Green Options » linoleum

Yurt Living: Creative Flooring Suppliers

Delia Montgomery — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:53:26 +0000

Since yurt kits are typically shipped to the building site without a floor, anything other than a local resource requires orchestration. That’s because the floor is ideally finished before the yurt is erected.

Alterego in Maryland can discuss the feasibility of FSC certified hardwood, cork, bamboo, linoleum, or rubber floor materials for your yurt structure. The company is owned by architects who offer sustainable products with modern designs.

Yurt Living: Floor Options

Delia Montgomery — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:54:43 +0000

Very few globe-scattered yurt companies offer flooring. The exception is special event yurt providers and concierge service companies.

If you purchase your yurt near the location of your site, the yurt salesman may help connect you with an appropriate supplier. Otherwise, you are entirely responsible for the yurt flooring. No need to get the heebie-jeebies though.

Daily Tip: Sustainable Flooring

Amy Stodghill — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:20:32 +0000

There’s more than just bamboo when it comes to sustainable flooring. More green alternatives are available now for several types of flooring material. So, whether you’re looking to re-carpet the living room or want to re-do your kitchen, here are a few things to consider when thinking about flooring.

Buy recycled content or renewable materials.

Bamboo and cork are renewable resources, as is wood when it is sustainably harvested.
Look for carpets made from recycled materials or natural fibers. Rubber flooring is also made from recycled materials and can be recycled, or down-cycled (made into another product) afterwards.
There are many types of all-natural linoleum available, and tiles can be manufactured with recycled content.
Keep in mind that some materials need sealants or glues during the installation process that may not be so green, such as cork or stone. Others, like bamboo and wood, may contain additives such as formaldehyde, or are made of composites with undesireable materials such as vinyl, including some cork products and linoleum.

Look for salvaged materials.

Flooring materials such as wood, stone and tile can often be found at building supply salvage centers. They may need some refurbishing and prep, but will be cheaper and greener than buying them new.

Maintenance and upkeep. This is a common consideration in all flooring decisions, but is even more important when thinking about green choices. For example:

High trafficked areas will need a more durable material, but will also need to be cleaned more frequently. You’ll have to decide what types of cleaning products will be needed and if those are very eco-friendly.
Wall-to-wall carpeting is a magnet for dust, dustmites and mold, decreasing the indoor air quality. An alternative could be using carpet tiles or area rugs.

The Green Home Guide lists several tips in helping you consider sustainable flooring for your home, pros and cons of different products, and a buyers guide to green flooring materials.

Additional Information and Resources:

Green Home Guide - 8 Tips for Selecting Healthy and Environmentally Sound Flooring

Green Home Guide - Navigating the Flooring Thicket: Find the Greenest Way to Meet Your Needs

Green Home Guide - Buyer’s Guide to Green Flooring Materials

Care2 - Salvaged Wood Flooring

Care2 - Rethinking Carpet

Green Living Ideas - Flooring

Eco-Effective Decisions: Who Wants to Un-Screw the Cork?

What Grabs You: Non-Toxic Home Design!

How to Find a Green Builder – Part 1

How to Find a Green Builder — Part 2

Smart HomeOwner: Better Home, Better Planet

Modern Green Living - at your fingertips

Daily Tip: Protect Your Floors Naturally with Carnauba Wax

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:49:53 +0000

Recently, I visited a local store called Solutions looking for an easy floor wax to revitalize my maple floors. I had done a little research online, and every product I read about required long periods of no traffic after application and buffing. I remembered my parents old buffing machine, and laughed at the prospect of buying yet another cleaning appliance. The owner of Solutions suggested Protex brand Premium Self-Polishing Wax made from 100% carnauba wax.

Carnauba wax comes from a Coperinica Cerifera palm tree, known as the "Tree of Life," of northeastern Brazil. It grows in moist regions, such as riverbanks, and reaches 25-50 feet. The fan-shaped leaves of the palm exudes the wax to protect the plant from dehydration. Palm leaves are cut from mature trees, sun dried, and then mechanically thrashed to extract the wax. Each tree produces about one kilo of powdered wax per yearly cutting. Workers carefully remove only 20 leaves per tree yearly to ensure the plant is not endangered. Carnauba wax is used in cosmetics, food, automobile wax, dental floss, surfboard wax, etc. If you have ever eaten candy corn, you have eaten carnauba wax. Apply this product to your floors, and you could literally eat off of them.

Protex brand Premium Self-Polishing Wax can be used on all floor surfaces, such as hardwood, cork, linoleum, asphalt, cement, terrazzo, etc. After mopping my old maple floors, I lightly applied the carnauba wax to the dry floors with a mop. After 30 minutes, the floor was safe for traffic and looked beautiful. Water droplets beaded nicely on the surface, and the floor had a beautiful shine. I am so pleased to discover this natural home product.

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