Last week I provided some initial tips on how to make your new floor ecologically sensitive. In this article, I am going to give you a few more options.
Image: James Wang / Flickr
What not to wear (on your floor)
Choosing an ecologically friendly floor doesn’t just mean choosing the right materials, it also means avoiding the wrong materials. And it means choosing materials that are right for humans, as well as the environment. One of the most problematic properties of conventional flooring like carpet is that they emit volatile organic compounds for several weeks or months after they have been installed. Although these are not definitively tied to any increased risk of health harm, they can be associated with allergies and asthma.
Another problem that is often associated with conventional flooring is the use of formaldehyde. This chemical is used in many adhesives, and it has been linked to cancer and other health problems. It should be avoided as much as possible.
Carpeting
In the previous instalment, we only talked about hardwood flooring options. Hardwood is increasingly a popular choice for home decoration, even for those who are not ecologically minded. However, carpet does have its benefits: as anyone who has hardwood can tell you, these floors can be cold. And if you have little children, they can be unforgiving on bumps and falls.
But traditional carpets are ecologically unfriendly. They are made with a lot of petrochemicals, and they don’t last long. Other more eco-friendly options are beginning to appear. For instance, a company called Interface is developing carpet tiles. These are made with nylon, natural fibres and recycled rubber, and they can be recycled when the owner wants to change or renew the carpeting. You can also buy carpeting that is completely biodegradeable. Companies that specialize in this include Earth Weave and Nature’s Carpet.
Vinyl
Vinyl’s popularity is founded on its ease of use: it can be cleaned quickly and with little struggle. However, it is likely one of the worst flooring products for the environment, and it is detrimental to human health as well. Vinyl can emit dioxins and phthalates, both of which have been linked to hormone problems in humans.
An alternative to vinyl is natural products like Marmoleum. Marmoleum is made from cork flour, linseed oil and jute, and mimics some of the benefits of linoleum. It’s soft and warm, like cork, and is relatively easy to clean.
Next week, I will wrap up the discussion of eco-friendly flooring with some additional flooring types, and a quick review of costs.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
