Sustainability In Wood And Hardwood Flooring

By Author: Pamela Good
Total Articles: 53
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Today's market offers a variety of wood and hardwood flooring; in Oakville ON and other cities as well. With options to suit every style and available in any color, you'll surely find a product that both fits your needs and looks great. When choosing your eco friendly floor, there are some keywords you should be aware of and they are as follows:

Reclaimed Wood Flooring

Reclaimed wood flooring is just that, flooring that is constructed out of reclaimed materials. The flooring planks may come from condemned buildings, barns, old homes, cut and abandoned trees, river bottoms and myriad other sources. The wood is reconditioned and refinished. The end product can either retain an antique appearance or it can look new. The benefits of using reclaimed wood are many but you can also bring a bit of history into your home. All over the world, using reclaimed wood is popular flooring; Burlington ON is no exception.

Certified Wood Flooring

There is a nonprofit group called the Forest Stewardship Council, FSC for short, that is responsible for promoting and maintaining environmentally friendly forestry practices. ...
... A stamp of approval from the FSC means that the wood flooring has come from a forest that has: maintained the rights of indigenous people, had its environmental impact carefully studied and respected, and its sustainability and conservation have been adhered to. There is a wide range of wood bearing the FSC stamp and more products are available every year that adhere to their standards.

Suppressed Wood Flooring

Suppressed wood floor planks are produced from the undergrowth of forests that are often comprised of smaller, immature trees. Sustainable forestry practices include the clearing out of this undergrowth, and while traditionally it may have gone into landfills or wood chips, today much of it is being turned into flooring. Dense forests encourage insect growth as well, so the removal of the dense brush is beneficial for all involved. Flooring that comes from such a source will be labeled as "suppressed wood flooring."

Best Green Flooring Choices

Cork and bamboo floor planks are considered to be the best choices in totally sustainable and green environmentally friendly flooring products. These are popular choices in flooring; Oakville ON residents choose cork and bamboo often. Cork is harvested from still living trees, and the trees are never harmed by the process. Cork can absorb sound and impact, and provides a consistently warm floor. Available in a multitude of colors and finishes, cork is a great eco friendly floor material choice.

Bamboo however, is quickly gaining ground and becoming a very popular green flooring choice as well. Harvested from the bamboo grass, this plant regenerates itself eight times faster than traditional hardwood sources. In addition, harvesting from the bamboo plant does not kill the plant. Generally available in both strip and wide plank flooring options, bamboo is a great option. There is a new engineered bamboo option called "strand bamboo." This flooring is a result of fusing bamboo fibers together under pressure and results in flooring that is 100 percent more dent resistant and harder than red oak. Once only available in natural and light shades, bamboo is now available in myriad colors and finishes.

No longer is buying new flooring as simple as choosing between wood, tile or carpet. Environmentally friendly flooring should be identified as such, but if in doubt always ask for clarification. Most eco friendly wood floors come with a great warranty that speaks for the quality and durability of the product.

To help you get started: find out more about flooring Oakville ON. Get more information on flooring Burlington ON and hardwood flooring Oakville ON. Visit us http://oakville.floorcoveringsinternational.com/