Engineered flooring is to some extent environmentally friendly because it makes very efficient use of the tree.
For example, if you consider the top layer of wood that you see, a 3-inch-wide-by-2-foot-long solid board covering half a square foot. This same board sliced into the thinner veneers for engineered strips can cover up to 12 square feet.
The lower veneer layers underneath are made with readily available, cheaper, lower-quality wood that would otherwise be thrown away.
And if you want to go really green, here are three types of engineered boards that really are environmentally friendly:
Reclaimed: When flooring wood is salvaged from old buildings, less trees need to be taken from forests ...and because the wood is from old trees that grew very slowly, it's much harder and heavier than today's plantation-grown stock.
Certified: Floors stamped with the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) (USA) mark means that all the wood used to create the floor board comes from sustainably managed forests. This is really is a concern when buying exotic species from abroad, where logging practices may not be regulated.
Formaldehyde-free: Breathe easier with engineered flooring made without adhesives containing formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. These boards are typically coated with no-VOC finishes, which also limits homeowner exposure to toxic, off-gassing chemicals.
There's a lot to\learn about flooring but if you and there is a huge choice when it comes to selecting the right choice for your home - so why not contact the best specialists in your local area ...
