5 Best Eco-Friendly Flooring Options for Your Home
There’s a lot of pressure out there now to be sustainable or eco-friendly. Don’t worry though. That doesn’t mean ugly, at least not anymore. So many companies are conscious now of being “eco-friendly” that trendy, modern options are widely available. No need to compromise on style for green - thank goodness. We’ve listed our top 5 eco-friendly flooring options to turn your house into your dream eco-friendly home.
Cork
Cork isn’t just for wine bottles anymore. Cork is a fairly recent, but very sustainable flooring option. It’s harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree in a process that leaves the tree still alive and growing. Trees can be harvested every 3 years.
Besides being sustainable, cork provides a lot of benefits that most flooring options don’t. Cork is extremely durable and can last up to 30 years depending on the amount of foot traffic. It also has some antimicrobial properties, which can actually help reduce allergens in your home. Cork will also act as a natural insect repellent and is flame resistant. Not many other flooring options can boast about that.
And don’t worry about color options. Most paints or stains can be applied to cork to give you the exact style and design you had in mind.
Linoleum
Ok, hear us out. We aren’t talking about that dated stuff you see in every 70’s home reno tv show, that’s actually probably vinyl. When vinyl flooring first came out, it replaced the use of linoleum in homes. But, vinyl isn’t eco-friendly flooring. Linoleum is.
Linoleum is made up of linseed oil, cork dust, tree resins, wood flour, pigments, and ground limestone. With the shift to greener options, linoleum is making its comeback. And it’s not boring or dated. As builders and homeowners are looking to use linoleum in houses, the market has been given a facelift.
There are thousands of different colors, textures, and patterns available now for linoleum flooring. No one would ever suspect the living room is linoleum flooring. Save money. Save the environment. Let the compliments pour in.
Glass Tile
Who hasn’t seen glass tiles in bathrooms or kitchens? Well, it’s a great option too for your floors. These tiles are made from recycled bottles and come in pretty much every color and pattern you can think of.
Glass doesn’t stain and is highly durable. Since glass doesn’t absorb moisture it's a great option for rooms like the laundry room or bathrooms where there is more humidity. No mold or mildew here! These tiles can also help your space seem bigger too. Glass, unlike other flooring types, reflects light adding more light to the room.
P.E.T. Berber Carpet
P.E.T. stands for polyester. This carpet may not be as soft and cozy as others, but it’s a great sustainable option. The production of P.E.T. Berber requires recycled plastic bottles, which helps to reduce the amount sitting in landfills.
These carpets come in a variety of colors and patterns to match any design style. They’re stain resistant and extremely durable. They can require some maintenance if there is a pull in the carpet but if fixed properly, there’s no additional upkeep.
Bamboo
Did you know that bamboo is actually grass? But don’t be fooled, this grass gives other floorings a run for its money. It has a similar appearance to hardwoods but is customizable. Different grains and colors allow this eco-friendly flooring option to stand out.
Traditional hardwood floors come from trees that take decades to grow and mature. Bamboo, on the other hand, reaches maturity in only 3 to 5 years. These floors are durable and easy to install.
There are other eco-friendly options available for your home like wool carpeting, concrete, and rubber. No matter what flooring you go with, Flooring Specialists is ready to help. Stop in our showroom today and see why we’re the best flooring installation serving Warner Robins and the middle Georgia area.