Friday 17 April 2009

Green Flooring Tips

Going green on your floors is not just good for the ecology. If anyone in your family has allergies, it will benefit them as well. Our carpeting is a magnet that attracts dust, bugs, dirt and toxins. This is especially true of wall-to-wall types. Instead of using all those resource destroying synthetic fibers, use area rugs made from natural, easily replenished materials that are stitched instead of glued.

Wood floors should only use easily restocked woods (FSC-certified) which are not endangered, or bamboo, which, when harvested properly, simply continues to grow without interruption. Any hard flooring should use recycled glass, stone or wood.

Recycled wood not only stops the forests from being depleted, but also has advantages for you.

  • Older woods from older trees have a tighter grain; are harder and denser than new wood.
  • The well-used appearance gives the wood floor a more distinctive look. The hand finishing is noticeable.
  • It will cost you up to 50 % less.
  • It lowers the rate at which landfills are being filled.

Bamboo is a sustainable material because it grows so quickly in the wild, providing a constant and plentiful supply. With reasonable caution cutting the bamboo does not damage the host plant. Properly dried bamboo rarely breaks, cracks or splinters. It can be used for hard flooring, area rugs, indoor and outdoor mats, countertops, walls, furniture, molding, cutting boards, place mats, and much more. It is less expensive than hardwood flooring.

Natural linoleum , when made of linseed, cork, tree resin, limestone, and jute, is biodegradable, non-toxic, and less expensive than wood.

Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork Oak tree, and is very durable, as well as a good insulation. The cost is similar to that of hard flooring.

Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses.

Lisa Mason, Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company (http://www.liti4.com), public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com

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