Regina Sass has been a writer for 10 years, penning articles for publications in the real estate and retail industries. Her online experience includes writing, advertising and editing for an educational website. Sass is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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Flooring IdeasNot all types of eco-friendly flooring can be used in the kitchen. Flooring in the kitchen must be able to withstand moisture, for one thing. If water gets on an eco-friendly floor, it will not warp like a regular wood floor would. They also need to be comfortable to stand on and have enough give so that they are easy on the feet. Here are some choices for eco-friendly kitchen flooring.
Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is eco-friendly. Bamboo is a grass, not a wood. It only takes 3 years for it to regrow and be harvested again. Trees can take as long as 120 years to reach their full growth. Bamboo flooring come in tongue and groove planks, the same as wood flooring does. It is installed by nailing or gluing it to the sub floor, again just like you would a wood floor. Bamboo is similar to soft woods, not hard woods. The dark colors of bamboo are achieved by heating, which causes the natural sugars to caramelize. While this produces a beautiful color, it also makes the bamboo softer. For a harder floor, pick one of the lighter colors.
Cork
Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork tree, a native of Portugal. The tree is never cut down and the bark is ready to harvest again in 9 to 12 years. Cork flooring comes either in planks or square tiles and in a large variety of colors. Cork flooring is resistant to dents. Since it is not wood, it can bounce back and return to its original shape. Cork flooring can be installed by gluing or as a floating floor, depending on the style. It has a long life span of about 25 years.
Rubber
Rubber is not thought of as being eco-friendly because it is a by-product of the petroleum industry. What makes rubber flooring eco-friendly, however, is that it is made from recycled rubber. Rubber flooring for kitchens is not a new idea. It has been used in commercial and restaurant kitchens for many years. Rubber flooring comes in a wide variety of colors. Rubber flooring tiles interlock and can be installed similar to the way a floating wood floor is installed or they can be glued to the sub floor with a special rubber cement made just for this purpose.
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