When it comes time to choose materials for your home project, your thoughts may turn to sustainability. Most homeowners love the look of wooden floors, but hardwood brings with it concerns of deforestation. What If you could have the look of hardwood, while still being kind to the planet?
Laminate wood flooring is a popular choice for environmentally conscious contractors and homeowners. While hardwood floors require the harvest of old-growth trees, laminate is made with the byproducts of the lumber industry and other post-consumer materials.
Laminate flooring is a composite material made of sawdust, wood chips, and other post-consumer wood products. A wood-grain image is applied over the top of this composite, giving the flooring the appearance of traditional wood. High-quality flooring appears to have a natural wood grain, lending elegance to whatever room it is installed in.
There’s no need to harvest the raw materials to create laminate boards. So not only are natural resources not being depleted for its creation, there’s no need to ship hardwood from across the globe to your local flooring supplier.
Laminate flooring is generally installed as a floating floor, which means that no glues or adhesives are used in the installation process. This is not only better for the environment, but better for your home as well. Additionally, laminate is not made with preservatives or solvents. And because it is so easy to clean, you’ll find yourself using less cleaning chemicals.
Because there are no harsh chemicals used in the creation or installation, it’s considered ideal for those with allergies or asthma. Along those lines, laminate wood flooring is also considered superior to carpet for homes where allergies are a concern, as it’s much quicker and easier to clean, and doesn’t trap allergens the way carpet can.
When the time comes to remodel and replace your old laminate flooring with new, this material continues to live up to its eco-friendly reputation. Floating floors are easy to remove without damaging the boards, allowing them to have a new life in another room. Alternatively, laminate wood flooring can be recycled, ground up and composted, or even burned as a source of energy. The lack of synthetic chemicals makes all of these options safe for the environment.
Laminate wood flooring is ideal for many home applications. It’s especially ideal as kitchen flooring, as it is easier to clean and maintain than hardwood. Homeowners with young children and pets may choose to use it throughout the house, as its durability lets it stand up to dirt, mud, and all the mysterious stains and spills that a busy family can create.
Because it’s available in a variety of stains and wood grains, mimicking the look of various natural wood, laminate flooring is well-suited to any décor style. Whether you’re trying to evoke a particular historic era or have a chic modern home, there’s a laminate option for you.
When it’s time to remodel your home, consider laminate wood flooring, the eco-friendly choice.
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