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What Are the Most Sustainable Flooring Choices?

What Are the Most Sustainable Flooring Choices?

More and more Singaporeans are starting to see sustainability as a top factor when choosing products and materials for their home renovation. The benefits of making sustainable choices are numerous – they’re cost-efficient, energy-efficient, stylish, durable and capable of contributing to a healthier lifestyle.

When it comes to flooring, numerous sustainable materials are available on the market. Here are some of the top choices and the reasons why they’ll be a great addition to your renovation project.

Cork

Few other flooring choices can compete with cork when it comes to both sustainability and durability. It’s also a cost-efficient choice you can select for a budget-friendly renovation.

Most people recognise cork as the material that wine corks are made of. Recently, however, it’s made a stellar entry into the world of flooring.

Cork is actually a tree that originated in the Mediterranean region. To harvest the material, cork growers don’t have to cut down the tree. Instead, sections of the bark are being stripped. Every few years, the bark grows back and allows for additional re-harvests.

Flooring made from cork has a number of excellent qualities that go beyond sustainability. For a start, the material is an excellent insulator that maintains an optimal temperature at home regardless of the season. There’s also evidence that cork has some antibacterial and anti-microbial properties. Finally, the material repels mould and mites. If you’re looking for ways to create a healthy living environment, cork would be an excellent choice.

Bamboo

Just like cork, bamboo is highly sustainable because of the characteristics of the plant that the material is harvested from.

Bamboo is not a tree but a member of the grass family. Because of this fact, it’s known for very fast growth. Most bamboo species reach complete maturity in as little as three to five years. In comparison, the trees utilised to make hardwood flooring often require decades to grow.

Apart from being green, bamboo looks exceptionally attractive and it resembles most kinds of hardwood flooring.

Bamboo shares a few other characteristics in common with hardwood floors. It’s very durable and easy to clean. Flooring made from bamboo is also easy to install because of the material’s lightness. And last but not least, bamboo comes in many hues and colour patterns. No matter what interior design concept you’re trying to execute, bamboo will probably be an excellent match.

Linoleum

Many people don’t know the fact that linoleum flooring is crafted from natural materials. Its composition features linseed oil, tree resin, cork dust, wood flour and pigments. As a result, it’s very different from vinyl – a completely synthetic material that features petrochemicals.

Linoleum is a very renewable material, which ranks it among the greenest flooring choices. The production process itself doesn’t have a massive environmental footprint. Finally, linoleum flooring will last at least two decades, even longer with proper care. Not only does this fact increase the cost appeal of the material, it also contributes to additional sustainability.

Currently, the linoleum production method is being perfected to reduce the environmental footprint even further. And it’s also interesting to find out that linoleum can be composted once the material is no longer needed.

Natural Stone

The timeless appeal of stone makes it a great choice for the execution of classic interior design projects. The fact that the material is environmentally-friendly comes as an added bonus.

Natural stone is so incredibly versatile and diversified that you’ll easily discover at least one variety that’s matched perfectly to your interior design concept. Colours, textures and patterns vary. The same applies to prices and product varieties, depending on the type of stone that flooring’s made of.

Stone is a material that’s constantly being “remade” through tectonic processes. Hence, it’s very sustainable. The incredible longevity of the material adds to its greenness even further.

As a bonus, natural stone doesn’t produce any harmful emissions and it can contribute to temperature regulation in your home. The one thing you should keep in mind is that the material is quite heavy and there could be some transportation expenses to account for.

Concrete

If you’re looking for a choice that’s green, very durable and incredibly affordable, concrete would be it.

Concrete is made of clay, sand, rocks and a couple of additional natural components. It’s easy to source, it doesn’t have a massive environmental footprint and it can also be recycled. On top of that, it’s super durable and you wouldn’t need new flooring for many years after the installation.

On top of that, concrete flooring is very versatile. Depending on how it’s styled and installed, it can resemble many other materials, including wood. It’s very easy to polish and tint concrete, two processes that will instantly transform its appearance. Concrete is also durable and scratch-resistant – two characteristics that simplify maintenance tremendously.

These are just a few of the sustainable flooring choices you can pick for your renovation. Recycled hardwood floors, glass tiles, carpeting, rubber and even leather are other options worth exploring.

If you don’t know what flooring material is right for you, consider calling the professionals.

Home Guide is an interior design company in Singapore that will conceptualise a home interior design concept based on your lifestyle and needs. We’ll do a comprehensive job, coming up with the overall idea and the execution specifics (including the selection of the right products and materials). We are also a home renovation contractor that is HDB licensed , so just leave everything to us, from start to finish. Contact Home Guide today to get started

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