http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-get-eco-friendly-floors-and-walls.html
How to Get Eco-Friendly Floors and Walls
By O'rya Hyde-Keller, Natural Solutions magazine
Walls and floors. They’re the basic building blocks of your home—and also some of the easiest parts of the house to make green. A recent boom in renewable, non-toxic materials means that you have lots of options if you want to tread lightly. Here are some ideas to get you started.
FLOORS
Bamboo: Because this woody grass grows so quickly, bamboo can be harvested year after year from the same plant, making it one of the most renewable—and beautiful—eco-flooring options on the market. $6 to $8/square foot; teragren.com.
Marmoleum: Made from linseed oil, natural rosins, wood flour, and cork, this trademarked flooring is renewable and the ingredients are sustainably harvested. The result is a refined take on traditional linoleum. Starts at $4/square foot; www.forbolinoleumna.com.
Recycled Metal Tiles: Made from recycled aluminum or brass, these tiles make for a safe, earth-friendly kitchen or bathroom alternative to vinyl tiles. The look: modern and urban. Available in polished, matte, or sandblasted. $35 to $70/square foot; www.ecofriendlyflooring.com.
PAINTS
AFM SafeCoat: This paint brand offers everything you need to brighten your walls—paint, primer, sealer—without any of the nasty chemicals found in traditional paint products. SafeCoat products are free of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as well as solvents, heavy metals, chemical residues, and formaldehyde. $32 to $42/gallon; www.afmsafecoat.com.
Milk Paint: Made from milk protein and lime, this paint is based on a centuries-old formula. It contains no VOCs, plastics, or petroleum products and has a distinctive flat finish. $45.95/gallon (packaged as powder; just add water); www.milkpaint.com.
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8 comments
add your comment »thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner,Prefabrik
mega kabin
Konteyner
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We have been using cork and "eco-friendly" products for over thirty years, it is a bit maddening that it has taken this long for all of it to catch on..and, lots of the eco-friendly flooring sites charge entirely too much. It's a good idea to check your local phone book for green products first, prior to ordering off the net..our town has a small "green" company dedicated to cleaning up the industry..and offers lots of products..we used the wool underlayment on our last job, and the denim recycled insulation..loved it. Always use bamboo, linoleum, and mainly the cork, which is very durable and comfortable...thanks.
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I just checked out a book from the library called "The Natural Paint Book". I'm not trying to take business away from anyone, particularly a good green company, but if I had to wait til I could afford the $46/gallon, the walls would stay boring, deadly beige for forever--and I'd be a serious loon. This book teaches me how to make my own milk paint, which I'm trying now, and if I like it, I'll buy the book. I tried to go the greener route when it came to paint, buying-wise, but it wasn't going to happen. If you can afford it, go for it. Support the company. They probably also have safe dyes. Another book I checked out, and tried to buy but it's out of print, is "Wild Color". It's an amazing book on natural dyes, and different parts of the plants, on different mediums. It shows all the different colors, depending on what you do, you're apt to end up with. But it's a lot of work, and may not be for you. But buy or make, you can find a way to be greener and it's more than worth it!
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I just put down marmoleum in my living, on my stairs and bedroom- with asthma and 5 dogs, the carpet had to go, and I wanted to do something both green and healthy. I LOVE the marmoleum. It is gorgeous, is standing up well to the dogs nails, and my breathing is better. The comments on the web about it made me nervous, but it seemed that most people that were unhappy with it were wanting a shiny surface forever. I'm fine with a matte finish, and love the colors.
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All bamboo flooring is not the same. Ask questions of whomever you are buying the bamboo from. How thick is it, how old is the bamboo reeds that make up the floor, and most importantly, what kind of binder is used to make the floor. Bamboo floors have a binder (ie glue) to keep the layers together. Some use urea-formaldehyde, others do not such as Smith & Fong flooring. By the way, this company now produces FSC certified bamboo flooring.
In addition, another consideration in buying this flooring is its carbon footprint. It is being shipped from China although it is a renewable source. Is it better to buy a FSC certified wood floor or reclaimed floor from the US if you live in the US? It is a decision you have to make.
Anna www.green-talk.com
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I'm always asked about a healthy alternative to paint and this milk powder pain is something I'd like to try. Thanks for the info!
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