Wood flooring is the most abundantly renewable flooring material available. The U.S. Forest Service states that the annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than the average annual removal rate. This means that trees are growing faster than they are being used today.
In addition, wood remains the largest carbon sink on land for CO2 emissions, as well as one of the major sources of oxygen, comprising the air we breathe. Wood floors also use less water and energy to produce and can be burned as fuel or recycled at the end of its life cycle, making it an extremely sustainable product. They not only bring beauty and value to a home, but they last hundreds of years and are easier to maintain that most other flooring options.
Discover why hardwood floors are the most sustainable flooring option for your home. One popular and very sustainable trend in flooring today is reclaiming wood from old barns, factories, warehouses, landfills or even river bottoms to use for wood flooring. This type of wood is extremely unique and possesses a certain history that makes it charming and somewhat enchanting with variations in character, color and mineral variations.
Not only is the irregularity of the wood attractive, but it is much more dimensionally stable than new hardwood flooring. The lifespan of the reclaimed wood has exposed it to air for many years and makes it less susceptible to changes in humidity that could cause swelling or shrinking.
So, reduce your impact on the environment, protect your family from poor indoor air quality and enjoy your beautiful hardwood floors!