| We have learned so much about our environment | | | | grass of a bamboo plant, but it is still stronger than |
| over the past twenty years that we now know we | | | | some hardwoods. Since it is harvested form |
| have to be careful about how we use our | | | | bamboo’s grass, this type of flooring is a |
| planet’s resources. Green solutions have been | | | | renewable resource; the bamboo plant does not have |
| invented for many aspects of our daily lives in order | | | | to be cut down for it to be harvested. Bamboo |
| to reduce our carbon footprint and keep our planet | | | | plants reach maturity in five years, so the plants will |
| clean for generations to come. The options for green | | | | produce bamboo flooring materials quickly and over |
| flooring have really multiplied in the past few years. | | | | their entire life spans. |
| The home construction industry in general has been | | | | Bamboo flooring is extremely flexible and still highly |
| reducing its waste and using less harmful materials | | | | durable. It is naturally resistant to water being a |
| and now that ability comes to each and every | | | | jungle plant and works great in wet areas of the |
| homeowner. Today’s latest green flooring | | | | house such as kitchens and bathrooms. Bamboo is |
| options now include cork, bamboo, and reclaimed | | | | cut into planks just like hardwoods and even has its |
| hardwoods. | | | | own unique “grain” style. Decorating with |
| Cork Flooring | | | | bamboo flooring works just as easily as hardwood |
| The use of cork flooring has exploded recently, with | | | | flooring. |
| it being installed in colleges, churches, mansions and | | | | Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring |
| even the Library of Congress. Cork is a natural | | | | Hardwood flooring is one of the most elegant and |
| renewable resource; cork flooring is made from the | | | | classic looks for home decorating and it really makes |
| bark of a cork tree, but that bark can be removed | | | | a bold statement. Unfortunately, hardwood flooring |
| without harming the tree. Each tree lives up to 150 | | | | requires a tree to be cut down in order to make the |
| years and its bark can be removed safely every 9 | | | | floor planks. The trees can be re-grown, but the |
| years. As an additional environmental benefit, | | | | mighty hardwood trees take a very long time to |
| fertilizers and pesticides are generally not used on | | | | reach maturity. A green option is to use reclaimed |
| cork. | | | | hardwood flooring. Reclaimed hardwoods are the |
| Cork flooring will also improve your health as it is | | | | same woods that are used in flooring now, only they |
| hypoallergenic and will not absorb dust, as well as | | | | have been recycled and re-milled instead of being |
| being naturally water resistant and an anti-microbial. It | | | | thrown away. This option gives you the best of both |
| also provides a barrier against pests, especially | | | | worlds, you get hardwood flooring and its amazing |
| termites. Cork flooring is resilient and an excellent | | | | beauty while helping to recycle and protect the |
| insulator against temperature and noise, making it | | | | environment. |
| ideal for a condo. Overall, cork flooring is an excellent | | | | Green flooring options have really come a long way. |
| choice for the green homeowner in either a new | | | | They are widely available and at a great price too. |
| construction or a home remodeling project. | | | | Keep these amazing options in mind the next time |
| Bamboo Flooring | | | | you are starting a home improvement project or |
| Bamboo flooring is the newest trend to hit home | | | | having a new home built. |
| decorating. Bamboo flooring is actually made from the | | | | |