Green Flooring - Cork, Bamboo, Stone, Linoleum, Tile and Harwood Floors Section
Green flooring is any flooring that is sustainable, eco-friendly, contains recycled content, is recyclable, leaves a small carbon footprint or has low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compound). There are different degrees of green when referring to different types of flooring.
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Cork Flooring 
- Better than a renewable resource because it is a harvested resource (only the bark is harvested from the tree)
- A recycled product because cork floors are made from the waste cork that makes wine stoppers.
- A law in the 1930’s called “The 9 Year Law” was passed to keep cork from being harvested any sooner than every 9 years. The tree has to reach 60 cm in circumference before it can be harvested. The first harvest from a cork tree can only occur at age 25.
- The tree is not destroyed or damaged when harvesting cork.
- To complete the environmentally sound process, water based finishes and adhesives should be used.
Bamboo Flooring
- Bamboo is a rapidly renewing resource that matures in three years
- It regenerates without need for replanting
- It also requires minimal fertilization or pesticides
- There currently is no FSC certified bamboo so it is important to see what you can confirm about the bamboo you are interested in before purchasing.
Carpeted Floors 
- According to the Carpet and Rug Institute: The carpet industry is minimizing carpet’s impact on the environment through the new “3 Rs” which stand for reduce, reuse and recycle. When carpet reaches the end of its long life, it is reused to make new carpet or is recycled into a variety of products, ranging from roofing shingles and railroad ties to automotive parts.
- Factors that determine if carpet is “green”: carpet fibers, toxics content, dye, VOC emissions, and recycled content.
- The Green Label and Green Label Plus from the Carpet and Rug Institute ensure that customers are purchasing among the lowest emitting carpet, adhesive and cushion products on the market.
Stone Floors and Flooring There is no clear data on the impact of using stone as a building material on the environment; when the data is collected it will contain information on water and energy consumption, yields from raw materials, recyclability and other measures that are considered in life cycle assessments, energy used in transportation, processing and selling the material.
- Stone does have the following features:
- It’s a natural product
- It has an enduring life cycle so it doesn’t have to be replaced
- Ease of care and maintenance
- Recyclable
- Quarry and manufacturing use best practices
- Can be reclaimed
Hardwood Flooring
- Natural Resource
- Renewable
- Recyclable
- Suitable for a “healthy home” environment
- Forests are managed for replanting
Linoleum Floors
- Made from all natural materials
- The natural raw materials used to create Linoleum are available in abundance: linseed oil, rosin, wood flour, cork flour, ecologically responsible pigments and jute.
- These raw materials are harvested or extracted with relatively little energy consumption. The main energy resource for the process is the sun. The plants and trees that supply linoleum's raw materials also contribute to the production of oxygen and the subsequent reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thus reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses present in the atmosphere.
- Can be recycled
- The energy obtained from incinerating linoleum is roughly equivalent to or even more than that which is used in production.
- Linoleum can be safely added to landfill refuse sites, where natural decomposition takes place. Linoleum is fully biodegradable and does not release harmful substances or gases such as chlorine and dioxins.
- Adhesives are 100% solvent free and meet all low VOC requirements
- Does not require maintenance from harmful chemicals
- Linoleum contains virtually no trace of toxic material and is naturally beneficial to air quality.
Ceramic Tile Floors
- Rarely release emissions
- Some contain recycled content
- Long lasting and not replaced frequently
- Requires little maintenance
- Value is unclear due to it’s weight causing more fuel during transportation
Carpet Tiles and Floor Cushions The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has established the Green Label program to test for VOCs in cushion used under carpet. This program helps you choose low-emission cushion. You can identify these products by looking for the program’s green and white seal. These products are continuously monitored to ensure that they maintain compliance.
Cushion products are characterized as prime polyurethane, bonded polyurethane, mechanically frothed polyurethane, rubber-hair, rubber–jute, synthetic fiber, resinated or coated synthetic fiber, rubber and rubberized polyurethane.
Cushions are tested for total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), formaldehyde and 4-phenylcyclohexine (4-PCH).
Carpet cushion can be:
- Made from100% recycled bonded cushion from polyurethane foam or 100% recycled content in Rebond Carpet Cushion, a bonded polyurethane product
- Made with 97% recycled rubber for carpet underlayment
- Made with no CFC’s, latex or chemical additives
- Made with 100% recycled tire rubber carpet pad. Withstands temperatures from 40 to 120 degrees. Free of toxic materials such as PCB, mercury, and formaldehyde
- Made from ground tire scrap rubber granules bonded with latex and 92% recycled tire rubber
Installation
Adhesives
Adhesives are just as important to consider when purchasing flooring as the flooring itself. Adhesives with harmful toxins can damage indoor air quality by giving off harmful gasses.
Tips for Adhesives:
- Choose low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds)
- Do not contain formaldehyde
- Qualify for the Carpet and Rug Institutes Indoor Air Quality green label
- Once installed, floors still give off gas compounds
- Less durable floors have to be replaced more often
- High maintenance floors use more harsh chemicals
- Consider floors that don’t have to be refinished
Richmond, California is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco city and located in the western portion of Contra Costa
County, California with a zip code of 94804. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. The Floor Stores San Francisco Bay Area Mohawk Flooring Installation centers and home improvement design stores corporate headquarters make Richmond, California their home. The Floor Stores Richmond California home improvement center proudly serves the communities of San Francisco, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, El Sobrante, South San Francisco, Moraga, American Canyon and Alameda.
Proudly Serving the Northern California cities of El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, El Sobrante, San Francisco, Moraga, American Canyon and Alameda.
Concord, California, home of The Floor Stores California San Francisco East Bay Area Vinyl Flooring Installation Discount Dealer and home improvement design stores, is located in the largest city in Contra Costa County, California. The city is a major regional suburban East Bay center within the San Jose/ San Francisco Metropolitan Area, and is located just 31 miles east of San Francisco and was incorporated on February 5, 1905. Serving the zip code of 94520 and the East Bay cities of Pleasant Hill, Walnut, Lafayette, Martinez, Alamo Creek, Diablo, Danville, Clayton, Vacaville, Benicia, Fairfield and Sacramento.
Proudly Serving the Northern California cities of Pleasant Hill, Walnut, Lafayette, Martinez, Alamo Creek, Diablo, Danville, Clayton, Vacaville, Benicia, Fairfield and Sacramento.
Northern California San Jose, Silicon Valley area discount tile, carpet floors and other flooring shoppers will notice the difference the minute they walk into one of our San Francisco East Bay, North Bay and South Bay flooring stores. The way our knowledgeable, friendly flooring staff is committed to helping you find the perfect floor that fits your family needs, lifestyle, and budget. We are able to assist in designing any type Bay Area floor that you will be proud of for years to come. Our buying power as one of the country’s leaders in flooring purchases of carpet with the major mills and the ability to purchase full containers of ceramic tile, natural stone flooring, hard wood flooring, and laminate flooring from all over the world assures you that the latest trends in fashion will be available and at the best possible price.
Proudly Serving the Northern California cities of Pleasonton, Livermore, Tracey, San Ramon, Union City, Fremont, Hayward, Palo Alto, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, San Jose, San Mateo, Redwood City, Santa Clara, Mountain View and South San Francisco.
Proudly Serving the Northern California cities of Rio Vista, Elk Grove, Davis, Rancho Cordova, Galt, Lodi, Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, Tracey, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Pittsburg, California is a city located in eastern Contra Costa County, Central California, the outer portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It has one BART station, the Pittsburg/Bay Point Station located in Bay Point. The current zip code is 94565 for both Pittsburg and Bay Point, the area code is 925 and it is also the home of Larry Flicks San Francisco Bay Area Floor Stores Hardwood Flooring Installation centers and home improvement design stores proudly serves the East Bay communities of Rio Vista, Elk Grove, Davis, Rancho Cordova, Galt, Lodi, Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, Tracey, Antioch, Oakley, Sacramento and Brentwood. The Floor Stores proudly serves the North County communities of Ross, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Sausalito, Belvedere, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, San Anselmo, Woodacres, San Geronimo, Terra Linda, Novato and Kentfield.
The city of San Rafael is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco East Bay Area. Centrally located in Marin County is the Floor Stores San Francisco North Bay Area Green Flooring Installation centers and home improvement design depots. San Rafael, California is the county seat of Marin County located in Northern California. The Floor Stores San Rafael location proudly serves the North County communities of Ross, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Sausalito, Belvedere, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, San Anselmo, Woodacres, San Geronimo, Terra Linda, Novato and Kentfield.
Proudly Serving the Northern California cities of Ross, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Sausalito, Belvedere, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, San Anselmo, Woodacres, San Geronimo, Terra Linda, Novato and Kentfield.
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California. As of January 1, 2007, the population of Santa Rosa was approximately 157,985 residents. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont. Santa Rosa sits at the southwestern gateway to the Sonoma and Napa Valleys of California's famed Wine Country. Santa Rosa is also the home of The Floor Stores Northern California Sacramento Area Santa Rosa Laminate Flooring Installation Stores and discount home improvement depots.
Proudly Serving the Northern California cities of Peteluma, Sonoma, Vineburg, Glen Ellen, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Sebestopol, Napa, Calistoga, Yountville Angwin, Windsor, St Helena and Deer Park.
Its easy to set up your families free personalized in-home design appointment: