Eco-friendly flooring options

Eco-Friendly Floors

What is an Eco-Friendly floor?

Recent studies have found that pollutant levels indoors can be many times higher than they are outdoors.  The source of many of these pollutants can be found under your feet.  New carpet and flooring can release dozens of different organic compounds (known as Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs) into the air, including known carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde to name just a couple.  These substances can linger in the air for years.  Additionally, the treatment often used on carpets to repel soil, moths, etc., can be toxic.  And if that weren't bad enough, carpets also trap toxic lawn fertilizers, allergens, and VOC's that are tracked in from outside.

This brings us to flooring options that are resistant to these kinds of things, called Eco-Friendly options.  There are a rapidly growing number of carpets and flooring that are made from eco-friendly and even recycled material that are resistant to the issues listed above.  For an increasingly health conscious public, these stylish, durable, and often less expensive options offer a healthy and responsible way to create beauty and durability in your home while reducing the risk from toxic chemicals.

Here are a few of these:

Carpet
​
There are a lot of types of carpets that are competitively priced that are made of natural fibers with little to no chemical treatment.  You can also get carpets with a backing made out of natural fiber that has less toxic adhesives.

Carpet padding can also be toxic as many of these contain plastics made from  petroleum products.  Carpets with backing that do not require any padding or padding made from recyclable materials rather than plastics are a great alternative.  

Installation often requires glues made from chemicals that have been linked to several health and respiratory issues.  An alternative to glues is simply to tack the carpet down.  If done properly this removes all of the downside of glue with an equally effective result.  Additionally there are low VOC water based glues that are very effective in lieu of the standard glues.

When you choose to get a new carpet and are looking to get rid of the old one, you can find installers that have the old carpet recycled or donated to organizations that can repurpose them in lieu of sending them to a landfill.  There are very few carpet recyclers but it is worth asking your installer if they know of any or use this option with any regularity.

Give us a call at 804-293-2042 and one of our specialists will be glad to discuss these options with you in more detail.

Hardwood

​For those who lean toward the traditional hardwood, there are groups that insure the wood comes from ​sustainably managed forests.  One such group is the Forest Stewardship Council.  There are many types of wood produced in forests certified by this group.  They insure the air and water quality are preserved and that the trees are regenerated.  There are hundreds of colors and styles of wood produced from these forests.

Cork

Typically pine and other softer woods are considered poor for flooring but cork is really a good choice for a number of reasons.  The natural spring inherent in it makes for a very comfortable floor to walk on.  Additionally in is excellent for both acoustic and thermal insulation.  Plus it tends to bounce back from indentations left from furniture or other objects.  They are hypo-allergenic so they do not attract dust, are fire resistant, and even repel insects.  And the bark they come from regenerates every few years.

Tile/Linoleum

There is a process in which glass is recycled and made into tiles.  These tiles can be colorful and durable; excellent for kitchens and bathrooms.  Additionally, natural linoleum is biodegradable and hypo-allergenic.

Bamboo

Surprisingly bamboo is extremely durable, harder than both red oak and maple thereby giving it a reputation for durability and practicality.  It can withstand heavy use with very little wear.  Additionally, bamboo is resistant to mildew, water, and insects.  Since bamboo grows both abundantly and quickly, it is easy to replace, making it a very sustainable product.