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When trying to decide between laminate or hardwood, there are some key factors to consider. Upkeep, the climate in the room, household patterns, and most importantly, budget, are the main topics The Carpet Guys will cover in this blog.  Read on to find out more.

Household Patterns

When a Carpet Guys Design Consultant comes to your home for your Free In-Home Estimate, they will ask questions about your household needs.  Do you have children or pets?  Does the room that needs new flooring get a lot of foot traffic?  What flooring type is currently in the home?  What room will the flooring be installed in?  These are all factors that need to be discussed to assess the best choice for your home.  It is best to have a flooring professional help make this decision.  They can help explain the pros and cons of each flooring type based on your household style of living.

No two homes are alike so neither laminate nor hardwood would be a clear winner in this category. It would depend on the individual needs of the home.

Climate in the Room

While discerning the household’s needs, a good salesperson will also discuss the climate in the room. If your home is in a climate with expansive temperature changes or high humidity levels, then a high-quality laminate would be a clear winner. Areas in northern or Midwest America can have huge temperature changes within a single day.  These adjustments cause the hardwood to expand and contract. Over time, these shifts create gapping and warping. Equally, are the damages to hardwood from excessive moisture.  Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and any room below the grade of the home are not recommended for hardwood.  Today’s high-quality laminates even boast water resistance which no hardwood can do.

In this category, laminate comes out ahead.

Cleaning Laminate or Hardwood

When it comes to the upkeep of hard surface flooring, they are all created equal. A dust mop is the easiest daily cleaner. For any liquid spills, they should be cleaned up immediately and dried with a dry clean towel. Do not allow water or other liquids to sit on laminate or hardwood. Even though there are waterproof high-quality laminates, the core is made of wood fiber and can still be damaged from standing water.

For long-term care, laminate wins the category again.  Being a naturally scratch-resistant surface, it beats hardwood for durability. The protective surface of the laminate also protects it from fading in sunlight. While hardwood will lighten over time if not protected.  Though you can refinish the surface of hardwood, it is very expensive and can only be done a few times before needing replacement.  Whereas laminate boards can be replaced whenever needed.

Cost of Laminate or Hardwood

This brings us to the cost of each product.  Hardwood runs approximately $8-$15 per square foot. Unfortunately, the cost of wood is going up exponentially with rising inflation costs. Whereas laminate costs roughly $2-$5 per square foot. Also, the cost of installation for hardwood requires an experienced and knowledgeable installer. If it is not installed properly, the temperamental material will have problems after installation.  Laminate has a straightforward click-and-lock method for installation and is even the preferred flooring for DIY’ers.  When the product has seen wear-and-tear, it can be almost as much to sand and resurface hardwood.  Laminate boards can be replaced and at their low cost, are easy to keep looking new.

Laminate is a clear winner for the cost of the product, installation, and even long-term. Even when it comes to the resale value of the home, realtors are looking at ANY hard surface being an advantage over carpet or sheet vinyl. So, hardwood may not carry the weight much more than laminate would.

No matter which flooring surface is selected, laminate or hardwood, The Carpet Guys have the best installers and products in the industry.  Call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) to set up your free estimate.  Or go to our schedule page and set up an appointment with one of our friendly Design Consultants.  We can help you decide which high-quality laminate to choose from.

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Would you invite the Abominable Snowman or the carrot-nosed Olaf from the cartoon Frozen into your house for tea? Likely not. They’d make big messes on your floor.

When you come into your house from the driveway in the winter, you may not be as chaotic as Olaf, but your shoes and boots will track water, slush and grit onto your floors or carpets.

Protect your fibers

The fibers in your carpet are sensitive. Salt, water and dirt from shoes get ground into carpet, especially during the winter months. As the water dries, chemicals from road treatment solutions can rise to the top and cause staining.² In turn, sand and grit can fall down into your carpet and degrade your carpet fibers. If this goes on long enough, those fibers can be permanently stained. The backing that holds your carpet together can also be affected.¹

What can you do?

That ounce of prevention

Well, first, it’s best to contain that mess before it starts. Ask your family and friends to take off their boots and shoes before they enter the house. Put a boot tray outside your most-used door to keep everything organized.

That pet paw solution

The weather recently got so cold in Colorado that many dog owners protected their pets’ paws with strap-on booties. While you may remove your dog’s booties before they come back indoors, you may not think to wipe off their feet every time they come in from the yard. Place towels by the door and make drying your pets’ paws a regular habit.

That vacuuming routine

In 2013, Electrolux (a major household appliance brand) conducted a global vacuuming survey. They asked 28,000 people from 23 countries how they felt about vacuuming.³ The company discovered several interesting tidbits:

• Koreans vacuum more often than anyone in the world; 29% vacuum at least once a day.
• Most people worldwide vacuum for less than an hour at a stretch.
• Thirty-eight percent of respondents vacuum in the morning; vacuuming in the evening is rare.
• Sixty-eight percent of respondents vacuum in casual outfits, 21% wear a track suit and 4% wear only their underwear. (If you must know, 2% reported vacuuming in their birthday suits.)
• Of the 18-30 year-old surveyed, 51% listen to music while vacuuming and 6% even dance, listen and vacuum at the same time.

Whatever your habits while dragging your Dyson or Hoover across the floor, your carpet will stay younger longer if you vacuum regularly. You don’t need to vacuum several times a day (11% of Koreans surveyed do), but once a week will keep your house fresher and your carpet newer longer.

That carpet cleaning schedule

As careful as we try to be, our carpets still take a beating in the winter. The family cat might break away before you can clean her paws. Your toddler might squirm out of your arms and run across the carpet in his snow boots. You might knock your hot cocoa over with your elbow while solving the latest Wordle puzzle in front of the fire.

A professional carpet cleaner can help you treat stains quickly with the right solution that won’t damage your carpets and area rugs. Regular professional cleaning (every 12 to 18 months) with high-temperature, truck-mounted steam cleaning equipment can lift grit from your carpets to prevent fiber staining. After the cleaning, your professional carpet cleaner can then apply a new coat of protectant to your carpet.

Your partners in clean

At A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, we can help you keep your carpets fresh all year long. We are happy to answer any carpeting questions you might have and give you a free, written estimate without cost or obligation. Contact us at 720.344.2870 or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

• https://jkcomplete.com/3-things-can-destroy-carpet-prevent-delamination/
• https://www.angi.com/articles/road-salt-wrecks-carpet.htm
• Electrolux-Global-Vacuuming-Survey-2013-Did-you-know.pdf (electroluxgroup.com)

   

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Buyers remorse. It’s the one thing every homeowner weighs as they shop for home improvement items.

When buying a new area rug, for example, you might imagine vibrant colors and added warmth to your room’s decor. Yet when buyers remorse kicks in, you might discover the area rug has too much color, or doesn’t stand up to all your family dishes out.

Top worries before people buy a new area rug include:

• Cost – will I pay too much?
• Size – will the area rug look good once it’s installed in the room?
• Color – will the color and pattern blend well with my decor?
• Longevity – will the area rug look good and wear well for years to come?

If you’ve had any of these fears, we have a few tips for you. Ultimately, homeowners want value. An area rug that looks good and handles well over time is key.

What we recommend is spending a little time thinking about your ultimate goal before you finalize your purchase.

• Where will the area rug reside?
• How much foot traffic will it receive?
• Will food be a constant factor, such as in a dining room?
• Will pets be part of the equation?

Start with the end in mind. You may fall in love with an area rug, but if it isn’t the right material to suit your needs, you’ll hate it almost from the start.

Want your area rug to look good for years to come? Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you extend the life of your purchase, and make you love your area rug for years.

Pay attention to the patterns and colors

Spills and stains will happen. It’s part of residing on the floor. However, you can plan for spills and stains long before laying the area rug into place.

Consider where the new area rug will be. Dining rooms have a far greater chance of being stained than something in the bedroom. Use this to direct you to colors and patterns that will handle well in each unique situation.

Most area rugs today are stain-resistant. Yet area rugs are made from fibers, and fibers will stain over time. A forgiving pattern can hide the stain better, and will ensure it looks good, longer.

Regular maintenance is key

There are many ways you can preserve the fibers. Take off your shoes at the front door. Be careful with food and drink.

Yet because an area rug will always receive foot traffic, occasional messes will frequently land on your area rug.

Vacuuming should be a part of your regular routine. Whether you pull out the vacuum daily or weekly is dependent on the kinds of messes your rug sees. Cleaning regularly allows you to pick up dust and dirt as it sits on the surface, before it has a chance to be ground into the fibers.

If you have pets or kids, your cleaning routine may be more frequent. Vacuuming a few times a week can help remove pet dander before it settles into the fiber.

You should also check with manufacturer’s guidelines. Many have specific guidelines about cleaning schedules, and will tell you what products are considered safe.

If you do spill, clean it right away. Never rub it in; blot the stain instead. The sooner you work to remove it, the better chance you have of helping it disappear from view for good.

We also recommend that you plan on rotating your rug 180 degrees at least once a year. This helps prevent wear marks or fading in certain areas of the rug.

Use an area rug pad

There are two steps to installing a high quality area rug: lay down a rug pad and place the area rug on top. A rug pad acts as a buffer between the hard surface underneath and the fibers of your area rug. The pad acts as a buffer to ensure the fibers aren’t crushed.

A rug pad also acts as a holding agent, preventing the rug from slipping as you walk.

This isn’t the time to skimp on quality. It’s as much about protecting your area rug and floors as it is giving your investment longevity. A poor quality pad will decrease your area rug’s life.

What fibers are used for your area rug production?

Just like carpet, area rugs can be woven from a variety of different fibers.

Synthetic fibers make up the majority of area rugs on the market today. There are four different synthetic fibers used: olefin, nylon, polyester, and the newest, triexta.

If you prefer natural fibers, wool is the staple used for Berber. You might even be able to find other natural fibers such as silk or cotton.

The differences between the two vary greatly.

Natural fibers are considered more eco-friendly. They are made from sustainable resources, and will have the least amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Synthetic fibers are considered to be more stain-resistant, although wool does a fairly good job at protecting the fibers.

Both can be extremely durable, especially if you get a high quality fiber and construction. Pay attention to manufacturer details, as that can lead you to an area rug that will handle well considering your lifestyle.

Size and shape matter

It may seem like an elementary point, but size and shape of your new area rug do matter.

In general, area rugs come in an array of sizes and shapes, with the most common being:

• 2’x3’
• 4’x6’
• 5’x8’
• 6’x9’
• 8’x10’

Of course, you’ll find many larger, and with different measurements to suit every homeowners’ needs – rectangle, square, oval, circle, even octagons and runners.

While area rugs ultimately depend on personality and your individual tastes, there are a few ground rules that help homeowners to be happier with their purchases for the long haul.

Measure your room.

Measure the space where your area rug will reside.

Have measurements of the furniture and design of the room.

Spend some time looking at design sites and magazines for direction.

It can be difficult visualizing an area rug in place before you bring it home. The more research you do ahead of time will help you prepare for the final look you’re trying to achieve.

Then bring your ideas in, and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for. With our knowledge and expertise, we can help you select an area rug perfect for your location, one you’ll love for many years to come.

The post Buying a New Area Rug? Tips For Extending The Life Before You Buy first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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Laminate flooring is a great choice, especially if you are on a budget, or don’t want to spend a lot on flooring. Laminate has been popular for years and is known for being easy to install.  Over the years, the quality of laminate flooring has increased immensely.  There are some really innovative and authentic designs, at a high quality.  You can choose laminate that looks like wooden flooring or even stone or ceramic tiles. Read More

Hardwood flooring can be expensive. That’s why many homeowners prefer to remodel one room at a time, adding new flooring to each room as they update. 

But that causes a dilemma that’s widely debated among designers:

• Is mixed hardwood flooring an acceptable design trend inside a home? 
• Is it okay to have two different wood floors, especially when they’re close together or touching?
• Can you mix different hardwood flooring brands, and not create a mishmash appearance when moving from room to room? 
• What about using different planks, different materials, and different tones as you install a wood floor in your home?

What mixed hardwood flooring really means

Flooring is never an exact science. What works for one home might not work for another. What’s recommended by one designer may be shunned by the next. In design, rules exist. At the same time, rules are meant to be broken. 

That’s because every homeowner has a different approach to design. 

Maybe you’re building your dream home one room at a time. Hardwood is expensive; yet you know if it’s well cared for, it can last decades. Why not install one room at a time? 

Or maybe you’re looking for ways to display your individuality. You love different looks, and want personality in your home. Why can’t you mix different types of hardwood? 

With a little bit of research, you can find your ideal design displayed online. Using visuals as your queue, we can help you create a floor you’ll be proud to walk on every single day.

When we refer to mixing hardwood flooring, we believe it can refer to two different things. 

First, mixing hardwood can mean adding a particular product to each individual room, each in its own time. This allows you to remodel based on budget and time constraints, and gives you flexibility of selecting products for the project when the work is performed.

Second, mixing hardwood can also refer to using two different types or styles of hardwood planks, and using them to create a unique flooring pattern in one area of your home. If you like both a light and darker color, why not mix the two together?

Can you do that? 

Why not? 

The look and feel of your home’s decor should always be about what’s most pleasing to you. If you do any searching online for design ideas, you’ll find many opportunities waiting for you. 

Hardwood in its natural form contains many different undertones, colors, and shades. Even if you stick with one product line, you’ll often find planks with other characteristics, personality that shines when it’s laid into place. That adds depth and character to your space, making your design truly one of a kind. 

Ask yourself: Do I like uniformity? Do I prefer creativity? Am I okay showcasing differences as I move from room to room? Use this to guide you to the right choices. 

Advantages of using the same flooring throughout your home

If you love hardwood and want it in a variety of rooms in your home, should you use the same product throughout? For many homeowners, it’s the only way.

By installing one product, one color, one design, you increase a natural flow throughout your home. It creates a calm and soothing image as you move from room to room. 

For some fans of hardwood, this is a great way to create harmony in every room. Rather than focusing on each room as an individual, you set the stage for the personality of your entire home. 

This also allows you to create your base with a flooring choice you’ll love for years to come. While it might be a bigger hit to your budget upfront, you’ll know you have a solid base to work with for years – decades – into the future. Because hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times, even if you want to change things up, you can always play with the color. This can lead to cost savings throughout the life of owning your home. 

If minimalism and conformity are important to you, a uniform hardwood base may be perfect for you. It’s less time thinking about how things flow together. It creates a stunning appearance in every room of your home. 

Advantages of mixed hardwood flooring throughout your home

Have you entered other homes and felt a sense of sameness that isn’t necessarily appealing? If you’ve seen one hardwood floor, you’ve seen them all. “Boring” is the only word that comes to mind as you see an endless amount of sameness throughout the open concept floorplan. 

That’s not a feeling every homeowner likes. Or wants. 

And that’s okay. 

Mixing hardwood allows you to let your creative juices flow. 

If you want to clearly define the purpose of each room, decorating each separately allows you to design based on needs. Kitchens are messier than bedrooms. Having more color, character, and texture may make it easier to hide the messes that undoubtedly will happen every time you step into the kitchen to cook. Bedrooms are meant for tranquility – maybe a calmer texture and a softer color are just what you were looking for. 

Manufacturers also know that people have different tastes in design. If you stick with one manufacturer, you’ll find an array of stains and color options, yet the quality of the product remains the same. Instead of worrying about how grains and textures will match, vary the colors, tones, and materials, letting the floor be your canvas and creating a dynamic new look. 

Mixing your hardwood flooring as you go along also gives you more flexibility when things go wrong/ If your child “forgets” to mention the spilled juice box for hours, you can easily replace a few planks and get right back to living. No worrying about matching – you can work in smaller areas and achieve the same results. 

Can you have mixed hardwood flooring throughout your home? 

Why not?

Let your creative juices flow, and create the home of your dreams. 

The post Mixed Hardwood Flooring May Be Just What You’re Looking For first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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For homeowners, the task of turning any house into a home can be quite the arduous one. With so many options and styles to choose from to when planning any type of remodeling work, making the right decision can sometimes feel overwhelming. Nowhere is this more apparent than choosing what to replace your floor with. That carpet tracks in dirt and is beginning to develop an unsightly odor. There’s a solution for that—say goodbye to the world of carpet forever and embrace the hardwood floor. We’ve made a list of reasons why it’s a good idea.

Easy to Clean

With carpets, there’s vacuuming, shampooing, and the longevity isn’t exactly known for being long-lasting. Hardwood floors are easy to clean, a rag can handle most messes and dust is taken care of with a quick sweep. Not to mention, carpets can become storehouses of odors and bacteria.

Strength

With very little in the way of maintenance needed, a hardwood floor can last an entire lifetime and then some. When the right material is used, a hardwood floor can sustain itself with relatively very little in the way of maintenance.

Style

Popular styles ebb and flow like the tide. What’s popular one year might be completely forgotten by the next. If you look at any lifestyle magazine from years past, you’ll find that hardwood floors have been very consistent in terms of staying power and popularity. I mean, when was the last time you heard someone talk about how much they love shag carpeting?

An Investment

One phrase you’ll often hear when hardwood floors get discussed is “long-lasting.” Having a hardwood floor installed is investing in your future. Not only will they add to the value of your home, but you’ll notice they also improve the quality of air as well.

Variety

While carpeting tends to be very bland and formulaic, the variety and shades of color you get from a hardwood floor are vast. There are several types of wood grains and varieties, and they can even be stained to create the ideal aesthetic that your house needs. For that rustic feel, install an unfinished hardwood floor, or for a more refined touch, possibly some sanded maple. The textures are endless and so are the possibilities.

Flooring.org

With a name like Flooring.org, it’s easy to see why we’re the flooring experts. One visit to our site and you’ll be amazed at the expansive inventory and affordable prices we have to offer. Hardwood floors can turn any house into a home. Give us a call today at 1-800-689-9006 with any questions.

This post appeared first on http://www.flooring.org

At a glance, the differences between laminate vs luxury vinyl plank flooring are barely noticeable. Both come in styles designed to mimic the look of real wood or stone. These two floors are available in a click-and-lock installation method, and both are less expensive than the natural materials they imitate.

To help you determine which of these products is best suited for your home’s unique environment, we decided to weigh the potential pros and cons of each based on cost, performance, and overall ease of maintenance.

Cost of Laminate vs Luxury Vinyl

The potential cost of installing luxury vinyl flooring or laminate in your home boils down to three main factors:

• Quality of the product
• Whether you intend to do the work yourself
• The tools and trim needed

On average, a good-quality laminate product runs $6-$14 per square foot (not including all the extras). The cost of luxury vinyl flooring is approximately $5-$12 per square foot, with additional charges for installation. Expect to pay an additional cost of $5-$10 per square foot to cover installation costs and transition or trim pieces.

Comparison: LVT/LVP and Laminate are EVEN with the cost category

Performance

Flooring manufacturers use high-density fiberboard (a combination of resin and wood byproducts) to create the core of laminate. Then, they attach a photo of real wood covered with a wear layer. Lastly, they add a coating of aluminum oxide for protection. Laminate is popular with many homeowners because it is scratch-resistant and cost-efficient.

As a wood-based product, laminate flooring is not recommended for areas of the home with excessive moisture or humidity. Over time, high humidity is likely to cause buckling or gapping in laminate floors. If you need flooring that can withstand heavy foot traffic laminate flooring may suit your needs.

Luxury vinyl is available in two styles: tile, better known as LVT; and plank, better known as LVP. LVT mimics the appearance of stone, marble, and slate. Whereas luxury vinyl plank mimics the appearance of hardwood. Depending on the style and product you choose, there are two methods for installing luxury vinyl products. The “floating method” is when the planks or tiles interlock but do not attach to the subfloor. There is also the “glue-down method” which is when the product is glued to the substrate.

Luxury vinyl’s molecular structure makes it durable, dimensionally stable, and impervious to moisture. If you need new flooring in your basement, bathroom, or kitchen, luxury vinyl is a smart choice.

Comparison: Luxury Vinyl wins performance

Ease of Maintenance

Laminate and luxury vinyl flooring’s smooth surface makes it easy to clean. A microfiber duster or a broom is sufficient to remove any crumbs, dirt, or dust. Unfortunately, using a wet mop on laminate flooring will eventually lead to buckling, swelling, and chipping of the planks. Luxury vinyl flooring takes the lead in this category of our comparison because of its moisture-resistant properties.

Comparison: Luxury Vinyl wins ease of maintenance

If you live in Southeast Michigan and would like additional information on luxury vinyl, laminate, hardwood, or carpet, schedule a free in-home estimate from The Carpet Guys. You can also call us at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897). We have knowledgeable Design Consultants that will help you decide which flooring type will be best for your home and budget. And, The Carpet Guys employ the best installation teams in the industry. So feel confident that every aspect of your flooring will be top of the line!

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More than ever, sustainable living starts at home. Why not start at the bottom … installing green flooring sets the stage for every eco-friendly item you bring into your living space. 

According to a report by the New Climate Economy, we could save as much as $26 trillion by 2030 if we move to more sustainable living.

As a population, we are only starting to realize the impact we can make even through small changes. A study by Southern Cross University found that 93 percent of all those surveyed indicated a general concern for the environment. With wildfires, plastic pollution, climate change, and more at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we all want to do what we can to make a difference. 

Sometimes the best place to start is at home. 

What is sustainable living?

According to Wikipedia, sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and one’s personal resources. It’s also known as net-zero living. 

In practice, it’s about reducing their carbon footprint. It includes altering home design and  transportation methods, energy consumption, and everyday living consumption. 

How does this differ from green living?

Green living is a lifestyle choice. It’s about making conscious choices that preserve and conserve the Earth’s natural recourse and habitats. They are done so with an environmentally ethical, eco-friendly outcome in mind. 

Green refers to environmental movements in general, while sustainability has clear-cut guidelines to put into practice. You strive for sustainability after you start bringing green living practices into your life. 

How does green flooring play into all of this? 

Choosing to increase green living means becoming more aware of the products and materials you bring into your home. 

According to the US Green Building Council, as you’re building or remodeling a home, going green allow you to:

• Increase energy savings
• Increase water efficiency
• Reduce CO2 emissions
• Improve indoor environmental quality
• Select resources based on their impact 

When selecting green flooring, it means paying attention to:

• How the flooring is manufactured
• Where the resources come from
• What production looks like
• How the manufacturer approaches eco-friendly processes
• The impact of the flooring once it’s brought into your home

Bamboo flooring is an excellent example of green flooring. It’s environmentally friendly because of how fast it grows. A bamboo grove can yield 20 times more timber than trees in the same location. It will also release 35 percent more oxygen in the process. And all of that can occur without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. 

What to look for in green flooring choices

Before you start looking for the right flooring choice for your home, it’s important to define exactly what to look for in an eco-friendly option. 

First, start with the manufacturing process used to create the flooring before it ever winds up on the retailers’ shelves. You’re looking for an option that offers natural and renewable resources. 

This can be subjective, depending on your goals and desires. Bamboo is eco-friendly in that a single bamboo tree can be harvested in three to five years. Compare that to a standard tree used in hardwood flooring production, requiring 40 to 60 years before harvesting. 

That doesn’t make one ultimately better than the other. It still requires research on your part to determine ethical practices all around. Trees used for hardwood flooring can be sustainable if the manufacturer cares about the process. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a certification program that ensures wood is harvested legally and sustainably. It certifies the wood comes from responsibly-managed forests. That gives you knowledge of knowing you’re selecting a manufacturer that cares about the process, and gives you a product that will stand the test of time. 

Next, pay attention to the life cycle of the flooring you’re installing. Even if you install a floor made from natural materials, if it needs replacing every few years, or requires unhealthy practices for installation or removal, it can fall off the sustainable list. 

In the case of hardwood flooring, for example, while it can take upwards of 60 years for the resource to be harvested, once it’s installed in your home, it can last for decades. With proper care, your hardwood can be a great flooring addition for many years. You can refinish it and give it new life when it starts wearing down. Even if you remove it, hardwood can often be recommissioned and used in other ways. It’s a product that keeps on giving. 

Hardwood also has the advantage of being biodegradable. If it winds up in the landfill, hardwood breaks down naturally over time. Of course, this is dependent on chemicals used on the surface. But in its natural form, hardwood is a great green flooring option. 

Finally, pay attention to the toxic chemicals in your flooring. This includes the entire life cycle. Consider toxins used in production, chemicals in adhesives or finishes, as well as harmful byproducts used in production or removal. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful both to the air quality and your health. The Department of Health lists VOCs as a large group of chemicals found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. Common examples include benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.

While VOCs are found in things like carpet, vinyl flooring, composite wood products, paint, varnish, caulk, and adhesives, they are also found in everyday items like cleaning products, cosmetics, and gasoline. Once you learn more about VOCs, you can pay attention to everything you bring into your life, making better choices to protect both the air quality and the health of everyone in our communities. 

Is green flooring the right choice for you? 

Is green flooring in your future? Are you trying to make smarter choices with the products and materials you bring into your home? 

A great place to start is by coming in and walking through our product lines. We can point you to some of the greenest, most sustainable flooring choices on the market. 

How can we help you select your next flooring? 

The post Why Green Flooring Can Help You With Sustainable Living first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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Are you shopping for new flooring? Are you looking for green materials?

Are you confused by some of the terminologies in today’s flooring industry?

We get it. We see words like “reclaimed wood”, “sustainable wood”, even green flooring used in ways that leave us scratching our heads.

When what you want is flooring with a lower carbon footprint, materials that don’t harm the earth, and have it look great in your house too, what should you do?

Let’s look at the industry as a whole, and what these words mean and how they’re used in the marketplace today.

How sustainable flooring became a marketing trend

When homeowners first started installing flooring in their homes, they looked to natural materials to make their floors warmer, more comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. Over time, manufacturers looked for ways to improve production, get flooring products faster into the marketplace, and materials that were easy to produce and use for consumption.

That pushed a variety of materials out there, not all of them healthy for the environment. Or for people.

As we recognized that, the concept of sustainable living grew.

Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials. It also uses a sustainable life cycle. This includes harvesting, production, use, and disposal.

As awareness grew, various organizations stepped in to assure practices were truly sustainable and offered benefits to society as a whole.

The USGBC (US Green Building Council) was established to transform how buildings were designed, constructed, and operated. Their goal is to ensure buildings and communities use environmentally and socially responsible materials that improve the quality of life.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the rating system used by the USGBC during all levels of project production. It utilizes a variety of tools and point-based systems to help every team member throughout the life cycle make wise choices about the materials they use.

BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software measures the environmental performance of building products at all stages of life. It’s a way to help people select cost-effective, environmentally-friendly building products for a project.

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sets standards for responsible forest management. This helps bring lumber to market now while preserving solid, healthy forests for a viable future.

Green Seal is a universal symbol of health and environmental leadership. It’s a way of recognizing those companies that use a safer, more sustainable way of delivering products and services to the market.

These are just a few of the many organizations that are doing their part to ensure a healthier world. Pay attention to where your flooring material comes from to learn more about the best practices used by individual manufacturers.

What is sustainable wood?

When you’re looking for hardwood flooring, sustainable means wood that comes from sustainable management practices.

It starts with forest management. Is the wood harvested in a healthy way to ensure the forest has sustainability for generations to come? That’s where markings from organizations like the FSC can help you recognize the ethical behavior of a particular manufacturer. Going with a reputable source will ensure the company sticks within certain guidelines. In the online world, trusting a “generic” source for cost only could get you less-than-stellar results with questionable business practices.

VOC (volatile organic compounds) are emitted as gasses from certain solids or liquids. They include a variety of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to human health. When flooring materials such as wood are created in unethical manners, they often use the cheapest materials and production processes to get the product to market. This means those harmful chemicals can live in your flooring, releasing gasses inside your home. By paying attention to the manufacturer and what organizations they belong to, you can reduce the potential harmful production methods a company uses to create a product or material.

How is sustainable wood different from reclaimed wood?

Reclaimed wood is also sometimes referred to as antique wood. It’s a high-quality wood taken from a variety of resources, ready to be reused. The wood is usually taken from existing structures that are in the process of being demolished or removed. Instead of being disposed of in landfills, the wood is upcycled and reused to create new building materials.

Because the original resource is important, you should also pay attention to where the reclaimed wood comes from. FSC has guidelines on reclaimed wood use too. Reclaimed wood can come from a variety of resources, but many come from old buildings that are beyond repair, primarily barn and rural structures before the 1930s.

Hardwood, in general, can last for decades. Even when not properly cared for, as is the case in old abandoned structures, it still has a sound design that, with a bit of care, can bring it back to life.

Reclaimed wood will almost always have an old, rustic look to it. Because it uses wood taken from places with older production processes, you’ll see different characteristics in the wood supply. That can be a welcome addition to many building projects, both commercial and residential.

Reclaimed wood is sustainable. But sustainable will not always be reclaimed.

What’s right for you – sustainable or reclaimed wood?

You’ll find sustainable wood choices in a variety of flooring options. Thanks to technology, many are easy to work with, easy to install, and make great additions to any building project you may be working on. They provide a smaller carbon footprint than other resources, meaning you’ll know you’re getting a product that can help you achieve whatever goals you’re looking for.

Reclaimed wood has many of the same benefits as sustainable wood. Since the wood is taken from older projects, you can also get character and personality you might not find in other building products. It can truly create a visually appealing look and feel to wherever you install it.

No matter what material you choose – sustainable wood or reclaimed wood – be sure you trust the resource where you buy it. That way, you’re ensured to get a high-quality product that will work well in your space for years to come.

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