Green Wood Flooring

The green design has become a popular concept for homeowners, almost as popular as the concept of hybrid cars. People, particularly architects, interior designers, and all those who are concerned with the interior design are now opening their doors to green or environment-friendly alternatives to the traditional materials being used which actually emit a lot of harmful fumes or chemicals into the air. The concept of “green” has inspired the creation of green wood flooring, for example, in which many are now opting for to replace the old wood flooring used in their homes. Since wood flooring can be qualified as “green” construction materials in the home, the wood has to meet certain criteria and is categorized under reclaimed wood, fast-growing, domestic hardwood, or certified sustainable wood. More information on each category will be discussed in the later portions of this article.

Green wood flooring comes in many forms and types. By knowing what each category specializes in, you can choose which kind of green wood to use in your kitchen design.

Reclaimed Wood

This type of wood flooring can be found in various places like barns, buildings, warehouses, and vintage houses. This flooring can be reused and recycled since it looks better the older it gets and is typically of the best quality. What’s more, you can give your home that earthy antique ambiance since this type of wood usually comes with marks of nail holes and other surface scars that have lasted all throughout the years.

Bamboo Wood/Flooring

What makes bamboo an ideal choice for green wood flooring is its ability to renew itself rapidly. A lot of professional architects and interior designers love using bamboo because of its durability and its ability to tolerate humidity. Bamboo flooring is usually made from strong and durable bamboo stalks and looks beautiful as a flooring. It makes a great alternative to the traditional wood floors of pine or oak and lends a modern air to the home.

Domestic and Certified Sustainable Hardwood

This type of wood falls directly under the green design criteria since green flooring should be derived from a domestic source, using less resources and energy to harvest and transport to factory. You will know if the material is domestic or sustainable when it is taken from an FSC or Forest Stewardship Council-certified forest. By buying this type of flooring, you are also supporting the goals of the FSC, which is a non-profit organization that provides accreditation for foresting agencies that aim maintain the growth and care of the health of a certain forest.

In conclusion, you are assured of buying environment-friendly materials for your green wood flooring when you see the certification from the FSC, letting you know that you are buying domestic wood materials that are guaranteed to be a great “green choice”.