Floor- Gift

Redoing the Floors?

Then why not consider using carpet tiles? They’re a far better option than their room-wide counterparts.

For starters, they’re incredibly flexible – you can mix up different colours, patterns and styles to create a completely unique look.

Secondly, since carpet tiles are modular, they can be installed in sections, as opposed to having to clear out the entire room during renovation.

Tread Lightly

Then there’s the sustainability aspect. Carpets were originally stuck down to the cement with strong glues that had toxic health and environmental effects.

Many carpet tiles these days make use of an adhesive tape system, which is obviously a far better solution.

Furthermore, adhesive tape makes it easier for homeowners to move individual tiles to a different location, or to replace a single tile that has been stained or worn down.

This also reduces waste – if a glass of wine spills on your cream carpet, now you simply have to replace the ruined tiles, and not the entire carpet.

Of course, not all carpet tiles are created equal. It’s important to do your homework before you make your purchase.

Some things that you should look out for include the material make-up of the tile – it should be solvent free, and the bitumen used in the backing should be unoxidised.

Furthermore, how was it manufactured? Is the factory moving towards renewable energy sources, and are they reducing their water waste?

Water is a fundamental aspect of the production process, so bonus points to those companies that utilise rainwater tanks and have a waste reduction plan in place.

Alternate Options

If you would prefer non-carpet flooring options, then there are a few other alternatives to try that are still relatively sustainable and eco-friendly.

• Bamboo Flooring: Bamboo is resistant to moisture, fire and insects, harder than oak and maple, durable and resistant, sustainable, and easy to maintain.

Bamboo is also incredibly abundant and grows at a rather rapid rate, making it an ideal renewable natural resource.

Even better, the root system of the bamboo is left in place when it is harvested, so that there is no need for annual replanting.

The root system that remains also prevents soil erosion, a common problem that occurs with concentrated plant growth and harvesting.

• Cork Flooring: Cork floors are also a unique natural flooring option.

It is made from the bark of the cork tree, which is stripped once every nine to ten years and the tree remains undamaged.

Whilst cork is considered a soft wood, it has many favourable characteristics. Namely, cork provides thermal and acoustic insulation, and is incredibly durable.

It also repels insects, is fire-resistant and does not attract dust.

Due to its natural elasticity, cork prevents any imprints from heavy people objects – it simply bounces back.

• Linoleum: Linoleum is made from a mixture of dried plant material, such as dried and milled flax seeds, ground cork and pine resins.

As a result, linoleum flooring is completely biodegradable.

Since it repels dirt, dust and other particulate matter, linoleum is also hypo-allergenic. It is also fire-proof, anti-static and fade-proof.

So there you have it. If you’re planning to redecorate, try to make use of one of these greener options.

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License: Creative Commons

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Grace Matthews is a London-based lifestyle blogger who only uses the very best carpet cleaning equipment for her recently redone living room floors.