Flooring is one of the easiest areas of your home to start going green. New floors can completely transform the look of any living space and with the variety of renewable flooring options available nowadays, there has never been a better time to update. You want to go green to both reduce the environmental impact of the materials you will use, as well as for the fact that green materials are non-toxic which will allow for better air quality in your home. While it may set you back a little more financially, helping yourself and your family to breathe better air while using materials which are easily renewable makes it an easy choice.
Reducing the amount of chemicals in your home should be your number one priority when it comes to what building materials you choose for your home. A short amount of research turns up a staggering amount of evidence that points towards common flooring solutions contain an array of toxic chemicals which then linger in your home. While some suppliers offer greener solutions nowadays, your options may be limited at your local home improvements store. Making that extra effort will be well worth it as you will have greater control over the air quality of your home in the long term. The lungs of your family, your pets, and yourself, will be thanking you for years to come.
All this toxicity can be avoided simply by choosing a natural, renewable flooring solution. From cushiony cork, to a variety of bamboo solutions in different styles and colors, through to the more ritzy natural stone flooring, and more there is no lack of options when it comes to finding eco-friendly flooring. There are other factors to consider when looking for materials which have less of an impact on the environment. Place of origin, for example, is one of the more important considerations as regulations vary so much country to country, it is hard to know if what you are buying truly comes from a renewable source or not.
Thankfully, there are a few things you can look for as an in the know homeowner to be sure the kind of flooring you are buying is renewable or not. One way is to check for the FSC logo which resembles a check mark attached to a tree. The Forest Stewardship Council has been working tirelessly for years on regulating and certifying the timber industry so having their seal on the building material you choose will make you feel confident that it is from a renewable source.
If carpet is what you know and love, there are also some more eco-friendly solutions on offer. Several suppliers sell carpets that have nontoxic, green options on top of their standard lineup. No matter your choice of styles, using green flooring will reduce the number of VOCs that would normally fill the air after renovating your flooring.
