Eco-friendly flooring gains traction

SUSAN SILVER COHEN, For The Patriot-News

Something new is afoot and it's catching on: eco-friendly flooring.

Green, recycled materials and updated natural resources help create a healthier environment and look good to boot. The materials are safe for your health and the planet.

Concerns about flooring in construction or renovation projects often center on carpeting, adhesives and backings that might contain harmful fumes, toxic chemicals or organic gases. Wood flooring, moreover, stirs up an uneasiness about depleting natural resources.

"Clients, especially baby boomers who are probably settling into their final home, as well as young parents whose school-age children bring home a dose of environmental education, want to incorporate as much green into their project as possible," says Craig Deimler, vice president of Deimler and Sons, a Harrisburg design and construction company.

At least a third of his clients ask for green materials when selecting floors, he said. "The costs may be slightly higher, but eco-friendly wood floors are long lasting and thus there's an end-line saving."

Manufacturers are producing a slew of eco-options for flooring -- all of them green, sustainable, durable and requiring minimal care.

If cost is a concern, think small. Do one space at a time and know that whatever your efforts, they all count toward a better environment.

Bamboo, cork and wood options

Bamboo, a grass that's 13 percent harder than maple and 27 percent harder than red oak, expands and contracts less than wood.

Bamboo grows quickly and can be harvested and replenished easily. Bamboo is treated with eco-friendly preservatives to reinforce its natural resistance to water, insects and mildew.

Cork flooring, a natural, renewable fire inhibitor, fell out of favor decades ago due to maintenance issues. These days, cork enjoys a resurgence as manufacturers apply eco-friendly finishes that make it durable and easy to maintain.

Cork is the bark of Mediterranean cork oak trees, which have an average life expectancy of 100 years. Cork's air-filled cells reduce noise and provide a comfortable cushion and bounce-back recovery from dents.

Reclaimed and sustainable wood is salvaged from old buildings, warehouses or landfills. These old-growth timbers are stronger, denser and more stable than younger trees. Recycled timbers save precious forests. Its slightly higher cost reflects the work needed to retrieve, clean and re-mill the wood.

Carpets

Wool -- sheared hair from sheep and llamas -- creates a variety of magnificent carpets and rugs and has advantages over synthetics. It's a biodegradable resource, renewable and, although more expensive, it's long-lasting and luxurious to the touch. Wool also is resistant to soiling, moisture, static and fire and less hospitable to dust mites.

Sisal, a natural sustainable fiber from the agave sisalana cactus plant, is popular with interior designers for its textured look and extreme durability. Sisal wool, the best of both worlds, combines wool and sisal into flooring that has the look of sisal with the softness, durability and feel of wool.

Synthetic carpets make up the majority of carpeting today, and many are made of recycled materials. Look for PET (polyethylene terephthalate) on the label. This type of yarn produces one of the strongest manmade fibers.

Down-cycling -- what is also known as the cradle-to-grave process -- recycles billions of plastic soda bottles and other materials into fibers that are then made into carpet yarns. The end product is an eco-friendly synthetic carpet.

To help consumers stay green, the carpet-rug industry voluntarily examines ways to enhance indoor air quality. In 1992, it launched Green Label and recently, Green Label Plus, two independent testing programs that ensure customers their purchases are among the lowest emitting carpets, adhesives and cushion products on the market.

Stone, tiles and linoleum

Linoleum, that old-time material that many grandparents will remember, has returned in a wide range of patterns, colors and a new appreciation as a low-toxin option.

All natural linoleum is made of linseed oil, cork or wood powder, resins and ground limestone; backed on jute. Manufacturers today add a high-performance layer to improve resistance to stains and scratches and for easy cleanup.

Natural stone tiles like limestone and slate are top choices for wet areas. They are easy to recycle, timeless in their style, durable and will hold radiant heat. Manmade ceramic tiles also are durable and eco-friendly.

Recycled glass tiles are translucent, impervious to water and durable. Made from crushed glass mixed with metallic oxides, the tiles are individually poured into molds and cooked at high temperatures. Terrazzo-style slabs made of recycled glass, granite or marble chips are fire resistant, stain proof, easy to care for and eco-friendly. All are labor intensive, which is reflected in the price.

INFOBOX:

ON THE WEB

Learn more about eco-friendly flooring and related topics:

* Indoor Air Quality: www.epa.gov/iaq

* Forest Stewardship Council: www.fscus.org

* Carpet America Recovery Effort: www.carpetrecovery.org

* Carpet-Rug Institute: www.carpet-rug.org

* Green Living Ideas: www.greenlivingideas.com/carpeting

* Shaw Green Edge: www.shawgreenedge.com

RECYCLING CARPETS

Landfills across the country are burdened each year with discarded carpets.

The Carpet and Rug Institute encourages homeowners and manufacturers to recycle, recover and reuse carpet.

Some states have established collection centers to recycle carpets and padding.

Pennsylvania has sites in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and locally, many dealers are collection sites for padding.

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