Natural Flooring: A Healthy Choice
The environmental impact of raw materials used in the flooring industry has long been a cause for concern. However, it was only a couple or so years ago that serious research was conducted about the positive or negative attributes of materials found in products like carpeting, area rugs and linoleum and people began asking questions about natural flooring.
The panel looked at hundreds of studies in relation to how carpet and non-carpet materials contribute to environmental quality and whether there’s a significant concern with toxic substances and allergens reportedly found in these materials. The conclusion: materials found in flooring “play a significant role to the quality of life indoors”. So what better time than now to invest in some ‘natural flooring’, as certain eco-friendly flooring materials are being called?
To help you get started, here’s our list:
Cork flooring: Used to produce tough, hardwood-type flooring, the cork tree is the only one whose bark can regenerate itself after harvest without damaging the tree or the environment. The tree is never killed or cut down and can produce bark for centuries. Furthermore, almost all of its harvested materials are put to use. Cork may seem flimsy when compared to wood, but its resistance to liquid penetration can certainly make it an attractive natural flooring alternative.
Linoleum Flooring: Linoleum is on the comeback trail, as are bell-bottoms, disco balls and white platform heels. It is both contemporary and environment-friendly. While vinyl, the flooring material that sent lino to the junkyard, is synthetic and petroleum-based, linoleum is made entirely of natural materials, linseed oil being the main ingredient. Obviously, the resurgence of interest in natural and retro products is behind linoleum’s rebirth. As a natural product, linoleum can be recycled and is hypoallergenic, which benefits those who suffer from allergies or asthma. Linoleum also contains antibacterial properties that help stop the growth of microorganisms. That’s natural flooring defined for you.
Stone Flooring: No other floor covering can surpass the beauty of stone flooring, whether it is made from marble, granite, limestone or slate. They all have a natural beauty that exudes richness. The alternatives — such as carpets, linoleum, laminates, wood and ceramic tiles — are often cheaper and most people know how to care for them and maintain them. However they eventually wear out or otherwise become damaged and have to be replaced. Thus, this kind of natural flooring should last for several lifetimes if properly cared for and maintained and provides you with that luxury feeling.
Please keep in mind here that when we talk about natural flooring, we mean flooring made from materials almost as they are found in nature. This is why wood floors or bamboo floors, though derived from natural sources, will not count as natural flooring.
For more information, choose from one of the following links:
Hardwood Flooring | Wood Flooring | Bamboo Flooring
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