The Cost of “Green” Flooring

Q. Does it cost more to buy “green” flooring?

A. More and more customers are looking for green flooring products these days. It is a trend that can burn a hole in your pocket.

Hard surface flooring products known to be green are:

●      Bamboo

●      Cork

●      Laminate

●      Hardwoods

●      Linoleum

Carpet flooring products known to be green are:

●      Wool

●      Sisal or Seagrass

●      Recyclable Nylons

Bamboo and Cork Flooring

Bamboo and Cork flooring are considered to be green because they grow rapidly and replenish easily. To buy these products, it is important to contact a reputable manufacturer who can ensure:

●      High quality

●      Good construction

●      Bacteria resistance

Cork is an ideal flooring choice for the kitchen because it is soft on your feet. Moreover, it comes in various patterns to choose from. But, cork is quite expensive, more expensive than your hardwood. If the cork is installed as a floating floor, it can save you a lot of money by excluding the labor costs. But, if you have an uneven floor, cork may not be easy on your pocket because you might have to pay for floor preparation first.

Vinyl and Hardwood

Vinyl can be a good option as well. There are many, many options for vinyl flooring and the appearance, installation and eco-friendly aspects of vinyl make it a great option. What makes vinyl stand out to other types of flooring are durability and ease of installation.

Hardwoods are known to be green because they are made of recycled wood. They last longer than carpet, therefore considered as a better option over replacing carpet 2 to 3 times.

Only some hardwoods are considered green because the wood is reclaimed and the manufacturing process recycles the materials rather than wasting them. Hardwoods will last a lot longer than carpet and can also be refinished and last over 100 years.

Green Carpeting

Green and carpeting together are a tricky combination. When homeowners use carpet they are looking to save more money in comparison to using a hardwood. When it comes to going green with carpet flooring, the best choice is wool. But wool can get very costly and some fancy wools are even costlier than the hardwood.

Another alternative to wool is a natural fiber called sisal. Although it’s more expensive than nylons and polyesters, it’s less expensive than wool.

If you’re a budget savvy homeowner who is looking for green carpeting, consider softer nylons which can also be recycled.

There are many green flooring options for you to keep both your conscience and pocketbook happy!