We’ve touched on this before, but now that Planet Earth took home the best actor Oscar at the 88th Academy Awards a few Sundays back we thought we’d give a few more tips to making environmentally responsible choices when choosing and installing hardwood floors. Of course, accepting the award on behalf of the planet was Leonardo DiCaprio, and his call to action on climate change and protecting our planet was heard loud and clear, and we couldn’t agree more.
Get hardwood flooring products that are grown responsibly and sustainably
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international not-for-profit organization that help manage forests responsibly and sustainably. When you are buying your hardwood floors, talk to our craftsmen about choosing products that are overseen by the FSC to minimize your carbon footprint.
Choosing to use recycled, reclaimed, or salvaged wood from old buildings or ships is a way to further reduce your carbon footprint, also ensuring that no wood goes to waste or ends up in landfills.
Choose non-toxic hardwood flooring installation methods
Once you’re ready to install your floors, make sure that no materials with volatile organic compounds are being used. If your floors are being glued down, ask your contractor about using non-toxic or reduced VOC products. But, the most eco-friendly installation method is going to be the nail down or floating installation methods.
Now that you’ve made the responsible choices for your hardwood floors, all you have to do it keep them clean and sit back and enjoy your act of environmental responsibility for the next 100 years. You may need to sand and refinish your floors at some point, but that can all be done using water based finishes.
Colorado’s largest hardwood flooring retailer and contractor
Should you live to see the day when you need to redo old hardwood floors, make sure that your floors are being reused or recycled, completing the circle of socially and environmentally responsible hardwood flooring practices.
Schedule a free consultation with a hardwood flooring expert and learn more about how to be environmentally responsible when choosing hardwood flooring products and services.
