flooring green build

7/30/2019 Flooring Green Build

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Flooring Revised December 2005 1 of 5 Green Affordable Housing Coalition

FLOORING

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Wood Long a traditional flooring material inthis country and around the world, the popularityof wood flooring has in recent years regainedsome of its past popularity. High durability andease of maintenance are some of the reasons,as well as that wood floors offer a warmth,character, and rich, natural beauty thatcomplements any style and increase a homesresale value. There are limitless choices inspecies, colors and patterns to choose from, and

most wood flooring can be refinished numeroustimes. In addition, engineered wood flooring hassignificantly impacted the marketplace due to itslow cost and ease of installation.

Bamboo Bamboo offers the same benefits aswood although, botanically, it is not a wood.Bamboo is a grass and has a short growth cycleof approximately five years. As a result,bamboo flooring is considered a rapidlyrenewable and sustainable product and byreplacing wood in flooring specifications helpspreserve old-growth forests. Bamboo is long-lasting, harder than red oak, and naturally

beautiful.

Linoleum Natural linoleum flooring ismanufactured from renewable, natural rawmaterials (cork, wood flour, linseed oil, pinerosin, jute, and limestone). Qualities include itsdurability, ease of maintenance, and attractiveappearance in a vibrant color palette. Oncepredominant, natural linoleum has been largelydisplaced by petroleum-based vinyl (polyvinylchloride) flooring, which is often mistakenlyreferred to as linoleum. Vinyl is cheaper tomake than natural linoleum but much lessdurable, not to mention it involves the use andrelease of toxic compounds in its manufacture.Natural linoleum wont melt like vinyl and ishygienic, naturally anti-static, and highlyresistant to indentation marks.

Cork Cork is a natural, sustainably-harvested,product from the bark of the cork oak tree foundin the Mediterranean region. Cork can beharvested every nine years without harm to thethese trees, which are known to live well over a

hundred years. The unique cellular structure ofcork gives this flooring excellent impermeability,resilience, thermal insulation, soundabsorbency, fire retardation, and distinctive,natural appearance.

Concrete Concrete flooring is inexpensive,durable, easy to maintain, and tremendouslyversatile. Concrete has a natural appeal that canbe enhanced by staining, scoring, or texturing.Finished exposed concrete can resemble tile,slate, or brick, or emit the look, texture, and feelof quarried stone such as marble or granite.Concrete floors have excellent thermal massproperties as well, and so can be an importantcomponent of a passive design strategy to

moderate internal temperature fluctuations anddecrease heating and/or cooling loads.

Tile Ceramic tile is a beautiful, inert materialused for durable finishes. While it is energy-intensive to produce, the environmental impactsare offset by its longevity. Ceramic tiles areavailable in a wide variety of colors, sizes andtextures and require minimal maintenance.Recycled-content ceramic tiles are friendlier tothe environment through use of up to 100%recycled glass, and are often more durable andmoisture- and stain-resistant. Tile has thermalmass properties near to that of concrete, and

thus many of the same potential thermal comfortadvantages.

Wool Wool carpet has excellent durability andnotable safety features. Due to its high moistureand nitrogen content, wool is naturally flameresistant; it is difficult to ignite and has low flamespread and heat-release properties. Moisturecontent also reduces static electricity. Woolcarpet is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and detersthe bacterial growth that is a common problemwith carpets in general.

Natural Grasses Woven mats and rolls of

natural grasses such as sisal, seagrass, jute,and coir offer durable, low-maintenance, naturaland non-toxic flooring alternatives. Moisturecontent also reduces static electricity.

Carpet Carpet is typically the last choice onthe list of green flooring alternatives, but it stillhas a strong marketplace presence due itsbeneficial aspects of sound reduction, comfort,and low cost. In recent years the carpet industry


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has made significant strides to improve theavailability of green options in their products andproduct lines. Greener products include carpetfabricated with up to 100% of its fibers fromrecycled soda bottles. Shorter napped carpet willbe easier to clean and hold less dirt, dust, andallergens. One major manufacturer also sellscarpet tiles that can be easily cleaned, replaced,and reclaimed to be broken down and remadeinto new carpet. Look for carpet that is certifiedunder the Carpet and Rug Institutes GreenLabel or Green Label Plus testing programs.

The presence of these seals indicates thatproducts have been independently tested andfound to exceed specific compliance levels forharmful volatile organic compound (VOC)

emissions that degrade indoor air quality.

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Indoor Air Quality

In recent years, conventional flooring such ascarpet and vinyl have become controversial dueto their potential for chemical offgassing, thepollution created during manufacture, theamount of old carpet filling up landfills, thedifficulty in maintenance and cleaning, and theirtendency to harbor and encourage mold, dust,

bacteria and other allergy-causing organisms.As more is learned about the personal healthand environmental hazards of carpet and vinyl intheir production, use, and disposal, greenflooring alternatives are becoming increasinglypopular.

Carpet can and often does absorb substancestracked in on shoes that have been exposed tothe numerous outdoor chemicals encountered indaily life, including road oil, anti-freeze, dirt,pesticides, and herbicides. Outdoors, ultravioletsunlight breaks down some of these chemicals.Once in indoor carpet, however, there is nothingto remove them. The VOCs emitted from vinylflooring or carpet installation adhesives are alsoregarded as health threats, if not individuallythen at least on a cumulative level.

To improve indoor air quality, consider reducingthe amount of carpeting or vinyl in your home.Greener material options include wood, bamboo,linoleum, cork, concrete, ceramic tile, wool, and

natural grasses (described previously). Usingthrow or area rugs on hard floor surfaces allowsyou to gain the aesthetic benefits of carpetwithout the adverse air quality implications.

Resource Conservation

Materials like bamboo, cork, wool, and grassesthat can be harvested in as little as one to nineyears of growth are considered rapidlyrenewable resources. Such options possesssignificant environmental advantages over finiteraw materials or those with long renewablecycles such as wood. The raw materials neededto make natural linoleum are minimallyprocessed and commonly available. Because of

its ingredients linoleum is also considered arapidly renewable and abundant naturalresource product. Due to their durability, greenflooring materials have a longer use period thancarpet or vinyl, reducing the demand formaterials to be extracted, produced, andlandfilled.

Conventional carpet is made from a variety ofchemicals derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and poses significantenvironmental hazards due to air and waterpollution potential during the manufacturingprocess. Carpet and vinyl also pose a

significant environmental burden from a wasteperspective--they have a fairly short lifespan, arenot typically recycled, and in landfills take upsignificant space compared to other wastes.

Af fordabi li ty

The higher initial cost for most green flooringoptions compared to conventional carpet andvinyl tiles deserves a second look. Whendurability and ease of maintenance areconsidered, green flooring can prove moreeconomical. A quick comparison betweencarpeting and hardwood floors shows thatcarpeting lasts between seven and ten yearswhile hardwood floors easily last 30 or more(see following table). During a 30-year periodcarpeting requires at least three or fourinstallations. Given this data, over 30 yearshardwood flooring actually costs significantlyless (and is less time and trouble-intensive) thancarpeting.


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Durable (30+yearlifespan)

Less durable (7-10year lifespan)

Hard surface does nothold particulates

Fibers act as sink fordirt and odors

Low/No emissions,depending on finish

Fibers and backingoffgas VOCs

Refinishable andreusable

Typically landfilled.Few options forrecycling.

Made of renewableresources

Made of non-renewable resources

Installed cost: higherfirst costs, lower life-cycle costs

Installed cost: lowerbut more frequent firstcosts (short lifespan)

O&M cost: lower O&M cost: higher

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Fiber matures in 4-7years

Fiber matures in 40-120 years

Reduces the need forvirgin forest lumber

Typically comes fromold-growth forests

Hardness ranges fromthat of red oak to hard

maple

Hardness ranges fromsoft to very hard,

depending onspecies/age

Installed cost andmaintenance similar tohardwood

Installed cost andmaintenance similar tobamboo

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Uses existingfoundation

Requires a covering

Durable and moisture-and stain-resistant

Requires maintenance

Staining/sealing andO&M costs are low. Installation and O&Mcosts are higher.

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Made of naturalmaterials

Made of syntheticmaterials

Low offgassing fromnatural oils

High offgassing frompetroleum distillates

Renewable andbiodegradable

Production andincineration createsdioxin

Naturally anti-static,doesnt melt

No such properties

Installed cost:comparable to high-

end vinyl, but lasts 30+years

Installed cost: lowerthan linoleum but has

shorter life span

O&M cost: lower thanvinyl due to inherentdurability no need forsealers or waxes

O&M cost:considerably higherthan linoleum, requiresfrequent waxing tomaintain appearance

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Reuses a wastematerial

Uses virgin materials

Durable and moisture-

and stain-resistant

Durable and moisture-

and stain-resistantInstallation and O&Mcost is the same.Material cost varieswith manufacturers.

Installation and O&Mcost is the same.Material cost varieswith manufacturers.

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Made of recycledsynthetic materials


CRI-tested for lowerVOC emissions (lookfor the Green or

Green Plus labels)

Fibers and backingoffgas VOCs

Uses no-VOCadhesive

Uses high-VOCadhesive

O&M: Carpet tilesreduce amount ofcarpet replaced

O&M: Rolls requirecomplete replacement

Short nap holds fewerparticulates

High nap holds moreparticulates


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Made of naturalmaterials


No offgassing Fibers and backingoffgas VOCs

Renewable andbiodegradable

Production andincineration createdioxin

Naturally anti-static,doesnt melt

No such properties

Installed cost:comparable to high-end carpet, but lasts30+years

Installed cost: lower tosimilar compared togreen options

O&M cost: comparable O&M cost: comparable

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Bamboo is typically factory pre-finished(although it can be site-finished in similar fashionto hardwood). Be aware that on-site finishing willresult in more VOC emissions into the home.

Cork and linoleum sheets/tiles should be

installed by an experienced professional. It isvery important that the cork or linoleumacclimate to the room for at least one week priorto installation. A no-VOC, water-based adhesiveshould be used to attach the tiles or sheets tothe subfloor.

To achieve a smooth-surfaced final product, anexposed concrete floor must be finished withcare during the pour and be wellprotected/covered during construction to avoidunwanted stains and scratches. Scoring,staining, and sealing can be done either at thestart or near the end of construction. Installation

should typically be done by a professional, but athoughtful tradesperson or homeowner withsome training can also be successful.

Recycled tile is installed in the same fashion asconventional tile.

Wool and natural grasses are installed with tackstrips or other physical attachments at the edgesas with conventional carpet. Adhesives are nottypically used.

Green carpet is installed in the same fashion asconventional carpet except that it uses no-VOCrather than high-VOC adhesives, or noadhesives in the case of tiles (which stay inplace by friction of the rubber backing).

All flooring options (except carpet and vinyl)should be acclimated outside of the packaging inthe room for a week before installation to get thehumidity and temperature to equalize in thematerial. No flooring material should be installedin basements or other locations where there ispotential for moisture to rise up from theconcrete subfloor.

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Hard-surface flooring requires the least amountof maintenance (simple sweeping andoccasional mopping with mild detergents) and isusually very stain resistant.

Bamboo flooring can be sanded and refinishedlike any other solid wood flooring. Cork andlinoleum have a tremendous amount ofmemory, recover well from compression andcan last as long as most hardwood floors. If theflooring gets scratched, simply buff the spot andre-apply a light coat of water-basedpolyurethane.

Ceramic tiles offer a very hard, scratch-resistantsurface requiring minimal maintenance. Tileswith integral color disguise chips that occurduring use.

Concrete flooring is probably the easiest tomaintain, requiring just normal sweeping andmopping with a mild soap and water. Moistureand water will not damage concrete flooring andit is always easy to cover if tastes change.

Carpet and vinyl are the most maintenance-intensive flooring options, with vacuuming andshampooing required for carpet and waxingrequired for vinyl.

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Flooring materials are available from a vastarray of retailers and wholesalers throughout theregion and on the internet. Be sure to carefullyresearch materials and trained/experienced


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installers. Problems with flooring result almostexclusively from low-quality installation.

Search Build It Greens Materials Databaseto find local suppliers and services:www.builditgreen.org

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Build It Greens website provides additionaland more-detailed information in its FactSheet section related to specific flooringoptions: www.builditgreen.org

Building Green is an independent companythat publishes Environmental Building Newsand is committed to providing accurate,unbiased information in order to improveenvironmental performance and reducingbuilding impacts: www.buildinggreen.com

Green Seal has a good fact sheet oncarpets:www.greenseal.org/resources/reports/CGR_carpet.pdf

DDiissccllaaiimmeerrDevelopment of this fact sheet was funded by California ratepayers under the auspices of the CaliforniaPublic Utilities Commission (Commission). It does not necessarily represent the view of the Commission,its employees, or the State of California. The Green Affordable Housing Coalition, the Commission, the

State of California, its employees, contractors, and subcontractors make no warranty, express or implied,and assume no legal liability for the information in this report, nor does any party represent that the use ofthis information will not infringe upon privately owned rights. This report has not been approved ordisapproved by the Commission, nor has the Commission passed upon the accuracy of adequacy of theinformation in this report. Contents are provided for general education and informational purposes only.

The actual suitability and applicability of this information for a given use depends upon a host of project-specific considerations. The Green Affordable Housing Coalition strongly encourages the reader toconsult with a construction professional and/or product supplier before applying any of this information toa specific use or purpose.

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