Installing a new floor is one of the easiest ways to overhaul your interiors. Hardwood flooring is particularly popular with those who want to add character to their homes, while premium materials can also bolster your property value. If you’re planning on investing in new flooring, engineered wood is both a stylish and sustainable option.
Unlike traditional hardwood flooring, engineered wood requires very little new material to be produced. Any new wood that is required to fashion veneers comes from sustainable sources, while little or no toxins are used in the manufacturing process. This is not only kinder to the environment but results in improved air quality within your home.
Interested in exploring the benefits of sustainable wood flooring? Below, we outline everything you need to know when selecting a sustainable supplier, what certification to look out for, as well as some essential installation and maintenance tips.
Why Engineered Wood Flooring is an Eco-Friendly Option
Provided your engineered wood flooring is made from materials sourced from sustainable stocks, it’s an incredibly eco-friendly choice for your home. The best-engineered flooring products use minimal virgin wood, meaning fewer trees are harvested to produce it. This makes it a much more sustainable option than conventional hardwood flooring.
The manufacturing processes used to produce engineered wood flooring also tend to be particularly green. Little if any toxic chemicals and adhesives are used to produce it, limiting the impact on the environment. What’s more, because this type of flooring doesn’t contain harmful toxins, it won’t compromise air quality within your home once installed.
Choosing a Sustainable Product
If you’re planning on giving your home an eco-friendly makeover, you need to be cautious when selecting sustainable materials for your new floor. Many manufacturers make a point of marketing their green credentials, but this doesn’t always mean they’re selling particularly sustainable products.
So-called green flooring might sound eco-friendly on paper, but you may only be dealing with a product made from renewable hardwood. Unless the company manufacturing flooring from this hardwood is actively replenishing the renewable materials it uses, it’s not a sustainable choice.
Responsible manufacturers need to be committed to full-circle sustainability. This means avoiding harvesting older trees to ensure source forests can easily regenerate. A sustainable producer should also avoid waste whenever possible, while also minimising energy and chemical use during the manufacturing process.
Always Buy from a Sustainable Supplier
Before you part with your hard-earned cash, ensure you’ve taken the time to research engineered wood flooring thoroughly. Nowadays, many retailers stock an impressive range, but these products aren’t all produced with the same commitment to sustainability.
One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re buying from a sustainable manufacturer is to check to see if they’re promoting any environmentally friendly certifications on their website. However, even if you find a green logo, don’t automatically assume that every product in their range is sustainable. This certification may only apply to a handful of products in their online catalogue.
Understanding Certifications
With hundreds of individual eco-friendly labels to look out for, choosing the most sustainable products for your home can be difficult. Selecting flooring is slightly easier, with only 36 labels applied to products made with materials sourced from forest sources. Although these labels don’t always guarantee your flooring is made from sustainable biomass, they are a solid guideline to follow.
Green Gold Label is one of the most reliable certification programmes around. This internationally recognised certification gives you a clear idea that the products you’re buying are made from sustainable materials. It’s also a good indicator that your products have been manufactured without pumping out significant quantities of harmful emissions.
If you’re concerned about indoor air quality, there are a couple of certification guidelines worth looking out for. In terms of indoor air quality certification, FloorScore is the gold standard. This certification guarantees that your hardwood flooring and adhesive materials comply with the strictest guidelines on volatile organic compound emissions.
Finally, look for the seal of approval from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This organisation ensures that forests are well-managed and that sustainable practices are adhered to when harvesting wood. FSC certification ensures that harvested trees are placed with new ones, while the harvesting process itself results in minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
Installing Sustainable Wood Flooring
Many sustainable wood flooring products require extra care when it comes to installation. Manufacturer guidelines should never be ignored when installing a sustainable floor, even if you’re calling on the services of a professional fitter.
When installing a sustainable floor, you must maintain your green credentials by avoiding adhesives that are high in volatile compounds and toxins. You may also need to rethink how your approach to housework when it comes to maintaining a sustainable wood floor. Adopting a green cleaning philosophy is yet another way you can help the environment.
Don’t assume that conventional green cleaning solutions are the right choice for your new floor. Many tried and tested cleaners like diluted vinegar are simply too aggressive and may result in unsightly streaks and surface damage. This kind of damage is unlikely to be covered any flooring warranty.
Enhance Your Home with Sustainable Flooring
Creating a sustainable home starts from the ground up. Engineered wood flooring is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways you can do your part for the environment.
When choosing new flooring for your home, make sure you’re buying from responsible suppliers that are committed to sustainable forestry practices. If you need extra guidance, look for products that carry internationally recognised certification.
Finally, make sure you’re continuing your commitment to eco-friendly standards once you’ve ordered your wood flooring. Avoid using adhesives laden with toxic chemicals during installation and stick to environmentally friendly cleaning solutions for maintaining your floor.
Author Bio:
This article was written by Martin O’Callaghan of Wood Flooring Ireland. Martin has over two decades of experience designing bespoke engineered wood flooring such as herringbone flooring for households and businesses.
Photo by Chait Goli from Pexels.
