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Free Estimates! Visit our Marshfield MA showroom or have samples brought to your home!
Think Green – Quality Eco-Friendly Flooring Options
| Material | Selection Tips | Pros | Cons | Cost | Recommended Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo Flooring Renewable resource. Fast-growing grass that can be selectively harvested annually. | Look for bamboo products that are FSC certified and have no formaldehyde added. (See products links at end of article.) | * Renewable resource * Extremely durable * Harder than red oak or maple | * Overuse of natural bamboo forests may be destroying them * Asian sources require significant embodied energy for transport | $4-$8 per square foot | * Bedroom * Living room * Family room * Dining room * Kitchen * Entryway |
| Carpet Green carpets and area rugs are low-emitting and made from natural fibers (e.g., wool, jute) or with a high content of recycled synthetic fibers. | Look for The Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label
Plus certification. Area rugs and carpet tiles are preferable to
broadloom (wall-to-wall) carpet. Visit the Green Label Plus website for a list of carpets that have been tested and certified as low-emitting products. | * Carpet industry is actively addressing its environmental issues * Good sound absorption (quiet to walk on) | * Synthetic fibers are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource * Difficult to clean * Can harbor dirt, dust and mold | $4 and up per square foot | * Formal areas * Bedroom * Stairs don't use wall-to-wall carpet in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, or other areas regularly exposed to moisture. |
| Cork Flooring Cork is a renewable resource made from the bark of the cork oak. | Look for products that have no formaldehyde added. Avoid cork-vinyl composites. If using a sealer, select a low-VOC product (less than 200 g/L of VOCs, per SCAQMD Rule 1113). (See product links below.) | * Renewable resource * Sometimes has recycled content * Easy to clean if properly sealed * Good foot support and sound absorption | * Indoor air quality impacts from some sealers. * European sources result in higher embodied energy for transport | $3-$6 per square foot | * Kitchen * Family room |
| Linoleum Flooring Same ingredients today as when it was invented in 1863: linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments, all pressed onto a jute backing. | Look for "natural linoleum." Vinyl flooring is sometimes generically called "linoleum." Available as sheet or tile flooring. (See product links below.) | * Renewable ingredients * Often has recycled content * 30- to 40-year lifespan * Easy to clean * Good foot support | * Made in Europe, resulting in significant embodied energy for transport * Odor from linseed oil may irritate some people | $4 per square foot | * Kitchen * Bathroom * Family room |
| Rubber Flooring Natural virgin rubber is derived from rubber trees, a renewable resource. Using recycled rubber made from tires reduces the environmental burden of discarded tires. | Some rubber has a significant odor. Use in well-ventilated areas only. Synthetic rubber tends to be more durable than natural rubber. (See product links below.) | * Often has recycled content * Easy to clean * Good foot support * Can be installed without adhesives * Durable (20-year lifespan) | * Continual off-gassing (particularly from recycled tire rubber) has indoor air quality impact * Synthetic rubber is made from petrochemicals | $5-$7 per square foot | * Outdoors * Well-ventilated indoor space (e.g., mudroom) |
| Stone Flooring Natural resource; durable material. | Look for locally (or at least domestically) mined and
fabricated stone; avoid buying imported stone (to reduce transport-related energy). Look for stone that does not have to be sealed. If using a sealer, select a low-VOC product (less than 200 g/L of VOCs, per SCAQMD Rule 1113). | * Easy to clean * Durable | * Stone is a finite resource * High embodied energy if stone is mined or fabricated overseas * Some sealers produce harmful VOC emissions | $3-$10 per square foot | * Kitchen * Bathroom * Entryway * Fireplace |
| Tile Flooring Durable material (ceramic or glass), often with recycled content. | Look for locally manufactured tiles with high recycled content. (See product links below.) | * Easy to clean * Durable * Often has recycled content | * High embodied energy (to fire tiles and produce cementitious materials) * Seek local sources because of heaviness | $1-$6 per square foot | * Kitchen * Bathroom * Entryway * Fireplace |
| Wood Flooring Natural material; renewable resource; durable. | Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified, or
salvaged/reclaimed wood. Ask retailer for a chain-of-custody
certification. Avoid products with added formaldehyde (sometimes used
in engineered/pressed wood backing or sublayers). Look for sealers and
cleaners that are environmentally benign and low-VOC emitting. You can search the Forest Certification database for FSC certified forests or wood products. | * Renewable resource if from a sustainably managed, selectively harvested forest * Low embodied energy, particularly if harvested and produced locally | * Clear-cut forestry causes overharvesting and destruction of habitat * Wood contains some naturally occurring formaldehyde | $3-$6 per square foot | * Bedroom * Living room * Family room * Dining room * Stairs |
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Phone: 508-823-0200
Fax: 508-823-0221
Email: sales@streamlinefc.com
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Streamline Floor Covering
155 Enterprise Drive
Marshfield, Massachusetts 02050