Sustain Word

The Official Blog of The Hoots Group- The Green Builder and Remodeler for Atlanta

Hey there! Thanks for dropping by Sustainword! Take a look around
and grab the RSS feed to stay updated. See you around!

“Good, Better, Best”- Flooring

Filed Under : Design/ Build Solutions,Flooring,Good Better Best,My Design Partners,Tile by Greenlanta

Jan.9,2010

The next segment in the My Design Partner series is flooring.

In any type of renovation or new home build you will have to pick out or refinish the flooring in your home. There are many options to choose from along with some new and exciting new options that have just come on the market. Flooring can add warmth and beauty to the home and in many cases makes or breaks the overall design. Sometimes all you need is a fresh coat of paint and a new floor and the room will look new again.

What are the types of flooring?

There are many different types of flooring to chose from. Just in the past 2 years at the Hoots Group and SawHorse we have installed, carpet, tile, cork, bamboo, reclaimed heart pine, hardwood (oak), vinyl, and concrete for starters. In this section we will focus on wood and tile/ stone flooring which are more common in fine home-building and remodeling.

What are the different types of wood flooring?

When is comes to wood flooring, you can either get solid or engineered flooring. Engineered flooring has a plywood base and a wood veneer on the top layer that is visible. Solid flooring is solid piece of wood all the way through without any engineering.

While both types are good, most people opt for solid flooring because it is perceived as the better choice since it is pure throughout. When choosing a wider plank floor, it is suggested that you choose a engineered floor that can be installed without the buckling over time. Solid stock flooring may warp more when it comes to 8-12″ widths.

Here are some of the species that are readily available when it comes to wood floors:

Oak- probably the most popular. Oak is very strong and comes in red and white oak. Oak has an open grain that is easily able to be stained or can be left natural.
Pine- While oak is the most popular- pine is more common in the Southeastern forests. Pine is a little bit softer than oak, however when left in a natural state it does darken over time and provides a beautiful orange- glow that can be seen in older homes. Pine is best left in its natural without stain since it is not an open grained wood like oak and does not receive stain evenly.
Cherry- more recently, I have seen other hardwoods such as cherry available in the flooring market. Cherry cabinetry has grown in popularity because of it’s natural orange finish. Since cherry is a hardwood, it is one of the more durable options for floors.
Bamboo- 10 years ago you could not give away bamboo floors, now they are a hot commodity. Bamboo has become more popular recently because it is a rapidly renewable resource. Bamboo does accept stain pretty well and is a popular choice for designers because of it’s recent buzz in the media.
Cork- if you are looking for an option for a playroom or a kitchen that has a nice warm natural look, cork may be the solution for you. Cork is not a hardwood and actually is soft to the touch, but that is it’s advantage. It does not dent since it bounces back into place. It is also a good choice for basements since it is moisture and mold resistant.

You can also reclaim oak and pine floors for added character. New oak and pine flooring can be milled from old post and beam from older buildings that have aged or have wood from a different generation of trees. These reclaimed floors add instant character to your home!

What about tile and stone?

Tile and stone are seen in wet areas of the house, but can also be used in kitchen, bedrooms and living areas. Tile is very durable and does not need to be refinished or sanded like hardwoods. Stone does need to be cleaned and sealing, but this cost is not that great.

Keep in mind:

Hardwoods are about 2 times as much as standard carpet and vinyl. Tile and stone is about 1.5- 2 times as much as much as standard hardwoods. There are exceptions to this rule. Some hardwoods cost as much or more than tile.
When looking at the cost of different flooring over time, carpet ends up being the most expensive since it has to be replaced several times while hardwoods and tile last much longer. From a design perspective- hardwoods do need to be refinished every few years, however they tend to outlast tile style wise unless you pick a tile that is seen in past and present designs.
Carpet not only off gases chemicals from the manufacturing process, but also traps dust and other allergens. Some green building programs give you points for not using carpet. If you do choose to use carpet, try wool or recycled content carpet that are low VOC.

Green Options:

For hardwoods- if you get wood that is FSC certified then you know that it was sustainably harvested without damaging the forest. Bamboo and some other trees are rapidly renewable. Most hardwoods are grown in the US and buying local is green as well! For more information on green wood products visit our partners sustainabilty section.
Tile and stone- there are options for tile the is locally manufactured and some even have recycled content! Make sure that you choose a design that can stand the test of tile so it can last a few generations and not get replaced with some thing else in the future. For information on green tile visit our partners green options page.
You get 1 LEED point for not using carpet on the LEED for Homes checklist.

Bottom Line (based on price and durability):