The enduring popularity of concepts like upcycling and ‘shabby chic’ restoration of furniture have spilled into the world of flooring, as wall-to-wall carpeting declines in favour of something more natural. If this also involves an element of recycling and eco-friendly practice then so much the better.
The two current major trends feature hardwood and laminate wood flooring, and while they both fall into the ‘green’ category due to the recycled element in their production, they are a little different in many other ways.
What is laminate flooring?
Sometimes known as ‘re-purposed (or engineered] wood’, laminate flooring has four layers. In the middle section are images of available material, most likely stone, brick, ceramic or wood, along with a layer of plastic resin which keeps the flooring flat. A top coat and outer anti-moisture backing finish the job – the end result being a hard wearing product made from recycled materials.
This kind of flooring is great for areas of the house with extreme temperatures or humidity levels, such as bathrooms.
Despite sometimes using reclaimed wood, a laminate floor covering is often still thought of as predominantly synthetic, leading the way for a more natural, eco-aware alternative, the hardwood floor.
What is hardwood flooring?
Completely natural, hardwood flooring utilises real wood which is still in good enough shape to be used as flooring, often recycled and re-purposed from various sources –http://thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/1397453-floors-reflect-current-trend-in-upcycled-repurposed-wood.
For example, it could be possible to source hardwood flooring from a building with special meaning to you or of historical interest, and then to pay for it to be removed and treated before laying it in another location.
Hardwood flooring is well worth recycling as it can be re-sanded up to one hundred times at least, making it a good long-term investment, although overall there isn’t a huge difference between these two types of recycled flooring in terms of material costs or installation. For more precise information on the flooring options available in your area check local listings for a company who specialises in this field, such as http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/laminate-flooring.
The trend for recycled and environmentally friendly flooring doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon, so make the most of this chance to update your house or office with the kind of flooring that best suits your lifestyle and taste.