About Eco-Friendly Hardwood Floors

We know it's more important than ever before to maintain a smaller footprint on the environment. This means making more thoughtful decisions about what building materials to use, including sustainable and eco-friendly flooring options. 

Choosing eco-friendly and sustainable flooring takes into account the product itself, along with how it's sourced and manufactured, what other materials and resources are used, and the supply chain's impact on the environment. Thankfully, there are many eco-friendly wood flooring options available that can deliver the look and feel you want without harming the environment. 

What Is Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring?

Eco-friendly wood flooring is any kind of hardwood flooring originating from forests that are managed and protected to prevent deforestation and promote regrowth. 

One of the best ways to identify authentic eco-friendly wood floors is to look for the US Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) stamp of approval. This nonprofit's logo indicates that the sustainable flooring has met criteria based on several principles of forest stewardship. These range from enhancing the quality of life of local communities to protecting local wildlife.

Green Flooring Options

• FSC certified wood

When shopping for hardwood, any product that proudly showcases the FSC certification logo is a sustainable flooring option worth considering. You can find green versions of many hardwood species, including favorites like oak, birch, walnut, and ash. Eco-friendly wood floors make for durable, long-lasting surfaces that are environmentally responsible and ethically made. 

• Bamboo 

Bamboo boasts similar properties to hardwood, but instead of wood, it’s a hardy wood-like grass. Since bamboo grows back much faster than hardwood, it’s more regenerable.If you're shopping for an eco-friendly bamboo flooring to complement your design aesthetic, look for the FSC certified logo. Non-certified options involve negative ecological factors, like using toxic adhesives or being harvested from non-sustainable sources. 

• Cork

Cork is another eco-friendly wood flooring option, but unlike hardwood floors, it's made from bark. Cork oak tree bark grows back within 3 years, which is significantly faster than standard wood flooring. Its dense, spongy surface also comes in handy in busy rooms like kitchens where people can more comfortably stand.

Appearance

Don’t worry, shopping green doesn’t have to be hard! 

• With FSC certified eco-friendly wood floors, you can choose from all types and colors, including light brown oak, golden birch, and chocolate-hued walnut. Eco-friendly stains can turn your sustainable wood flooring into the perfect shade for your home. 
• Looking for a light-colored flooring to open up your space? Bamboo flooring is naturally blond and can be stained or painted to match your decor. Grain patterns can vary. Horizontal bamboo flooring features a wider grain while vertical bamboo floors have narrow-lined grain.
• Each tile of cork flooring naturally exhibits a unique mixture of colors, features, and patterns. Cork absorbs stains and dyes, making it easy to end up with the right color for your space. 

Durability and Maintenance

The strength of eco-friendly wood flooring depends on the type of hardwood you've chosen. Hickory, maple, white oak, and ash are among the most durable. They age gracefully and hold up to decades of wear from generations of little ones running around.

Eco-friendly bamboo flooring is incredibly resilient and versatile, easily withstanding constant foot traffic in bustling homes and commercial spaces. Bamboo is denser than some hardwoods, including maple and oak. It's also tough to scratch, which is good news for pet owners. 

Dense, spongy cork flooring is a softer eco-friendly flooring option that naturally absorbs noise. Unfortunately, it can fade in direct UV light and react to high humidity by expanding and contracting. 

The good news is that these sustainable flooring options are all easy to clean! Just regularly sweep or vacuum them to remove dirt and debris that can otherwise wear on your floors. 

Lifespan

The average lifespan for well-maintained eco-friendly wood flooring varies widely. It also depends on several factors, including how it's installed, maintained, and worn. Under the best conditions, hardwood floors can last 75 to 100 years, while bamboo flooring may make it 10 to 25 years. Cork flooring is in the middle with an average life expectancy of 40 years or more. 

Whichever option you choose, look into warranty protection like Carpet One Floor & Home offers. You'll rest easy knowing your new investment is protected and beautiful for years to come. 

Installation

The installation of eco-friendly wood flooring is best left to a skilled professional who will ensure it's done properly. Hardwood and bamboo flooring have similar installation options: nail-down, glue-down, or floating. The best method for your eco-friendly wood floors will depend on the species you select and your subflooring.

Cork tiles are generally glued to the subfloor, which must be completely smooth to avoid bumps and indentations showing through the tiles. After being glued down, the surface is sanded for an even tile height and sealed with a protective finish.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring

Aside from the obvious advantage of being better for the environment, each of the sustainable flooring options mentioned have stand-out pros and cons to consider.

• Genuine hardwood floors last the longest of all the green wood flooring options. The colors, tones, and grain patterns available make it easy to match any interior design style. But hardwood flooring doesn't handle moisture well and can warp or buckle under humid conditions. 
• Bamboo flooring installs easily over nearly any subfloor and can withstand fluctuating temperatures with its dimensional stability. On the other hand, bamboo doesn't complement all design styles and can be damaged by water and scratches, much like hardwood.
• Cork flooring is arguably the most comfortable eco-friendly wood flooring . It dampens noise and is warmer underfoot than most hard-surface floors. But this green flooring material may not be the best choice for homes with pets. Pet nails can easily damage cork more than other eco-friendly wood floors. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which type of wood is the most environmentally friendly?

Bamboo is the most environmentally friendly because it's quick to regrow and is as durable as hardwood. However, bamboo is a wood-like grass and not, in fact, wood. If you're specifically looking for the authenticity of hardwood, consider an FSC-certified white ash or oak, which meets the standards for sustainability and offers a lot of durability. 

Are hardwood floors eco-friendly?

Hardwood floors are considered eco-friendly if they meet specific standards set by the US Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). You can identify truly sustainable wood flooring by looking for the FSC certification logo.