But, as the title of today’s blog no doubt gave away already, this post is not about the affordable hardwood flooring services that we’ve been providing since 1991, and neither is it about New Jersey or New York (or any other region in our service area) — it’s about providing our readers with some fun and educational facts regarding wood flooring and its effect on the environment.
While it might not be the first thing you think of when choosing which species of wood or flooring contractor is right for you, but for others it’s a make-or-break type of deal.
So, does having a wood floor make you a bad person? Does it affect the environment negatively? Can you invest in a new hardwood floor with a clear conscience?
The short answers are no, no, and hopefully yes. And for the answer of a bonus question of which hardwood flooring contractor should you use in New Jersey and New York, you can find the long answer a little bit later on in today’s blog.
However, the reality of the situation is that there is a fair amount of nuance to this topic. We don’t want to paint with too broad of a brush or pretend that we are environmental PhDs. It’s also fair to say that, seeing as we are hardwood flooring contractors ourselves, we have some skin the game. And yet, it’s 2019 and we hear about the Amazon burning, global warming, and climate change almost every single day. And in that sense, we all have skin the game called Keeping-Mother-Earth-Alive. Not a very catchy title, but we hope you grasp the significance nonetheless.
All that to say, it’s easy to approach these topics with more emotion than a true sense of inquiry. . .or a genuine thirst for knowledge. We don’t want to add fuel to the outrageous fire, so keep reading for a more detailed explanation for all of these queries!
WOOD FLOORS, THE ENVIRONMENT, & YOU
On a superficial level, it’s understandable for people to “put two and two together” when they think about wood floors being bad for the environment. We hear and read about trees being chopped down, and some of the wood ends up beneath our feet in our homes and offices. While the math might check out, it’s far from the nuanced reality of the situation.
In fact, wood floors are an environmentally-friendly flooring option. Woodfloors.org notes, “Unlike other flooring materials, the raw materials used to make them – trees – can regrow after they are cut down, which replaces the material that is harvested. In the United States, the hardwood forests that provide flooring products are growing more than twice as fast as they are being harvested.”
To be clear, it takes half a century for the trees to regrow, which is something that certainly needs to be considered. But on the other side of that coin, we can’t help but point out that wood flooring can last for over a century when it is properly maintained.
Here are some other little-known facets related to this conversation:
- Carbon neutral – Wood is a carbon neutral product because it stores carbon during its service life while producing oxygen during its growth cycle, according to the University of Wisconsin.
- Air Quality – According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality is better with wood floors.
- Net Growth – According to the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the yearly average net growth for hardwoods surpasses the average yearly removal amount.
- Efficient – Wood floors use up less energy and water during the production phase when compared with other flooring choices.
Wood floors minimize waste buildup in landfills because they are so long-lasting and require fewer raw materials to make. Wood is biodegradable, which means it will decompose. Wood is also combustible, so it can be used as fuel once it’s been decommissioned.
BONUS QUESTION ANSWER: CHOOSE ALL FLORTEC INC.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading some of these facts as much as we did while compiling them for you. Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you want to install hardwood flooring in your home or place of business — but we don’t think it’s wisdom to abstain for environmental reasons.
If that was the thing holding you back, break off those shackles and give All Flortec Inc. a call! We are the hardwood floor specialists who offer a lifetime warranty on all wood flooring and refinishing. Plus, we offer free estimates, so what do you have to lose? The answer is a beautiful wood floor to call your own. That’s the answer to the bonus bonus question, if you will.
Give us a call and get your free estimate!