It’s very clear that more and more people are concerned about our environment and the eco-friendliness of building materials. This is a clear trend in both construction and design.
This same trend also applies to flooring materials. Here’s our list of the top three eco-friendly, commercial-flooring solutions for businesses.
1. Linoleum
Some people hear the word linoleum and think of old I Love Lucy reruns. Linoleum has come a long way since then, and it’s a very trendy and desirable eco-friendly choice these days.
Linoleum is made from linseed oil, which comes from flax. Today, linoleum comes in a big range of colors, and it can be inlaid with complex geometric designs.
The advantages of linoleum are that it’s softer than something like ceramic tile. Being softer, it’s going to have better traction, making it safer.
It’s very easy to clean and it’s very durable. It also doesn’t off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and you can recycle linoleum because it’s a natural product.
2. Bamboo
Bamboo looks and performs similar to wood flooring, but it’s typically slightly cheaper than hardwood flooring.
Good quality bamboo doesn’t off-gas VOC’s, and it’s beautiful to look at. The big advantage to bamboo is that it has better renewable qualities than wood.
Bamboo can be harvested more quickly than hardwood because bamboo grows faster than wood. Interestingly, bamboo has a similar hardness to hardwood on the Janka Hardness Scale, about the same as oak or maple. Some types of bamboo flooring, like stranded bamboo, are even harder.
3. Cork
Cork is another super renewable and recyclable product. Cork is harvested from a special species of oak tree, Quercus suber. Cork trees live for hundreds of years, and the cork bark can be harvested every nine years. Harvesting the cork does not hurt the tree.
A cork floor looks a lot like a wood floor but it’s slightly softer, which means better traction. Cork is naturally very resistant to molds, termites, and it’s also anti-microbial.
All three of these types of flooring mentioned will make a room feel warm and will help to dampen sound. Another benefit of cork is that the pattern you see on top is the same throughout the material. As cork wears, it will continue to look the same.
The price of cork flooring is similar to hardwood flooring, but cork installation is usually slightly less than for hardwood.
None of the materials listed here are new products. But businesses are looking at them with a new eye now that we have an ever-increasing demand for eco-friendly flooring solutions.
All of these flooring materials can be used in business and commercial settings, and they are all budget friendly. These aren’t the only eco-friendly choices, but they are good solid picks.
If you’re looking for a eco-friendly flooring solution for your business, talk to us because we can help.
We are experts at specifying the right product for your commercial flooring projects. @EagleMatFloors is family owned and operated, providing sales and installation of commercial flooring products to Property Managers and Commercial Building Owners in the Washington DC Metro area for over 35 years. Eagle Mat & Floor Products specializes in renovating facilities in the Corporate, Education, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality, Multi-Family and Public Spaces.
For more information please contact us at (301) 762-2000 or sales@eaglemat.net
