Eco Friendly Flooring Solutions

Bamboo

For sustainable, non toxic wood flooring with no harmful emissions bamboo is one of the most popular green flooring choice that ticks every box. Because bamboo is grass not wood it is fast growing, and there is no need to permanently destroy the plant itself to harvest the crop, thus making it one of the most sustainable forms of flooring available. Once laid bamboo feels and looks like real wood flooring and is tough and durable too. Bamboo is quick growing too and one plant can be re-harvested in as little as five years.

Cork

The material used for making cork flooring is taken from the bark of the tree in strip pieces, which like bamboo means that the tree is not cut down. This makes it sustainable, eco friendly and one of the best green flooring solutions around. Cork flooring comes in both plank and tile form and is a very good addition to bathrooms and kitchens. Its structure means that it retains more heat and is often warm enough to walk on with bare feet.

Oak and Other Hardwoods

You should be aware that English oak is in very short supply, especially in the UK. Therefore, if you have set your heart on an oak floor but don’t want to contribute to the depletion of natural resources then consider an eco-friendly method of obtaining the oak floor you want.

Whatever type of hardwood floor sanding you love, whether burnished gold mahogany, rich dark teak or majestic oak you can have the hardwood floor of your dreams by purchasing your hardwood via a UK flooring company that uses wood cut only from sustainable forests. Never buy wood that comes from rain forest regions and choose your company carefully. Flooring companies with a conscience are proud to inform customers that they use materials from countries that plant more trees than are harvested.

Recycled hardwood

Another option is to create a new floor from completely recycled wood planks. This, whilst by far being the best option, is also one of the most difficult unless of course you have access to a real oak floor that the original owner no longer wants!

To help you navigate what may appear to be a rather woolly, or should that be woody, environmental nightmare, enlist the expert advice of a professional wood flooring company who know the best sustainability options and how to get the best from recycled real wood flooring.

Eco-friendly wood stain finishing

There are a wide selection of non-toxic oils, lacquers, wood stains and varnishes to help revitalise an old floor or bring character to a new one. Any type of finishing should only be applied after sanding and vacuuming. Even the smallest particles of residual grit and dust will mar the final appearance of your floor.

Once the finishing has been down overnight then it is a good idea to lightly dust the floor the next day with a dry duster. Eco-friendly wood stains can be re-done after 24 hours if necessary. Avoid replacing furniture too soon after coating as these stains will take 72 hours to attain maximum hardness. In a normal home with moderate traffic an eco-friendly floor finishing product will normally last around two years.

If you feel like being bold with coloured stain remember that wood stain colours can be both mixed together and diluted. Dilution will weaken both colour and consistency so never dilute with more than 1/5 part of water or the stain will be too thin and be rendered useless.

If you require exterior eco-friendly wood stain then be sure to check the tin, as many products are for interior use only. If you require advice on this or any aspect of real eco-friendly flooring solutions, contact your friendly flooring team who will be pleased to help.