Remodeling your home? Here’s a look into the different types of eco-friendly floors available and where you can purchase them.
Different Types of Eco-Friendly Floors
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is by far one of the most eco-friendly choices out there for wood floor enthusiasts. Bamboo is a renewable resource and it comes in very natural colors and can even come in a darker, caramel color.
Linoleum
Who would have thought that linoleum was eco-friendly? It’s true. Linoleum is actually made from flax seed oil. It’s durable and comes in a variety of colors – making it an easy and inexpensive choice for flooring.
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood flooring is an inexpensive alternative to buying new. Unfortunately, chances are the flooring will need to be refinished. It can be a challenge to finding the right eco-friendly floor stains. However, reclaimed woods will generally run just a little cheaper than buying new – so you can afford to upgrade the quality of wood.
Recycled Tiles
Recycled tiles will vary from place to place, but fortunately they also have been widely manufactured in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Using recycled tiles in your bathroom, kitchen, entranceway or more will help increase the value and durability of your home‘s floors.
Cork
Cork is perhaps one of the less attractive options – simply because of its name. However, cork is a durable product and can be made into a variety of colors. Cork requires no glue or nails and can simply be laid out over the existing floors. Cork flooring can also be manipulated to simulate hardwood floors!
Carpet
In some cases, you may be able to find recycled carpet tiles. This may be rare and vary from area to area, unfortunately many carpets are discarded because they have been worn down and are no longer usable or attractive. Be wary of companies that advertise recycled carpets!
Where to Find and Purchase Eco-Friendly Flooring
The top notch EcoFriendlyFlooring.com website is the perfect place to start when seeking out environmentally friendly alternatives. This website provides everything from sleek bamboo floors to eclectic recycled tiles. They also offer reclaimed woods, as well as cork, recycled glass tiles and linoleum.
Prices start as low as $2.75 per square foot and go up accordingly. When ordering, be sure to have the square footage of the area so they can properly quote you. You can also return unused samples that you didn’t use and they will be credited to your order.
IKEA offers bamboo flooring! If you live near an IKEA, you should check out their flooring options – chances are they offer a similar product for less, which is a plus for anyone’s budget.
Lumber Liquidators have hundreds of locations throughout the US – and they offer both bamboo and cork flooring. Their prices are lower and you’ll get more for your buck. Their bamboo comes in prefinished natural and caramel colors while their cork flooring comes in a variety of colors, patterns and textures. Be sure to check them out during your search for eco-friendly flooring.
Fortunately, you can also find eco-friendly alternatives at many major mass manufacturing companies like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Just be sure to check the labels – many companies are promoting “eco-friendly products” that aren’t truly eco-friendly.
