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Green Building and Renovation
"No one person has to do it all but if each one of us follow our heart
and our own inclinations we will find the small things that we can do to create a sustainable future
and a healthy environment."
~ John Denver
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Floor Buying Guide
Green Guide for Everyday Living
http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/flooring?source=email_gg_20090415&email=gg
Did You Know: All products reviewed by The Green Guide and available for purchase through Evo.com are
independently chosen, researched and reviewed by The Green Guide editors. Evo is not informed in advance
of publication which products The Green Guide editors are choosing to review, nor are suggestions for
products or product categories transmitted from the Evo staff to The Green Guide editors. The Green Guide
does not accept or receive payment or consideration by product manufacturers. Because we list manufacturer
sugested retail prices, these may differ from prices found at individual retail sites.
Smart Shopper's List
With home construction materials, the greenest product is one that not only has minimal impact on the environment
but also minimal impact on your health. That certainly holds true for flooring, which may come from irresponsibly
logged forests and then coated with formaldehyde emitting stains and adhesives.
Materials: Choose from the following materials when selecting flooring.
- Bamboo
- Cork
- Concrete
- Forest Stewardship Council Certified Hardwood, Softwood, Laminates and Reclaimed/Salvaged Lumber
- Linoleum
- Recycled Tile and Stone
Sealants, Stains and Polishes: Whether choosing cork, concrete or FSC-certified wood flooring, your floors will
still need to be sealed and, depending on your tastes, stained or polished. If you're doing all the sealing or
staining yourself, choose low-VOC, non-formaldehyde sealants and stains made from natural pigments. For polish
and upkeep, look for hardwax and natural oil polishes. Choose from the products listed in our Wood Finishes
Buying Guide.
Grouts and Glues: Just as with sealants, it is important with grout for tile and glues for laminates or linoleum
to look for low VOC, non-toxic products.
Since some flooring requires a chemical adhesive, buy one that has a very low VOC content, such as water-based
low-VOC Auro Adhesive with organic binders ($28 per 2.2 lbs.; www.naturalhomeproducts.com, 707-824-0914) or W.W.
Henry Company's GreenLine GL83 latex-based, zero-VOC linoleum floor adhesive (www.henry.com, 800-232-4832).
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