Carpets N More

How eco-friendly is your home? Read on…Did you know that the materials that make up your home might be the cause of your health problems?
Common health hazards in the home:
1. Is Painting fun? Many paints contain VOCs or Volatile Organic compounds, which have severe health effects. Some may even be carcinogenic. Try and go for a non-VOC paint the next time you repaint your walls. *Milk Paint is considered a green product and doesn’t emit harmful fumes. Most major paint companies are coming out with new eco-friendly brands, with little or no VOC off gasing.
2. Synthetic fabrics: Synthetic fabrics used for curtains and upholstery are made using chemicals, some of which are allergy inducing. Select organic fabrics; they are produced from natural fibers (ex. Cotton Linen); which are processed without chemicals.
3. Cleaning your home: Heavy draperies collect dust. Remove the dust by vacuuming with a clean (brushless) attachment. This will remove the majority of dust from the fabric. Most popular cleaning products have a long list of toxic chemicals and high alkalinity. Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products.
4. HEPA filters: Many people who’ve opted for whole house HEPA filters have noticed a significant decrease in allergies and other health related issues. This product filters out pollen, dust and chemicals that are tracked inside from shoes each day.
5. Flooring and Furniture: Bamboo is a renewable resource because it grows at a rapid pace. It is a durable alternative to hardwood floors. Bamboo can be stained any color, it also looks great natural with a clear natural stain. Bamboo is an excellent product used to make furniture. It is pliable and lightweight; yet very durable.
Cork is another renewable resource. It has a distinctive look, and feels warm and inviting. It can be used as flooring and even upholstery. Underfoot, cork feels soft and comfortable. Cork is produced in tiles and planks. Ordering extra tiles is a good idea in case an area is damaged; replace a couple tiles instead of replacing the whole floor. Installed bamboo and cork produce very small amounts of VOCs.

Do our planet and families a favor and opt for eco-friendly products and materials!

Bamboo, traditionally used for roofing and walls has become a sustainable environmentally-friendly material for floors.

Bamboo is a grass that grows quickly and regenerates easily. With the impetus on green housing, bamboo has become a valuable flooring option. Bamboo grows to a height of 20 meters in 5 years. The root system of bamboo naturally regenerates the plant, making bamboo an ideal renewable resource for flooring.

Bamboo floors were not popular because there was a misconception that bamboo wasn’t sturdy and bamboo floors were uneven. Actually, bamboo floor manufacturers make their flooring in the form of flat planks like hardwood for easy installation. Bamboo floors come in a range of tones to suit all types of room décor.

These floors are low maintenance, durable and easy to install. Bamboo floors are strong and will not crack or splinter even if you place heavy furniture on the floor.  Bamboo floors are laminated and water resistant enough to be used in rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens and dining areas that are exposed to moisture.

Be careful! Bamboo floors may dent or scratch if you walk on them with high heeled shoes. Bamboo floors fade when exposed to direct sunlight and are not compatible with all subfloors. You need to check with the manufacturer on their suitability to your home before choosing bamboo floors.

Bamboo floors are an environmentally friendly, emission free and durable option when choosing your flooring.

Environmental flooring options are easily replaceable, sustainable, durable, and generally do not require a lot of maintenance. More importantly, they are healthy and do not give off toxic emissions that will adversely affect the health of your family.

Environmental flooring materials are natural without chemical processing or treatment. Flooring material that can be reused or recycled and flooring material made of recycled material also come under the definition of environmental flooring.

An example of environmental flooring is cork. You may not know this, but cork is natural and obtained from the bark of a tree. Cork flooring does not undergo a lot of chemical processing and can last for a very long time. Bamboo is another example of renewable flooring. Bamboo is a grass that can be replanted easily. Bamboo floors also require very little processing and are chemical free. Hardwood floors are examples of environmental flooring but you must make sure that the timber used is from trees that can be easily regenerated.

Easy to maintain and durable synthetic carpeting material made of recycled PET bottles or recycled nylon or rubber tires are another environmental flooring option. Linoleum is made of a combination of recycled components including linseed oil, wood shavings and cork shavings and makes an excellent non toxic environmental flooring option.

Stone and ceramic tiles are strong natural durable environmental flooring options that require very little maintenance and don’t give off toxic emissions.

The healthy wealthy and wise flooring choices for modern homes are environmental flooring options.  What’s your favorite choice for environmentally friendly floor choices?

When you’re ready to select a wood floor, do you find yourself concerned with whether your choice is environmentally responsible? Well, fortunately there is a simple way to determine that. Look for flooring with the Forest Stewardship Council certification;

An international, not-for-profit organization, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was created to protect the world’s forests by promoting their responsible management. With an international presence that extends to over 50 countries and recognition by every major environmental group as well as the Green Building Council in the United States, the FSC is your best source for evaluating your potential wood purchases.

As forests are damaged and destroyed across the planet, FSC and organizations like it work hard to ensure that our children will also be able to enjoy the forested areas we have now. The goal is not to stop cutting trees, but to support responsible harvesting with no hazardous pesticides and no damage to the people who live in the forests.

FSC requires certification to be re-confirmed annually, so it is not possible for organizations to meet the certification once and then go on to break the rules.

How much more meaningful will your beautiful wood floor be if you know that the trees it represents were cut responsibly? If this means something to you, just ask your salesperson to show you products that are FSC certified, and enjoy your floor.