Guest Blogger: Simple Tips for Choosing Alternatives to Hardwood Flooring

Guest Blogger #369, Entry #957, February 14, 2012

When it comes to changing the look of your home, few makeovers match the transformational impact of installing hardwood flooring. It simply cannot be denied that wooden planks add a certain amount of warmth and richness to your interior spaces, making them more inviting and luxurious. But beyond the aesthetic it provides, hardwood flooring also stands to increase the value of your home, a benefit that not all renovations can boast. Unfortunately, there is also the little matter of the environment to consider. With more and more consumers seeking eco-friendly options, companies that engage in deforestation are losing traction. So if your heart is set on hardwoods and you’re looking for ways to reconcile your aesthetic desire with your green sensibilities, here are just a few tips that will have you installing the right flooring for your home in no time.

Choose the wood flooring that is right for your lifestyle

Image via: Bamboo Floorings

Alternatives to hardwood flooring

A good place to start is with alternatives to buying newly manufactured hardwood planks, and there are several choices available to consumers these days. Thanks to the rise in demand for eco-friendly flooring options, companies offering reclaimed hardwoods are on the rise. While you may be able to find some of these retailers in your area so that you can examine their wares firsthand, those that cannot locate outlets nearby need only search online to find dozens of companies selling reclaimed hardwood or “antique” flooring. Often it has been cleaned and refurbished, although some leave it in its original state to preserve the patina of age (a desirable feature that really can’t be faked). So in truth, you can get the rare hardwoods you crave without having to worry about supporting clear-cutting operations. And as a bonus, you’ll keep those precious planks from being sent to the landfill, doubly enhancing your positive environmental impact.

Sustainable wood options

But don’t stop there; you have more options to consider. For example, you may be interested in supporting new business by purchasing sustainable wood options. If you’re not keen on the idea of hardwoods, per se, you might find that you like modern options like bamboo, a wood alternative that is drought-resistant and grows to full height within 3-5 years. Additionally, there are companies that produce wooden planks for flooring only from operations that guarantee sound environmental practices (as in replanting what they harvest, ensuring that waste and pollution are kept to a minimum, and hiring only fair-trade labor). Seek out members of the Forestry Stewardship Council to guarantee environmental responsibility. You can even make the outdoors as green as the inside of your home by opting for composite or tigerwood decking, just for example.

There are several alternatives to hardwood flooring

Laminate wood options

Of course, you could also opt for laminates, which are better for the environment and your budget. In some cases, laminate flooring is not as eco-friendly as the average consumer is led to believe. All this means is that you’ll have to do your homework to find a company that uses lumber-yard waste (sawdust and such) and recycled wood fibers to form their composite, eschews formaldehyde (and other VOCs) in lamination, and employs green manufacturing processes. Going green with flooring options is only the beginning of a beautiful friendship with the environment. So when it comes to choosing the right flooring for your home, consider not only the color of the wood and the size of the planks, but also what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint in the process.

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