Fab Floors: Eco-Friendly Flooring Options for Green Design

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Antique, distressed oak floors from Aged Woods have a rustic character.
Antique, distressed oak floors from Aged Woods have a rustic character.
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The natural variations of color and texture in these cork tiles from Expanko create a striking floor pattern.
The natural variations of color and texture in these cork tiles from Expanko create a striking floor pattern.
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Bamboo flooring from Plyboo is sustainable and stylish, with exquisite grain.
Bamboo flooring from Plyboo is sustainable and stylish, with exquisite grain.

Your choice of flooring can reflect both your style and your convictions, defining the personality of your entire house. Today’s beautiful, environmentally friendly alternatives–including bamboo, reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood, cork and natural linoleum–make it easy to find a floor that suits your needs.

You can use nontoxic installation methods for these floors, too. Nail down bamboo and wood, or install any of these options as “floating” floors–meaning they’re not glued or nailed down but “float” atop subfloors so they can accommodate the room’s humidity changes.

If you elect to use an adhesive, look for a less toxic, water-based version with low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. And make sure to read the directions to ensure that the adhesive works on your product and in your climate.

Bamboo: Grows like a weed

Bamboo looks so graceful and willowy it’s hard to believe that some varieties are tougher than hardwoods. Bamboo looks a lot like hardwood; but while trees take decades to replenish, bamboo is a quick-growing grass–some species shoot up three feet a day. The downside? Most is imported from Asia, although U.S. sources are emerging as bamboo’s popularity grows.

  • Published on May 1, 2007
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