Environment

Environmental friendly issues are assuming greater importance with each passing day and the flooring industry too has had to deal with the delicate problems of sustainability and health. Laws are being introduced to protect deforestation as well as eliminate the use of certain harmful substances used in the manufacture of carpets.

At Floors Direct we guarantee that the European laminate suppliers we select are members of the Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ensuring all our imported European board conforms to European standards and the wood material is selected only from controlled forests. Manufacturers replant trees harvested for the flooring thereby conforming to responsible forestation. The factory that Floors Direct imports from in Germany, uses the steam it produces to generate electricity, to run the factory and at times supplies excess electricity back to the national grid. Pine trees that are abundant in Europe are used for the base of the laminate flooring. Trees used by Kronotex Germany are from forest thinning projects and managed plantations.

There are several flooring options available now; that are suitable for the environment, as well as for people suffering from various illnesses. These kinds of environmental friendly flooring choices avoid the use of toxic chemicals in their composition that are good for people afflicted with ailments, especially those suffering from allergies, eczema and asthma. Some of these eco-friendly options are:

Bamboo floors

Bamboo feels and looks like hardwood and offers the same appeal as wood. By virtue of it being grass and not wood which can be easily replenished, cutting down of bamboo does not pose a threat to the environment in any major way. The bamboo used in flooring is harvested from managed plantations and grows back in about three to four years. Bamboo floors look sleek and stylish and are much cheaper than solid wood. Moreover they are strong and versatile and more resistant to water than timber. It is a favourite of most eco-conscious homeowners.

Cork flooring

Cork is a sustainable material got from the bark of the tree without damaging the tree from which it is removed. In fact harvesting of the cork bark stimulates the growth of the tree and thus it acts as an ideal substitute for wood. Cork flooring feels soft and warm underfoot and comes in several colours and designs. It is not only durable but helps to reduce the transmission of sound, vibration and heat making it a great insulator.

Recycled rubber flooring

Shredded tires are used to make rubber carpet padding and rubber flooring. Every 100 square feet of flooring prevents at east 7-8 tires from being dumped into the landfill. It is waterproof, hygienic and durable and comes in textured or smooth surface.

All these above mentioned products are available at Floors Direct.

Bamboo

Floors Direct, the leaders in wood and laminated flooring, now stock Bamboo Flooring.

Strand woven bamboo flooring is a natural product derived directly from the stem of the plant, which grows wild in the mountainous regions of China. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly, rapidly renewable resource. It is self-regenerating and grows to full maturity within five years.

Besides the environmentally friendly nature of Bamboo flooring, it is also manufactured with minimum waste and pollution. All parts of the bamboo plant are utilized to produce a multitude of products, which are harder and more resistant to moisture than popular hard woods such as Red Oak and Cherry.

Processed bamboo is harder and more durable than most old-growth forest hardwoods. With a tensile strength superior to cold rolled steel, it has a weight-to-strength ratio surpassing that of graphite and is regarded as the strongest growing plant on earth.

Why bamboo is the smart wood alternative

Twice as indentation resistant as Red Oak (it gets a Janka Hardness rating of 2600 versus the 1200 rating of Red Oak).
Dimensionally stable with minimal expansion and contraction
Abrasion resistant
No stain is added and the natural colour of the plant is used
It has a superior finish and is scratch resistant
It is UV-resistant and wonít fade
Hypoallergenic
Non-pollutant with no CFCs or VOC emissions
Easy to install
Easy to maintain - sweep or vacuum the floor or use a damp mop with wood floor cleaner.

Why bamboo is environmentally smart

It is environmentally sustainable - the plant naturally regenerate every five years as opposed to the replanting and slow growth of traditional hardwood trees.

The floors are available in 3 colour options: natural, suede and coffee. The variation in colour is determined by the season in which the bamboo is harvested. When bamboo is harvested in spring and summer, the stem is full of moisture, resulting in a darker internal colour. When harvested during autumn and winter the stem contains much less moisture, resulting in a lighter internal colour.

Bamboo natural and carbonated vertical

Growing in popularity, these bamboo floors are really stunning, with the natural knuckle of the bamboo giving it the look and the fine grains of the vertical face. Being a vertical cut makes this floor one of the most stable in the solid range. The carbonized colour is similar to that of Oak. Bamboo flooring is one of the hardest natural materials available for flooring and is an excellent alternative to hard wood flooring. Bamboo has a higher fibre rating than any hardwood, which gives it exceptional hard wearing qualities.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate Flooring and Its Impact on The Environment

Laminate flooring was developed in the early 1980's. The product is built as separate component layers, then fused together under heat and pressure. Laminate flooring has evolved quickly in recent years, filling a need for a good looking, durable flooring that is functional, easy to install and has a good environmental story to tell. So how does all this impact the environment?

Laminate flooring has the following attributes:

Low VOC emission levels
Utilizes a large percentage of renewable resource materials, primarily in core
No heavy metal components
Durable long lasting flooring
Majority of laminate floors are installed glue-less
Utilizes large amounts of wood and paper residue streams, providing upgraded use for normal waste streams
Underlayment minimizes surface prep work required

The majority of laminate floorings are based on cellulose and thermosetting resins. The major component in laminate flooring is wood residue streams such as saw dust, panel trimmings etc, utilized primarily in the core layer. In addition, some paper and agricultural materials are also used.

The product consists of a backing layer, a core layer, a printed décor layer and a protective wear layer. The core is commonly referred to as a HDF or MDF (high or medium density fiber) board. It is composed of wood fibers and resins, cured under heat and pressure. The surface and backing layers are a build-up of paper and resins, merged together under heat and pressure. The decorative layer is typically a paper printed with pigments that provide a stable and color fast visual. The resin system, which is water based, along with the pigments utilized in the production of laminate flooring, typically does not require solvents nor heavy metal components.

Laminate floors are normally given one of the best classifications for low emission levels attributed to volatile organic components (VOC), including formaldehyde. Many manufacturers of laminate flooring participate in some form of environmental labeling or credits (e.g. USGBC LEED, FloorScore, GreenGuard, CHPS 1350, Blue Angel, Nordic Ecolabel, etc.). Although Indoor Air Quality is only one part of environmental consideration, laminate flooring does well in this regard.

The high fiber content, in combination with the chemically stable cured resins, make laminate flooring well adapted for recycling, which is the preferred option. Laminate flooring, similar in characteristics to construction waste, can be land-filled or utilized for waste-to-energy applications, as appropriate. In summary, laminate flooring has several things going for it from an environmental standpoint:

Raw materials (designed to minimize virgin resource streams)
Underlayment minimizes under-floor preparation required
Glue-less installation
Easy disassembly
Low product emissions
Low maintenance
Good durability, etc.

As the laminate product category continues to evolve, environmental considerations will continue to play a part in the next generation of products developed.