by K D Grey

Created on: March 16, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

What is a truly environmentally friendly flooring option? One that is not going to need to be torn out and replaced in 5, 10, or 15 years. A Permanent Floor. What is a truly economical flooring option? One that is not going to need to be torn out and replaced in 5, 10 or 15 years. A Permanent Floor. What is a truly hygienic flooring option? One that doesn't collect all kinds of nasty dust and dirt particles within its fibers over the next 5, 10 or 15 years, one that doesn't exude toxic resin, phenols, or formalda-alkyd fumes for the next 5 years.

The best option - timeless style, not too hard of a surface to live on - warm, rich colors, natural beauty - is hard-wood. Real hard wood, not "photo embossed" plastic, not sintered cardboard, not veneered ply-wood, but good ol' fashioned solid hardwood.

(In the spirit of full disclosure I admit that I was once a hardwood flooring installation and restoration contractor. However, I offer this information at a time when I derive no benefit whatsoever from the success of the hardwood flooring industry - I've simply see too many people making poor decisions based on mis-information. "But *GO has a lifetime warranty, so it will last as long as real hardwood" I've heard said. Ok, go back, read it again. Now think about that for a minute before you read on.)

Don't be fooled by a lifetime warranty or 20 year warranty on some synthetic product. Just like insurance, the manufacturers making those statements include a lot of fine print and they are betting on the low odds that any one will be in a position to collect on those warranties. Bottom line is that flooring WILL end up in a land fill -maybe 5 years, maybe 10 years, maybe 15 years, but it WILL end up in a land fill, and you'll need to go out and consume more resources.

But real wood is sooo expensive, you say? Not really. If you take the time to do some real comparison shopping and look up some contractor's who specialize in hardwood flooring installation and restoration - NOT THE SUPER-FLOOR MART, "We Carry Hardwood" guys, but the real deal, a hardwood flooring craftsman. You may be surprised to find that a real hardwood floor can cost UP FRONT less than over-priced laminates and engineered temporary floors. (temporary as in WILL end up in a landfill, as noted above) And, even in those instances where they are a little more expensive, the real hardwood floor wins in terms of value hands down.

Done right, the flooring installation should outlive you and your children's children

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>