|
For the environmentally minded consumer, there are no better options than natural flooring. Natural flooring is a broad term that encompasses many different types of material that can be used in the construction of floors. Most of these floor materials occur naturally within the environment, and are therefore more degradable than synthetically created alternatives. Most are made or products that come from plants, rather than from the plants themselves. This means that these floors take les toll on the environment in terms of non-renewable resources than hard or softwood floors. There are several advantages beyond environmental considerations that natural flooring includes, such as appearance, availability, and versatility.
Bamboo flooring is growing increasingly popular in North America, although it is one of the pricier materials for use in natural flooring as it is only available from Asia and through a limited number of distributors on this continent. Bamboo is a plant, but it is not a type of tree. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass, which means that the time it takes to reach maturity is less than for hardwoods. Bamboo is also highly renewable at a quick and sustainable rate. Bamboo floors have a unique and exotic texture that is appealing in any living room. They can also be installed with relative ease, either nailed down or in floating floor designs. Despite import costs, bamboo is still more affordable than hardwood flooring. Cork flooring has all the attributes that you could wish for in a hardwood and some that you may not have even thought possible. This type of natural flooring has absorbent qualities that greatly cut down on the noise made when someone walks on the floor in your house, making the noise transfer from upstairs to downstairs that much smaller. Cork has a great natural appearance, and is one of the few materials in any building type that is truly hypoallergenic. It is made from the bark of the Cork Oak tree, and the tree can lose this outer covering without any damage. Cork has some natural elasticity that allows it to absorb impact, making it dent resistant as well as less dangerous to dropped dishes and comfortable to walk or lie down on. Natural linoleum is made from a combination of several materials that occur in the environment as plant products, and their harvest and application does not mean that the whole plant has to be sacrificed. Lin seed, cork, jute, limestone, and resin are all used to make up this resilient material that is available in several different shades and colors. Natural linoleum is also very long lasting, as some manufacturers claim its average life to be over 40 years. Hard floors are not the only natural flooring available. Consumers who are opposed to synthetic materials for their everyday use might want to look into the option of wool as a carpeting material. Wool, of course, is highly renewable and is also soft and self-renewing. Wool is also fireproof, and much softer than synthetic carpet materials. It is possible to use natural flooring for any flooring needs within your home. All of the hard floor natural flooring materials have better elasticity than hardwood or laminate floors, and therefore are safer options for your dishes and your comfort.
|
Wood Flooring by Type