I’m fully of the belief that great flooring is imperative to any well-thought-out home design. Sure, it may never be the focal point of your room. But keep in mind that your choice of flooring is likely something you’ll have to live with for a long time to come. It is for this reason, and others, that I hate wall-to-wall carpeting. It gets stained and dirty easily, traps bacteria and dirt that you track in with your shoes, and is a huge contributor to poor indoor air quality — no matter what the carpet is made of. I wish I could go back and explain that to the people who built this house. So if have the luxury of being in the decision-making stage about your flooring, or if you’re considering chucking your carpet for something more sustainable and better for your health, you’ll want to take a look at this cork flooring from Real Goods Solar.
Cork is a great sustainable material that is harvested without harming the tree it is taken from, and it can be harvested from the same tree several times over its life cycle. It’s also great for flooring because it is naturally water-resistant and anti-microbial. I’ve seen photos of it used to great effect in kitchens and bathrooms.And if you have a busy household, you’ll also be happy to hear that it tends to greatly dampen sound. So when the kids come running down the hallway like a herd of cattle when they get home from school, you’d be a lot less annoyed by the noise their feet would make. These particular planks do have high-density fiberboard cores, but the cork top and bottom layers will still provide some sound insulation.
What I love about these cork planks is the price. Depending on the style you choose, they cost about $4-$4.75 per square foot. That’s a pretty good price for flooring that is both beautiful and sustainable.
Why It’s Green:
- Made of cork
Price: $85-99 for a pack of 7 planks (21 sq. ft. per pack)
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I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
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Just bought a new flat in an old converted victorian school and it has amazing hard wood floors. Real selling point for me so echo your statements.
love these!
I always put solid wood floors first on my list when looking at houses.