created through chemical synthesis. It is resilient and long-lasting, so you could consider it in terms of longevity. But in terms of its earth friendliness, it comes up short. It’s virtually indestructible, which means it also doesn’t degrade. It can also have a chemical odor after installation (likely the glue used) that can be an issue for sensitive people.
Sustainable Options
Bamboo – a fast-growing plant that looks like hardwood, bamboo is easily grown and sustainable. It can be stained any variety of colors and is easy to install. It’s also very hearty and resistant to dents and other flooring issues softer woods are prone to because of its hard surface.
Cork – not just for wine bottles anymore, cork is a naturally and easily grown substance. It provides a warm cushiony surface that feels good underfoot. It also has some noise reduction ability.
Hardwoods – If you opt for a hardwood floor, be sure to use natural stains for the reasons above. These stains have come a long way in recent years and are offered in a wide variety of colors and shades. It also doesn’t require any special upkeep.
Wool Carpet – wool is pricier than other carpet fibers, but is all-natural. It can be expensive to upkeep, especially if it needs frequent cleanings. Wool can also aggravate allergies in individuals sensitive to wool fibers.
Ceramic Tile – manufactured from natural materials, you can’t get much greener than tile. If there’s any concern with tile, it would be with the adhesive used to bond it to the subfloor. However, mastic (an all-natural compound) and thinset (all natural with latex added for necessary flexibility) are used most frequently and pose no health issues.
Linoleum – believe it or not, linoleum is an all-natural product! Made from linseed oil, cork, natural resins, limestone and sawdust, linoleum is tough, comes in a wide variety of colors and is great for high traffic, high use areas of the home.
Laminate – also a manufactured floor, laminate can be a combination of natural and synthetic materials. Lauded for its ability to look like many things (wood, ceramic tile, linoleum and others), laminate does provide high durability. Use laminates that lock together to avoid the need for adhesives, which can be messy, smelly and not “adhere” to your decision to go green. However, if you’re wanting a purely green renovation, avoid the laminates.
Now that you have the basics of green flooring, all that’s left is to determine your budget, your needs, the color and when it will be installed.
And once it is installed, don’t forget to contact Better Life Maids for all your green floor care and green house cleaning needs. Better Life Maids uses the entire line of Better Life all-natural products will take great care of your new flooring and your family’s health.