There’s a false impression that wooden flooring shouldn’t be eco-friendly. Nonetheless, it’s far more eco-friendly than alternate options like carpet. Wooden is derived from pure sources relatively than artificially manufactured, making it environmentally pleasant. In distinction, flooring supplies akin to linoleum are sourced from fossil fuels, posing dangers to the atmosphere. Learn extra about why hardwood flooring is sustainable.
Contractors should do their half to teach eco-conscious purchasers concerning the environmental advantages of wooden floors & the place it truly comes from. When residence and enterprise homeowners perceive their choices, they could go for extra sustainable merchandise and really feel extra assured with their selections.
Select a Home Species
With regards to selecting between unique and home wooden flooring choices, the extra sustainable selection is to stay to locally-sourced, home wooden merchandise. Widespread home choices embrace oak, maple, cherry & hickory.
Whereas unique flooring is gorgeous and provides worth to any residence, harvesting unique wooden from different nations can contribute to deforestation. When selecting a home product, you’ll be able to be certain that it’s correctly regulated. Authorities rules have been set to guard each the timeframe and quantity of wooden that may be harvested.
Search for FSC-Licensed Merchandise
The U.S. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) actively discourages deforestation and unlawful logging, specializing in the preservation and promotion of sustainable forest practices. The group oversees the administration of numerous forests and the wooden derived from them.
When searching for a extra sustainable choice, search for the FSC brand. FSC-certified merchandise have a custody label that enables a plank of wooden to be traced again to its supply.
Select Environmentally-Pleasant Finishes
When selecting between oil-based and water-based finishes, water-based is the extra environmentally-friendly choice. Oil-based polyurethane finishes might comprise increased ranges of VOCs. It’s best to remember the fact that water-based finishes are likely to have a shorter lifespan and are sometimes dearer.
Understand that you may additionally need to think about an eco-friendly hardwood flooring cleaner for ongoing care.
Reuse or Recycle
With hardwood flooring, you’ve the choice to replace current hardwood for a very new look. As an alternative of getting to tear out and throw away wooden when it’s time for a brand new inside design, hardwood will be sanded and restained to rework into one thing recent.
If hardwood does change into too broken to make use of once more, it may be recycled to make use of for furnishings or an ornamental function. When unsure, you’ll be able to recycle hardwood. Reclaimed wooden is extraordinarily fashionable and persons are typically seeking to obtain the look of recycled wooden that has imperfections.
Able to Assist Your Prospects Go Inexperienced?
Contractors can even reiterate to their clients that the US EPA has discovered that hardwood flooring enhance indoor air high quality. Carpet harbors allergens and pesticides that may be tracked from outside.
The workforce at Metropolis Flooring Provide may also help you choose the appropriate home, sustainable flooring choices for the job.