What Would You Use for Sustainable Flooring?

Sustainable construction is making such huge inroads right now that it is a prevalent topic even during these tough economic times. If you have done any research on flooring in Irvine, you will have found reference to sustainable building practices. So what does this have to do with hard surface flooring? There are several factors of this green building methodology that make wood floors and tile flooring in Irvine or anywhere else, important components.

First of all there is the durability factor. Hard surface flooring tends to have a medium to very long life span. This is very important in sustainable products and is a requirement for some certifications. Historically, we have chosen products that tended to cost less in the beginning and were less durable. While this is tempting, it does not meet the criteria of sustainability. Wood and tile flooring, while both very different, meet the durability factor.

Another component of sustainable building is indoor air quality. Hard surface flooring has several factors that make very good sense for using it in Irvine. Wood floors and tile flooring both are resistant to dust, dander and allergens. These small to microscopic particles often get down into carpets and are difficult or impossible to remove. Indoor air quality is diminished by these particles and creates an environment that is not good for average people. Those that have serious respiratory issues should not have anything other than hard surface flooring.

There are some indoor air quality issues that can be compromised with wood flooring or tile floors. Irvine has a great selection of materials and here are some things to consider when making your selection. Wood can be harvested and manufactured in a non-sustainable fashion. Poor methods of growing the wood can result in environmental impact such as soil erosion, disease and burning of slash or waste material. These harvesting methods should be avoided. By carefully selecting your wood flooring, you can be a part of harvesting with limited impact. Besides the option of virgin wood, there is also the ability to utilize reclaimed wood. From a sustainable aspect, this will gain you multiple points. Besides the hard surface floor with its benefits, you will now be recycling a material that could have ended up in a land fill or been disposed of by burning. Neither are ideal choices and are certainly not beneficial to healthy air.

Tile floors also have some things to consider, sustainably. One question might be how far it has traveled. Some sustainable certifiers encourage the use of local material so as to avoid transportation. If you are looking for flooring in Irvine, you will find many suppliers that make tile flooring close by. This is a definite advantage when it comes to selection. Material composition is also a factor. Tile flooring that is made of reclaimed materials must be scrutinized to make sure the components are not going to compromise the health of the occupants.

Lastly, the finishes that are used on wood flooring and tile floors needs to be considered. Once again, air quality is an issue and can be compromised by a poor choice in surface treatment. Of course, this tends to be more of an issue with wood floors. A petroleum based coating may continue to "off gas" well after the occupant has moved in. These pollutants and possible volatile organic compounds (VOC's) can be detrimental to anyone's health, let alone a person with respiratory issues. Choose a finish that is water based, low in VOC's and possibly a natural product in order to create the best indoor air quality.

Whether you are in Irvine selecting wood flooring or tile floor material, or anywhere else, conscientious shopping will net you the best product. These durable hard surface materials have the best chance at providing health indoor air, but must not be compromised by poor finish, long travel or extreme transportation. Enjoy your new flooring in Irvine and know that its durability will outweigh the cost.