Green Living - Green Home And Kitchen

Eco Friendly Sustainable Flooring

You would like a sturdy floor for your kitchen (and the bathroom for that matter) so that it can sustain the daily wear and tear. A sturdy floor would not get damaged if you spill food or even if too many people use it. A popular form of flooring is vinyl. It is affordable, can be cleaned easily and is durable. A drawback is it is not biodegradable and also toxins are created when it is manufactured. Some of the environmentally conscious flooring choices are:

Linoleum is different from vinyl although both can be installed as sheets.  The main difference between the two is that vinyl is made from synthetic materials whereas linoleum is made from natural materials such as burlap, felt or it could be canvas coated with cork, linseed oil, cork and resins.

 Another form of flooring is Bamboo, a grass which resembles wood flooring and has rapid growth. It becomes very difficult to harvest in three to six years as it becomes very large. Since bamboo grows very rapidly, it makes it more sustainable that most other hardwood pieces. It is dent resistant and can be installed in the same manner as hardwood flooring.

CONS: The safety of workers and environmental regulations are not monitored by and third-party organization. Materials such as resins which are used to laminate often contain urea formaldehyde which releases heat or humidity.

Due to its decorative techniques, concrete has gained immense popularity. Techniques used in concrete are coloring, staining, scoring, stamping and sealing which make the end product very attract and customizable. Concrete is very easy to maintain and is extremely durable. 

CONS: Concrete can be hard on the feet and knees. You could also feel a bit cold too.

Stone can be found like wood in nature and is extremely durable like concrete. Stones could be cut into tiles and further polished or honed in the manner you want. A beautiful surface can be made out of travertine or granite. A low-VOC sealant is recommended.

CONS: Stone is not a renewable resource.

 Like glass and ceramic tiles, Tile can be produced with recyclable materials such as bottles, old bulbs and porcelain items. Ceramic tiles are durable and biodegradable. A low-VOC sealant is recommended.

 A naturally found material is Wood but you must be careful of harmful logging practices. These destroy old growth forests and damage ecosystems. When buying wood, look out for FSC certification.

For a vintage look and feel, you can consider reclaimed or salvaged wood. This type of wood can be retrieved from old barns, train tracks or river bottoms for example. Water based finishes and low-VOC sealant are recommended. 

CONS:  Certification standards from other third parties are not as stringent as FSC. Species such as Brazilian rosewood, African teak and Caribbean mahogany species are endangered.

The bark of the cork tree is used to manufacture Cork flooring. A tree is not damaged if the bark is removed from it as the bark renews every seven to ten years. It is soft and helps in reducing noise levels. 

CONS: It is recommended that you look for all-natural cork some cork flooring have PVC backing.

Tiles or sheets are also made out of Virgin rubber (made from tree sap) or recycled rubber which can be used as flooring. This type flooring makes it soft under foot and makes a non-skid surface. It is also very durable.

CONS: It can be smelly.