Today’s Earth-Friendly Flooring

Today’s Earth-Friendly Flooring: Style every step of the way Barbara Schuetze. Remodel Portland Magazine 2005, page 34 (Published in cooperation with the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland & Strategy Custom Publishing LLC)

Being in the business, Bill Cogdall, owner of Contract Furnishings Mart (CFM), wanted to find the latest and greatest environmentally-friendly flooring product for his new beach house. With four grandchildren and three English setters, durability and ease of maintenance was a priority. But Bill and his wife, Linda, also wanted something seriously stylish.

A concrete tile product from Northwest Premier Stone turned out to be the perfect solution. The Cogdalls chose a 16” x 16” old-world style paver that resembles natural stone. “We were even able to customize the color to match our décor,” Cogdall says.

This specially formulated high-density cement tile product was so appealing that the Cogdalls decided to install the tile upstairs, downstairs and outdoors on the patio.

In addition to being “green”, concrete tile is durable and easy to clean. It looks just like stone, but installation costs are less because a tile setter can install it. “My wife is elated about the style and I’m thrilled that I can just sweep or wipe up mud or sand when the dogs or grandkids come in from outdoors,” Cogdall says.

In addition to concrete tile, there is a wide range of other stylish and durable earth-friendly flooring products to get excited about.

What Makes Flooring Earth-friendly?
PGE Earth Advantage works with local builders and remodelers to design, certify and promote homes built for higher energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and less impact on the environment. Selecting flooring materials that are less toxic or non-toxic improves indoor air quality and contributes to a cleaner environment says Jeff Divers, program specialist at Earth Advantage.“ It’s also important to conserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact by choosing materials that use recycled content, or buying reclaimed lumber or materials harvested from sustainable, well-managed forests.”

But you don’t have to sacrifice style to care for the planet. “There’s an amazing selection of earth-friendly flooring in many styles, colors, textures and designs,” says Steve Frazier, director of marketing, Contract Furnishings Mart (CFM), which is one of the largest interior product merchants in the Northwest. CFM has three locations in the Portland metro area and one in Vancouver, Washington that serve the builder, remodeler and design trade. They carry an in-depth selection of carpeting, ceramic tile, granite, hardwood, laminate and specialty product flooring. Homeowners can contact their contractors or designers for a referral to see products at CFM.

Hardwoods and More
There are a host of wood flooring materials and products today. Here are some other environmentally friendly and stylish options to consider:

--Reclaimed wood is previously used lumber that has been salvaged and refinished. Divers sees a lot of recycled product being used, especially old-growth fir, which is not available today. “Houses in the 1920’s often had fir flooring, so it’s a popular choice for matching wood in remodeling projects.”

--Lyptus, the brand name for a hybrid of two Eucalyptus breeds, is one of the latest hardwood flooring innovations. This premium hardwood is grown in plantations that preserve natural habitat ecosystem and offers excellent strength, density and durability. Lyptus is a stunning wood with a uniform grain and has a warm tone similar to cherry.

--Bamboo flooring is produced from an extremely fast-growing grass. It offers a unique look and color comes in different lengths, widths, colors and styles. Bamboo is harder than oak and very durable.

--Cork flooring is available in planks or tiles and comes in an incredible range of color options, thicknesses, patterns, sizes and finishes. This durable product is attractive and easy to install.

Carpet, Rubber and Linoleum
When it comes to carpet, natural fibers such as wool or sisal are environmentally-friendly and stylish. “Wool carpets come in a variety of colors and price ranges,” says Frazier. “And there are affordable wool carpets out there.” Sisal, jute and seagrass are more popular for area rugs, but manufacturers also sell these products as wall-to-wall carpet because of increased demand. Another “green” choice is carpet made from recycled content such as pop bottles or recycled nylon, which keeps tons of plastic out of landfills.

A fun earth-friendly product is rubber flooring made from recycled tires. “The product has a colorful, speckled pattern is easy-to-clean and durable. It’s great for high-use areas such as utility or exercise rooms,” says Divers.

And linoleum is back. It is a wonderful product for new or vintage homes that is made from renewable products, is comfortable underfoot and easy to maintain. Marmoleum is the new generation product that comes in a dizzying array of colors and mix-and-match patterns.

Stone, Granite and Concrete
Other beautiful and durable “products of the earth” include a myriad of stone and granite materials that don’t off-gas and last for many years. These materials can be purchased in slab or tile form and used in formal or informal settings.

Concrete tiles come in many sizes and can be used on interior and exterior floors. These tiles, offer wide range of colors & textures.

Some tiles are crafted to resemble, brick, flagstone or terrazzo. A large range of ceramic tiles offers one more “green” option.

As people become more conscious about the environment, they will continue to look for innovative materials and products to use in their homes. “Luckily for consumers, manufacturers are responding to consumers’ environmental concerns by introducing a raft of new flooring options that are ‘green’ and stylish,” says Frazier.

Sidebar: Know your wood

Here are some of the terms that apply to different types of wood flooring and standards for assuring that you are selecting environmentally responsible products.

Solid wood flooring is one piece of wood from top to bottom. It comes in a variety of widths and lengths and provides numerous options for customizing using different species, stains and finishes.

Engineered wood floors are built using multiple thin ply layers that are glued together. Generally, inner cores are a hardwood and/or soft plywood type of material, which incorporates the tongue and groove system. The thicker hardwood veneer layer is glued on the top surface of the core and is available in almost any hardwood species.

Pre-finished hardwood products are finished in ideal conditions at the factory, where the temperature, humidity, and other factors that are hard to control on the job site can be monitored. They eliminate the need to sand or apply finishes that can off-gas in your home. Pre-finished products often have a harder surface than products finished on site.

Unfinished wood is sanded, stained and finished on-site after it is installed. You have more choice of widths and wood species if you choose unfinished wood and you can come close to matching some wood floors.

Reclaimed wood is previously used lumber that has been salvaged and refinished. It typically comes from old-growth timber and is harder and more stable than other wood.

Certified wood is responsibly harvested from well-managed forests that are third-party certified.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was formed in 1993 to establish international forest management standards. Products bearing the FSC logo, which guarantees that the wood from a certified well-managed forest, are available from a variety of mills, manufacturers, and distributors.

Content republished with permission from the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland, courtesy of Strategy Custom Publishing LLC.