by Joan Inong

Created on: July 29, 2010

One of the best ways to market your home or to make it more environmentally-sound is to use sustainable wood flooring. If you were already considering wood flooring, then sustainable wood flooring options are a great alternative to saving you money, especially in the long-term. Here are some of the choices of eco-friendly wood flooring that you will most likely encounter:

Bamboo

With its relatively quick regeneration rate, bamboo is a great choice for those who want beautiful wood flooring in their homes. Before you make your purchase, make sure that the bamboo used for the flooring has been harvested in a sustainable way. The longer the bamboo has been allowed to mature, the stronger your flooring will be. Consult two or three flooring specialists before you make your final decision. Look around for reliable and verifiable reviews, and ask friends and family for referrals. Generally, you will not encounter very many limitations when it comes to design and style with bamboo. Various colors are available, too. Bamboo flooring is relatively inexpensive if you compare its price to hardwood flooring prices.

Cork

While "cork" may make you think about a wine bottle, cork has become increasingly popular for "alternative" yet eco-friendly flooring. Cork is harvested from cork trees. The barks are stripped, allowing the tree to be able to harvest more carbon than it would have otherwise. Depending on the type of design, style, and colors that you choose, cork flooring can look like tile or stone flooring, as well as wood flooring. Prices will vary, but cork flooring is a great bargain for the quality (and "green") flooring that you get.

Used wood

If you are able to find some salvaged old wood that someone might just throw away, see if you can cut the wood down to planks that are suitable for flooring. With a little sanding and staining, you can get beautiful wood floors inexpensively by using old materials. Be sure to check for rotting and other problems.

Certified wood

The Forest Stewardship Council manages the certification of sustainably harvested forests. By looking out for wood that is certified by the FSC, you can find some surprising choices that are also eco-friendly. For instance, you can get certified oak, although sometimes the prices are much higher than un-certified oak. Before you make your decision, always try to find more than one referral to the retailer that you are considering purchasing your flooring from. Get at least two expert opinions about the company, and then make your decision.

Remember that in many ways, wood flooring can still be problematic if you are really set on being "green." In some cases, non-native trees are planted in place of native fauna and flora. Perhaps the best option from this list is cork flooring. Always make sure that you get files for any wood flooring that the retailer claims has been "sustainably manufactured or harvested."

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