Angie's List Tips > Bamboo flooring is just one green flooring choice

Posted: 7/14/2009 12:37:20 PM | 37 comments
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There are sustainable, beautiful green flooring options for every room in your home, in a variety of materials. Here are just a few popular options.

Wood options:
  • Cork floors are made from the bark of living cork trees that aren’t harmed when the bark is harvested—it regenerates, actually absorbing more carbon than a cork tree that doesn’t have its bark harvested. Many cork floors are actually made from recycled “leftovers” from wine-stopper production and have a great textural look. It’s available in a variety of colors and styles, plus cork is also a good choice for helping eliminate extra sound and it retains warmth well, too.
  • Bamboo floors are made from bamboo stems which can be harvested about every six years, making them a sustainable material to gather for flooring. They’re durable and resist humidity well, provided they had time to “cure” in the space they’re going to be laid for about three days prior to installation, and they’re stronger and less expensive than hardwood floors made from other woods.
Tile options:
  • Recycled glass tiles are made from at least 25 percent waste glass from windows, mirrors, bottles, jars and other post-consumer waste products, which are combined with minerals like clays and silica. They’re low-maintenance and come in a variety of sizes, colors and textures, just like non-recycled glass tiles. Old recycled glass tiles can even be recycled again and made into new recycled glass tiles, and production of recycled glass tiles can be produced using up to 50 percent less energy than other similarly-sized tiles.
  • Some ceramic tiles are also being made with recycled glass and can have the look of stone or terra cotta tiles while keeping things green.
Carpeting options:
  • Wool carpet is a great option for both wall-to-wall carpeting and area rugs. Wool carpet has no off-gassing and typically doesn’t use any chemicals, even on the backing, so it’s perfect for the chemically sensitive that also want something warm underfoot. Wool also wears well, and because they’re woven from a natural fiber it’s completely sustainable.
  • Carpet tiles are a good idea for green families with small children. If a spill or stain occurs, simply pop the tile out and replace it with a new tile. Carpet tiles are available in both natural and synthetic fibers in several colors and styles.
Related: How to buy green flooring
Comments
Patsy
cork is endangered. Flooring, designers, etc need to be aware if they are talking green. Talk to the wine industry, they struggle with the issue. CORK IS ENDANGERED!!!!!
7/14/2009 7:55:16 PM
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Patsy
CORK IS ENDANGERED!
It is not green.
7/14/2009 7:55:54 PM
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Tom
Cork isn't endangered. It's just another silly myth. http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/green-myth-buster-1-cork-endangered
7/15/2009 8:29:14 AM
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Linda
I don't know about endangered; the hillsides of spain are covered in cork trees and they strip the cork and the tree grows more layers.
7/16/2009 4:56:37 PM
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Karr
My understanding is that cork is not endangered, but the cork industry is: wineries are moving toward synthetic corks, and we need to find alternative uses for the sustainable product. CORK IS GREEN!
7/16/2009 5:07:49 PM
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Doug
What about old fashioned Linoleum? Is that not a green option? Made out of boiled linseed oil and cork flour on jute backing. I have used this in my kitchen and it is a beautiful, warm finish.
7/16/2009 5:24:33 PM
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LORACRT
We have had two water leaks in our kitchen, so we are considering yinyl. Green? Smelly. Declasse,???
All coments appreciated.
7/16/2009 5:27:03 PM
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Judy
If you're thinking green, why not consider reclaimed wood flooring? Old-growth wood salvaged from antique buildings is not only eco-friendly -- it's also gorgeous. And you can get nice wide planks, unlike bamboo.
7/16/2009 6:10:32 PM
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Ken
Several years ago we installed Marmoleum in our mudroom, laundry room, and lavatory. So far, it has stood up very well to our abuse. It is used in schools and hospitals in addition to homes.
7/16/2009 6:17:54 PM
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Kaye
Cork trees need to be harvested every year, so using cork is very green, UNLESS we are using more cork than the annual harvest which I don't think is possible. It is like raising peaches. You can eat peaches until the season supply is used up. Then you have to wait until next year to eat peaches. I think it is the same way with cork.
7/16/2009 6:45:51 PM
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Laurie
We were considering bamboo for a family room floor but were told it wouldn't hold up well with dogs - would scratch. Is anyone living with bamboo flooring and a large dog?
7/16/2009 6:56:56 PM
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Steven Woodall
I own apartments and use the commercial grade (like in hospitals, grocery stores, etc)vinyl tiles in the kitchens. I get the black ones (don't show scuff marks) from Home Depot. Recently I've had to special order the black as they don't typically carry it in the store. Anyway, put a coat of wax on it and it's beautiful. Contrasts nicely with my white kitchen cabinets. Plus if one gets damaged it's easy to replace.
7/16/2009 7:11:08 PM
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jabailey
I have high end carpeting, as well as high end laminate flooring. I just installed the best floor I've ever had - a "light commercial" grade vinyl that looks EXACTLY like pecan wood. Warm, no buckling, washes like a breeze. What is going to make this "green" is the wear factor- it won't need replacing for many, many years.
7/16/2009 7:28:41 PM
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Mary ellen
Does anyone have experience with recycled rubber for a basement flooring option? Any ideas on the cost and performance relative to a floating tile or engineered wood?
7/16/2009 7:28:57 PM
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PK
Linoleum is definitely a sustainable flooring option. It's comparable in price to cork. I'm getting some for my kitchen from a place called Eco Flooring in Madison WI (their website has info).
7/16/2009 7:29:53 PM
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Kathleen
While researching how to recycle all the wine corks I'm always accumulating I found that Austrailia has a big effort that they run through the Girl Guides. The corks are used in to produce many products from cork flooring to cork soles for shoes. So cork could be a very green product.
7/16/2009 7:30:05 PM
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Molly
There are several manufacturers of cork flooring who are turning to the wine industry for their cork - My wine shop is part of an initiative to send our corks to a company that they will turn recycle as flooring. I hope more of my customers will take advantage of this, as I hate to throw them away!
(As for cork being endangered, it depends on who you talk to...I've heard both sides of the story, and regardless of whether it's endangered or not - I still like the idea of it being reused and not thrown away.)
7/16/2009 8:44:04 PM
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Molly
There are several manufacturers of cork flooring who are turning to the wine industry for their cork - My wine shop is part of an initiative to send our corks to a company that they will turn recycle as flooring. I hope more of my customers will take advantage of this, as I hate to throw them away!
(As for cork being endangered, it depends on who you talk to...I've heard both sides of the story, and regardless of whether it's endangered or not - I still like the idea of it being reused and not thrown away.)
7/16/2009 8:44:28 PM
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amber
Loracrt, please not vinyl. First of all it is plastic,definitely not green, and second of all it is ugly. If you think you ever want to sell that house, go for a nice big tile or stone.
7/16/2009 10:09:13 PM
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Chris
Actually, Concrete flooring is the new green! It's beautiful and lasts the life of the home. It dosen't need to be replaced either. No more allergies, and it's easy to clean.
7/16/2009 10:39:30 PM
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Melissa
How about green finishes for hardwood? I used Osmo Polyx, a natural wax-oil finish that looks great and can be spot-repaired.
7/16/2009 11:00:43 PM
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Linda W
I have a cork floor and love it. Cork is not endangered, it came from Spain. I would do it again. I have RA and I can stand on my floor and cook. It is great in the kitchen and never need to be stained or any cleaning solvets on it. Just good old water and a few drops of dish soap.
7/16/2009 11:41:56 PM
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Denise
Some of the new vinyl coming out is just beautiful...I just did my whole basement in two types...wood grain and stone for the downstairs entrance and laundry room...I think it looks really great and I didn't by the top of the line stuff. Also, for cleaning, it's the absolute best...it takes all kinds of abuse...trust me, I have two dogs and four cats. :D
7/16/2009 11:57:33 PM
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Donnie Peek
Yall are right Cork is endangered...Reclaimed wood is everywhere.Its not always the cheapest option but I try to keep my reclaimed wood affordable. Dont buy Cork!
7/17/2009 12:57:33 AM
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Evanne Levin/ELG Design
Yes, Doug, linoleum IS a green option, and modern linoleum, found under different brand names, has made great leaps forward in colors & styles since the 1950's versions.
7/17/2009 2:32:55 AM
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Eric
try reclaimed wood flooring, solid wood, quite often of a better quality then you find today..
7/17/2009 6:30:23 AM
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Donnie Peek
If you want to see beautiful pictures of Reclaimed Flooring that is a much better option than Cork or Bamboo go here.
http://www.interstateflooringandstairs.com/index.html

When your buying green also remember to Buy American!
7/17/2009 11:59:32 AM
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Lisa
To cork or not to cork; TGIF and I'm thirsty.
7/17/2009 9:48:43 PM
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Janet
Vinyl is very ungreen. It will end up in a landfill. Cork is very renewable, durable, comfortable, beautiful and recycleable. Check out some of the new design that are stranded with elderberry wood or us the outside of the bark. Gorgeous and recycleable. Reclaimed wood is gorgeous and expensive. Please consider the energy required to reclaim (sometimes it's trees pulled up from under lakes) and turn it into a saleable product. Bamboo is also renewable, but it has to be shipped to the US. A matte finish is less likely to show impressions from big dog toe nails. Also the darker carmelized, and those stranded to mix color hide more.
7/19/2009 10:19:05 AM
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Nancy K
What do you recommend for a kitchen for someone who is chemically sensitive and has fibromyalgia and tarsal tunnel syndrome in the feet?. Linda W I would like to know if your cork has a special finish on it or any odor. I do not have the option of finishing while I am home and cannot leave my house for long periods of time. Also if it prefinished, I do not want to having to redo the floor in the near future.
7/19/2009 2:19:41 PM
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Kim S
We used Rubber-Cal recycled rubber flooring in our basement exercise room with great results: very durable, firm yet resilient. Drawbacks: some spills seem to be absorbed into the rubber; requires lots of strength to install (came in a gigantic roll which we measured, cut, and installed)
7/22/2009 1:16:34 PM
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Sharon
How is cork to clean? I am considering cork flooring for my new sewing room and am concerned about sweeping up all the threads that will fall to the floor.
7/23/2009 11:34:45 AM
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pam
wanting something cushy and easy to maintain in the basement
9/10/2009 2:51:36 AM
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Sally
How do you treat a concrete floor? I have an amazingly smooth and glossy cement floor and want to paint it with a green product. It is not the new, colored type just medium gray 1990's cement. Anybody know about how I can do this or where I can get info.?
9/26/2009 1:13:13 PM
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craig guru
We did a little used home office in a light to medium finish bamboo. While it looks very nice, warm, no harsh sound when walked upon with hard shoes, we would never use it again. It was scratched after the third day. Shaw laminate in kitchen never had this problem.We thought bamboo was naturally hard surfaced, but something must be done in processing to it to soften its top layer.Just as bad as an expensive pin floor a family member had laid through whole house. Scratches, scratches.Friend in real estate tells clients, no! to bamboo, too.
12/13/2009 11:23:25 AM
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Carol
I took out the tile floor in my kitchen and put in vinyl. I am very pleased with the vinyl. I have a bad back and when I entertain I am standing all day in the kitchen. I find that tile and concrete are very hard surfaces that aggravate my back problem if I stand on them to long.
12/17/2009 12:00:00 AM
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Carol
Cork is not endangered. Not at all.
There are many independent certifications for hardwood to assure a "green" product. Today the trend is to evaluate the entire life cycle of the product. An org like the Forest Stewardship Program has a criteria of about 30 steps that must be attained to be certified by them. Included are: no child labor, no added urea formaldehyde, the forestry must be sustainable, when going into an foreign area the indigenous people must be hired-- and they must be paid fair wage. This is tracked to the team providing the installation. It's just not enough now to state "all bamboo, anything, is green". You have to pay attention to it's entire footprint.
2/17/2010 5:12:31 PM
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