Tigerwood Flooring

For people who like oak flooring but find the grain lackluster there is a great product called tigerwood . Also known as zebrawood, tigerwood is found from southern Mexico to South America. It can grow as high as 90 to 120 ft and have a diameter of up to 5 ft, with the trunk being smooth for as far as 50 ft or more.

Stripes: One of the most endearing qualities of tigerwood is the color which varies from a dark yellow to a more neutral brown. However the capping achievement of the wood is the pattern that rides on the color. Dark brown and black stripes resemble the stripes of a tiger or zebra. With random planks this makes and amazing pattern which will deepen during the maturing process.

Hard: Tigerwood has a Janka hardness rating of 1260 which makes it 170% harder than Red Oak and harder than all the North American species. However, even if there are dents or scratches over the lifetime of the floor they will be hidden because of the unique pattern. The planks usually come quartersawn for an alternating color pattern and straight grain.

Decking: Tigerwood is also a great decking because it is almost impervious to water and rot.

For  a flooring different from the ordinary tigerwood will fill the bill.

Floor Rugs

So you’ve taken up that carpet and replaced it with that oak hardwood you’ve always wanted. The installers did a bang-up job so you’re pleased and want to show it off to anyone who comes near the home. Now you have beauty with none of the allergens and work that goes with carpet.

However, big areas of hardwood, laminate flooring, tile and vinyl can get pretty monotonous after a while and, in northern climates, be downright cold. As well, as much as you protect the chair legs they can begin to scuff a hardwood floor after a while.

Rugs can be the answer to these problems. They are colorful, easy to clean and provide a protective barrier to chair legs. They can also trap dirt and other tiny debris which can then be transferred outside by physically taking the rug out and cleaning it there.

Another good quality of rugs is that many are made in a “green” environment out of “green” materials. Wool is still the favorite of all the rug materials. It is one of the most costly but it wears like iron, is almost stain-proof and washes easily. Other natural materials like hemp, seagrass, and sissal are amazing fibers that have no offgassing and are easy to clean.

Seagrass is a tall grass-like plant found in bogs and wet areas. It has a grassy, just-mowed, hay-like scent which can be detected on installation but goes away in a short time. Its non-porous surface resists stains and beads water. Sissal is from the agave plant in East Africa. It has long, fine fibers which are anti-static, flame retardant, sound-absorbing and stain resistant possibilities.

You can have the comforts of an area carpet and the beauty and convenience of hardwood flooring at the same time.

Green or Socially-Responsible Flooring Guide

The word “green” is bandied about in many reckless forms from the totally-green floor suppliers to ones who have a bare shade of green. Here is a guide to buying flooring that takes into account a wider definition of the term:

1. Manufacture: The flooring requires no materials that give off volatile organic compounds when made.

2. Renewable Materials: This means that the flooring is made from substances or wood products that either grow back quickly or the tree does not die during harvest, as with cork.

3. Harvesting: The clear-cutting method of taking trees like mahogany from the rain forests and replacing them with crops non-native to the area is not allowed for a “green” rating.

4. Social Responsibility: The workers are paid fairly for they do in a safe environment.

5. Recycling: The materials can be recycled as the same material or made into something else. For example, polyester carpet can be made into plastic for car parts.

6. Recycled Content: Does the product use older flooring as part of its ingredients.

7. Toxicity: No toxic materials like formaldehyde.

8. Maintenance: The product can be cleaned with non-toxic products and not solvents or other VOC’s.

9. Long Life: The product ages well so replacement is not necessary for many years.

10. Local Materials: Fuel is saved and jobs created when using products that have been manufactured nearby.

These are guidelines for looking at the floor with a responsible slant.

9 Green Flooring Choices

If you are concerned about the environment and want to do your bit by lessening the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in your choice of flooring here are some ideas:

1) Wood Floors: Rather than the prefinished flooring which are painted with off-gassing material select unfinished flooring and have it finished with a water-based sealer.

2) Bamboo Flooring: Bamboo grows to maturity every 2 years and can be replanted.

3) Cork: No live tree is harmed during the harvest of cork bark. This can be done every 11 years.

4) Carpet Tiles: When a portion of the carpet surface gets worn it can be replace without changing out the whole carpet. To avoid worn areas tiles can be rotated with ones on the side, in closets or under furniture so that the whole surface gets even wear. They also can be recycled into plastic parts for cars, etc.

5) Ceramic Tile and Natural Stone: Except for the fuel used for shipping and firing the tiles these substances are inert.

6) Wool Carpet: Wool is becoming a popular choice for full or partial floor covering because it is warm, durable, stain-resistant and will not burn.

7) Grasses: Another floor covering that is becoming popular are sisal and hemp grasses. The weave designs are spectacular they wear well.

Linoleum: Replaced by vinyl many years ago linoleum is making a comeback. Its ingredients are linseed oil, wood flour, cork flour, limestone and jute. It lasts 25-40 years and can be safely incinerated or placed in a landfill where it will decompose without off-gassing.

9) Rubber Tire Tiles: Used mostly in commercial applications this throw-away auto product is becoming popular in basements, garages and entranceways.

Ethical Flooring

Ever since Al Gore’s documentary film An Inconvenient Truth came out people have been looking for alternatives for everyday products which produce carbons, either in their manufacture or consumption. In addition they have been thinking twice about shipping their entire rubbish pile to the landfill.

Flooring products have usually been half-and-half when it comes to recyclables. Cleaned carpet that has been ripped out of a home provides packing and runners for commercial enterprises and other uses. Linoleum is ground up and used as a filler in paving roads and wood floors removed from old buildings is reinstalled in luxury condos. One of the most sought-after products is old barn boards which are lightly planed and used for flooring.

The main thrust of the new flooring market has been choosing products that do not contain toxic substances or do not give off byproducts during the manufacture. Bamboo flooring, grass and natural wool carpet and cork are examples of these types of flooring. Different reeds and seaweeds have soft fibers which can be spun into carpet.

Tiles are great for recycling. They can be ground up and used for all types of fill as they are almost all clay. Old tile that is carefully removed is often reapplied elsewhere.