You are here

Home :

Bamboo Flooring and more Green Flooring Options

Bamboo Flooring and more Green Flooring Options
Date Published: Jan 09 2009

There are sustainable, beautiful green flooring options for every room in your home, in a variety of materials. Here are just a few popular options.

Wood options:

  • Cork floors are made from the bark of living cork trees that aren’t harmed when the bark is harvested—it regenerates, actually absorbing more carbon than a cork tree that doesn’t have its bark harvested. Many cork floors are actually made from recycled “leftovers” from wine-stopper production and have a great textural look. It’s available in a variety of colors and styles, plus cork is also a good choice for helping eliminate extra sound and it retains warmth well, too.
  • Bamboo floors are made from bamboo stems which can be harvested about every six years, making them a sustainable material to gather for flooring. They’re durable and resist humidity well, provided they had time to “cure” in the space they’re going to be laid for about three days prior to installation, and they’re stronger and less expensive than hardwood floors made from other woods.

Tile options:

  • Recycled glass tiles are made from at least 25 percent waste glass from windows, mirrors, bottles, jars and other post-consumer waste products, which are combined with minerals like clays and silica. They’re low-maintenance and come in a variety of sizes, colors and textures, just like non-recycled glass tiles. Old recycled glass tiles can even be recycled again and made into new recycled glass tiles, and production of recycled glass tiles can be produced using up to 50 percent less energy than other similarly-sized tiles.
  • Some ceramic tiles are also being made with recycled glass and can have the look of stone or terra cotta tiles while keeping things green.

Carpeting options:

  • Wool carpet is a great option for both wall-to-wall carpeting and area rugs. Wool carpet has no off-gassing and typically doesn’t use any chemicals, even on the backing, so it’s perfect for the chemically sensitive that also want something warm underfoot. Wool also wears well, and because they’re woven from a natural fiber it’s completely sustainable.
  • Carpet tiles are a good idea for green families with small children. If a spill or stain occurs, simply pop the tile out and replace it with a new tile. Carpet tiles are available in both natural and synthetic fibers in several colors and styles.

Related: How to buy green flooring

Wait! You’re not going to hire a service provider without checking Angie’s List first are you? Join Now!

More Like This

Green flooring for the environmentally conscious

You don't have to sacrifice style or your health when it comes to environmentally friendly flooring.

Comments

Submitted by Patsy on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
cork is endangered. Flooring, designers, etc need to be aware if they are talking green. Talk to the wine industry, they struggle with the issue. CORK IS ENDANGERED!!!!!

Submitted by Patsy on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
CORK IS ENDANGERED! It is not green.

Submitted by Tom on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Cork isn't endangered. It's just another silly myth. http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/green-myth-buster-1-cork-endangered

Submitted by Linda on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I don't know about endangered; the hillsides of spain are covered in cork trees and they strip the cork and the tree grows more layers.

Submitted by Karr on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
My understanding is that cork is not endangered, but the cork industry is: wineries are moving toward synthetic corks, and we need to find alternative uses for the sustainable product. CORK IS GREEN!

Submitted by Doug on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
What about old fashioned Linoleum? Is that not a green option? Made out of boiled linseed oil and cork flour on jute backing. I have used this in my kitchen and it is a beautiful, warm finish.

Submitted by LORACRT on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
We have had two water leaks in our kitchen, so we are considering yinyl. Green? Smelly. Declasse,??? All coments appreciated.

Submitted by Judy on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
If you're thinking green, why not consider reclaimed wood flooring? Old-growth wood salvaged from antique buildings is not only eco-friendly -- it's also gorgeous. And you can get nice wide planks, unlike bamboo.

Submitted by Ken on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Several years ago we installed Marmoleum in our mudroom, laundry room, and lavatory. So far, it has stood up very well to our abuse. It is used in schools and hospitals in addition to homes.

Submitted by Kaye on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Cork trees need to be harvested every year, so using cork is very green, UNLESS we are using more cork than the annual harvest which I don't think is possible. It is like raising peaches. You can eat peaches until the season supply is used up. Then you have to wait until next year to eat peaches. I think it is the same way with cork.

Submitted by Laurie on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
We were considering bamboo for a family room floor but were told it wouldn't hold up well with dogs - would scratch. Is anyone living with bamboo flooring and a large dog?

Submitted by Steven Woodall on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I own apartments and use the commercial grade (like in hospitals, grocery stores, etc)vinyl tiles in the kitchens. I get the black ones (don't show scuff marks) from Home Depot. Recently I've had to special order the black as they don't typically carry it in the store. Anyway, put a coat of wax on it and it's beautiful. Contrasts nicely with my white kitchen cabinets. Plus if one gets damaged it's easy to replace.

Submitted by jabailey on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I have high end carpeting, as well as high end laminate flooring. I just installed the best floor I've ever had - a "light commercial" grade vinyl that looks EXACTLY like pecan wood. Warm, no buckling, washes like a breeze. What is going to make this "green" is the wear factor- it won't need replacing for many, many years.

Submitted by Mary ellen on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Does anyone have experience with recycled rubber for a basement flooring option? Any ideas on the cost and performance relative to a floating tile or engineered wood?

Submitted by PK on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Linoleum is definitely a sustainable flooring option. It's comparable in price to cork. I'm getting some for my kitchen from a place called Eco Flooring in Madison WI (their website has info).

Submitted by Kathleen on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
While researching how to recycle all the wine corks I'm always accumulating I found that Austrailia has a big effort that they run through the Girl Guides. The corks are used in to produce many products from cork flooring to cork soles for shoes. So cork could be a very green product.

Submitted by Molly on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
There are several manufacturers of cork flooring who are turning to the wine industry for their cork - My wine shop is part of an initiative to send our corks to a company that they will turn recycle as flooring. I hope more of my customers will take advantage of this, as I hate to throw them away! (As for cork being endangered, it depends on who you talk to...I've heard both sides of the story, and regardless of whether it's endangered or not - I still like the idea of it being reused and not thrown away.)

Submitted by Molly on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
There are several manufacturers of cork flooring who are turning to the wine industry for their cork - My wine shop is part of an initiative to send our corks to a company that they will turn recycle as flooring. I hope more of my customers will take advantage of this, as I hate to throw them away! (As for cork being endangered, it depends on who you talk to...I've heard both sides of the story, and regardless of whether it's endangered or not - I still like the idea of it being reused and not thrown away.)

Submitted by amber on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Loracrt, please not vinyl. First of all it is plastic,definitely not green, and second of all it is ugly. If you think you ever want to sell that house, go for a nice big tile or stone.

Submitted by Chris on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Actually, Concrete flooring is the new green! It's beautiful and lasts the life of the home. It dosen't need to be replaced either. No more allergies, and it's easy to clean.

Submitted by Melissa on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
How about green finishes for hardwood? I used Osmo Polyx, a natural wax-oil finish that looks great and can be spot-repaired.

Submitted by Linda W on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I have a cork floor and love it. Cork is not endangered, it came from Spain. I would do it again. I have RA and I can stand on my floor and cook. It is great in the kitchen and never need to be stained or any cleaning solvets on it. Just good old water and a few drops of dish soap.

Submitted by Denise on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Some of the new vinyl coming out is just beautiful...I just did my whole basement in two types...wood grain and stone for the downstairs entrance and laundry room...I think it looks really great and I didn't by the top of the line stuff. Also, for cleaning, it's the absolute best...it takes all kinds of abuse...trust me, I have two dogs and four cats. :D

Submitted by Donnie Peek on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Yall are right Cork is endangered...Reclaimed wood is everywhere.Its not always the cheapest option but I try to keep my reclaimed wood affordable. Dont buy Cork!

Submitted by Evanne Levin/EL... on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Yes, Doug, linoleum IS a green option, and modern linoleum, found under different brand names, has made great leaps forward in colors & styles since the 1950's versions.

Submitted by Eric on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
try reclaimed wood flooring, solid wood, quite often of a better quality then you find today..

Submitted by Donnie Peek on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
If you want to see beautiful pictures of Reclaimed Flooring that is a much better option than Cork or Bamboo go here. http://www.interstateflooringandstairs.com/index.html When your buying green also remember to Buy American!

Submitted by Lisa on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
To cork or not to cork; TGIF and I'm thirsty.

Submitted by Janet on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Vinyl is very ungreen. It will end up in a landfill. Cork is very renewable, durable, comfortable, beautiful and recycleable. Check out some of the new design that are stranded with elderberry wood or us the outside of the bark. Gorgeous and recycleable. Reclaimed wood is gorgeous and expensive. Please consider the energy required to reclaim (sometimes it's trees pulled up from under lakes) and turn it into a saleable product. Bamboo is also renewable, but it has to be shipped to the US. A matte finish is less likely to show impressions from big dog toe nails. Also the darker carmelized, and those stranded to mix color hide more.

Submitted by Nancy K on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
What do you recommend for a kitchen for someone who is chemically sensitive and has fibromyalgia and tarsal tunnel syndrome in the feet?. Linda W I would like to know if your cork has a special finish on it or any odor. I do not have the option of finishing while I am home and cannot leave my house for long periods of time. Also if it prefinished, I do not want to having to redo the floor in the near future.

Submitted by Kim S on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
We used Rubber-Cal recycled rubber flooring in our basement exercise room with great results: very durable, firm yet resilient. Drawbacks: some spills seem to be absorbed into the rubber; requires lots of strength to install (came in a gigantic roll which we measured, cut, and installed)

Submitted by Sharon on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
How is cork to clean? I am considering cork flooring for my new sewing room and am concerned about sweeping up all the threads that will fall to the floor.

Submitted by pam on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
wanting something cushy and easy to maintain in the basement

Submitted by Sally on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
How do you treat a concrete floor? I have an amazingly smooth and glossy cement floor and want to paint it with a green product. It is not the new, colored type just medium gray 1990's cement. Anybody know about how I can do this or where I can get info.?

Submitted by craig guru on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
We did a little used home office in a light to medium finish bamboo. While it looks very nice, warm, no harsh sound when walked upon with hard shoes, we would never use it again. It was scratched after the third day. Shaw laminate in kitchen never had this problem.We thought bamboo was naturally hard surfaced, but something must be done in processing to it to soften its top layer.Just as bad as an expensive pin floor a family member had laid through whole house. Scratches, scratches.Friend in real estate tells clients, no! to bamboo, too.

Submitted by Carol on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I took out the tile floor in my kitchen and put in vinyl. I am very pleased with the vinyl. I have a bad back and when I entertain I am standing all day in the kitchen. I find that tile and concrete are very hard surfaces that aggravate my back problem if I stand on them to long.

Submitted by Carol on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Cork is not endangered. Not at all. There are many independent certifications for hardwood to assure a "green" product. Today the trend is to evaluate the entire life cycle of the product. An org like the Forest Stewardship Program has a criteria of about 30 steps that must be attained to be certified by them. Included are: no child labor, no added urea formaldehyde, the forestry must be sustainable, when going into an foreign area the indigenous people must be hired-- and they must be paid fair wage. This is tracked to the team providing the installation. It's just not enough now to state "all bamboo, anything, is green". You have to pay attention to it's entire footprint.

Submitted by marsha on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Looking at the comments, I wanted to add mine, too, We had Armstrong vinyl (high end, but light-colored) to our newly updated , enlarged kitchen. It was terrible to keep clean, even with no pets, and just 2 of us here. We had Faus flooring installed overtop of the old flooring, and simply love it. We swiffer it weekly, I damp-swiffer it every 3-4 weeks, and most of all, it is easy to stand on for hours at a time. I have joint and back problems, and find this very comfortable. And most of all, it is SOOO easy t care for. It is a floating floor, and some might not like it. We figure that if we sold this home, the new owners could remove it without a problem....

Submitted by char riley on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I added a huge master suite and had bamboo flooring installed. I HATE IT! Everything scratches it, we have no kids or pets.

Submitted by Candace on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
UNINFORMED -- 1. why is VINYL even being mentioned in a "green" flooring page? It contains Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)which is super toxic & energy-intense to produce, toxic to use and dispose of in landfill. 2. Patsy, et al, your info on CORK is wacked. "Endangered" is defined as being in threat of extinction which cork is certainly not. It is a cultivated and harvests are carefully monitored to ensure sustainability. SOME wine producers have switched to artificial plastic corks to save money and because some bacteria can occasionally attach to cork. The cork price goes up because the cork supply is watched so closely. Some posters here are clearly from the chemical or artificial flooring industry.

Submitted by Penny on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Sally -- instead of paint, consider stain. Just google "how to stain concrete floors" for many advice pages. Be sure to check photos of the luscious color possibilities. My brother has had a stained concrete floor for many years -- at the very beginning of what is now a chic trend. Cheap, durable, low maintenance and absolutely beautiful in a classy, understated way. Paint will look like a repair shop, wear off, and spot.

Submitted by stacy on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I am really trying to find a good flooring option for a small bathroom and a kitchen. With children and a cat who is too aggressive with his water bowl, we have spills! Are any of the green flooring choices (besides linoleum, which doesn't have styles I like) going to stand up to water than might sit overnight before being wiped up? Manufacturers of bamboo and wood and laminate flooring all say to clean water spills quickly. Ha! Not going to be possible. I also spend hours standing in the kitchen on a regular basis so there's also that consideration. ANY suggestions??

Submitted by Chad on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
What is a cork tree? Cork comes from mostly portugal and Spain's BEECH trees. After growing for about 25 years they begin to harvest the bark, doesn't harm the tree and can regenerate itself within 8-10 years, making it sustainable in LEED/ USGBC guidlines. The only concern many people have is it's carbon footprint from shipping, but the footprint is actually higher once reaching the US. Cork isn't endangered...it's a bark....it grows back. They usually only harvest a tree 10-15 times. The reason wine companies are using plastic stoppers now, is that they have found one that doesn't compromise the taste of the wine, not because of dwindling cork supplies. Spain and Portugal had a great thing going before these stoppers were introduced, but now have to re-evaluate their costs, due to a lower demand. Saying that cork is endangered is like saying that fingernails are endangered. Cork floors are quiet, warm, mold/ mildew resistant, and pest resistant. Depending on the brand, I personally like US Floors (Natural Cork brand), the residential wear warranty on their Earth and Classic series is lifetime. US Floors stands for... Ultra Sustainable Floors.

Submitted by Chuck on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
We had cork in the kitchen and laminate (looked like birch) in family room and halls. The cork felt great, but we found it scratched, dented, pitted, gouged, and looked terrible after a few years. The laminate, which like bamboo, is covered with a thin clear coating wore poorly. It got hazy look to it over time. We live in Florida, so we have lot of sand tracked in which seem to dull the finish quickly. Even a friend of mine who is neat nut had a similar problem. If I wanted that “wood” look, I’ll put in wood. Eventually, we had a toilet line burst putting about an inch of water on top of everything and forcing our hand. We put 18” ceramic tile that looks like natural slate on a bias from one end of the house to the other pulling out all carpet, laminate, cork, and few islands of other tiles. We looked at natural slate, but it is rough, can be sharp, wears, and hard to maintain. Since tile floor is harder on you, we did put gel mats in key places around the kitchen to ease standing. Staining the concrete was not an option It was too rough. The dog loves the cool floor and we like the look, ease, and durability. In the kitchen, we used small glass tiles mounted on sheets. They were very easy to install only requiring a tile float and a pair of tile nippers. I have no idea if they were recycled as we would have welcomed it. They look great, clean easily, and keep the counters from looking dark. The way I look at it is putting a new floor every few years no matter how green the flooring is takes up a lot of energy (manufacturing, shipping, installing, etc.) and creates a lot of waste when it gets hauled to the dump. I try to use recycled products, but doing it right once with long lasting materials is more important if you want to look at the total energy use over a longer term.

Submitted by Chuck on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Stacy - We went with a high quality tile. In the kitchen we use gel mats to eliminate fatigue and if your lucky to catcth that dropped glass. Alas, they usually catch the granite counter on the way down! Murphy is alive and well at our house.

Submitted by Lisa on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
I had a very ugly nasty vinyl floor. After I painted the cabinets and the back splash tile and got a new stove, it's hideousness roared up at me. I looked into replacing it, but the cost was too much. So I did a little research and discovered I could paint it - it was a bit of elbow grease (or pain) from scuff sanding the entire surface with a palm sander. But the painting was rather easy - I just primed it and covered that with ceiling white (because i had a load of it) then we did a spatter pattern over it. That took about an hour. I went over that with floor strength polyurethane. It looks like terrazzo but so much easier on the feet. And clean. The paint also filled in all the existing cuts and gouges. The only drawback? It can be hard to find dropped morsels, but that's because of the pattern. When I tire of this, I can paint it again. Maybe a Vermeer inspired checkerboard, or faux marble or wood. Everything stays out of the landfill and it cost about $35. for the polyurethane.

Submitted by chad on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Patsy, please control yourself. Do some research on what your boasting...loudly. I am in the field and LEED accredited. If cork floors were "Endangered!!!!" like you say, give us some facts, they aren't endangered at all. How is a bark from a Beech tree endangered? Latch on to a new cause, one that makes sense. Reclaimed, cork, smartstrand, recycled glass/rubber...all great green options. I did read the post about the scratching of the bamboo. It was probably horizontal or verticle styles, and hopefully not a floating floor. Your best bet is to get Strand Woven bamboo. It is harder than Brazilian Cherry and if you choose a good manufacturer with a good finish...no problems. Afloors hardness protects against denting, it's finish protects against scratching. Old addage...you get what you pay for. You also want a stable bamboo floor made with German glues with no added urea formaldehyde. Stained concrete...what? If you live in a garage that might be a reasonable option, but in most houses, we want beautiful, sustainable, low emmiting, floors. Not a garage floor.

Submitted by bec on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10
Anyone know any cork companies with now affiliation with China. I don't believe the whole cork endangered thing is true from my research. Were did your information come from?? However my question is where it is manufactured. Though most dealer sites say Portugal and Spain when I've asked some to look at box it says China. Harvested in Portugal and then made in China talk about carbon footprint.

Add comment

Anonymous reviews are Internet graffiti. Angie's List has real reviews from real people.

What is Angie's List

Angie’s List is the trusted site where more than 2 million households go to get ratings and reviews on everything from home repair to health care. Stop guessing when it comes to hiring! Check Angie’s List to find out who does the best work in town.

Local Discounts

Daily deals up to 70% off popular home improvement projects from top-rated contractors on Angie’s List!

Powered by Drupal