| Today more people than ever are considering the | | | | above options, there are options available that are |
| impact that home renovations and construction have | | | | also eco-friendly. You can get carpeting made from |
| on the environment. While some people are worried | | | | recycled old carpets, which is environmentally friendly |
| about possible additional costs associated with going | | | | because it doesn't require new synthetic material to |
| green, the biggest obstacle most people face is not | | | | be manufactured, and it often is attached to a |
| knowing what they can do to make their home | | | | natural backing or at least one that is greener than |
| renovation project more eco-friendly. In order to be | | | | new synthetic carpets. Another carpeting option is |
| environmentally aware, you'll need to know what | | | | one made from natural fiber such as wool. |
| materials are available and how you should install it, | | | | When you try to make your flooring project more |
| and of course what to do with the waste. This article | | | | eco-friendly, you'll need to be concerned with not |
| will focus specifically on flooring. | | | | just what it is, but also how it gets installed. Many |
| When you mention eco-friendly flooring to most | | | | installation techniques require chemical adhesives that |
| people, they have a picture in their head of what | | | | are far from green, so you will want to be sure that |
| that means, and often they just don't realize the | | | | this is not how you or your contractor are installing it. |
| options they really have to make their project | | | | Many floors can be floated over a sub-floor, allowing |
| greener. One very popular flooring option is bamboo, | | | | them to be installed without the need of adhesive. |
| because it is stronger than many hardwoods and is | | | | Other options include tacking carpeting to the floor |
| considered sustainable because it is mature enough to | | | | rather than using adhesive, or making use of more |
| use within three years. If a hardwood floor is what | | | | environmentally friendly adhesives. |
| you want, but bamboo just doesn't appeal to you, | | | | Going beyond what and how you install your new |
| try reclaimed wood floors. Using reclaimed wood | | | | flooring, you will also want to think green when it |
| allows you to enjoy whatever hardwood you like | | | | comes to the disposal of any waste materials, |
| without having a negative impact on the environment. | | | | including your old flooring. You wouldn't want to install |
| But eco-friendly flooring goes beyond hardwood | | | | an eco-friendly floor only to dump all of your |
| options. You can also tile a floor with natural stones, | | | | construction waste into a landfill. Talk to your |
| or with tiles made from recycled glass or metal. | | | | contractor to ensure that he will dispose of the |
| These options are great for rooms like a kitchen or | | | | waste in an environmentally sound way, or you can |
| bathroom where you would probably want tile rather | | | | contact reclamation companies to have them pick up |
| than a rug or wood floor. Another option for these | | | | the waste or find out where you can bring it. |
| rooms is linoleum, which is a natural product made | | | | Going green is important to the future of our planet. |
| from linseed oil and other natural ingredients. Be | | | | By simply adopting some more sustainable practices |
| careful not to confuse linoleum with vinyl, which is | | | | we will find we are leaving our corner of the planet a |
| also available in roles or tiles, but is not a green | | | | better place than it was when we got there, and |
| option. | | | | that will be your legacy for your children and beyond. |
| And of course, if you prefer carpeting over the | | | | |