Eco-Friendly Flooring Options: A Guide to Sustainable Stores in Alpharetta, GA
With climate change and sustainability being major concerns for many homeowners today, eco-friendly flooring has become an increasingly popular option. Not only is sustainable flooring better for the environment, but it can also be better for your health by avoiding harmful chemicals and materials.
If you’re looking to install new floors in an eco-friendly way, you have several great options to choose from. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the top sustainable flooring choices and provide tips for finding the best flooring stores in Alpharetta, GA to purchase them.
What Makes Flooring Eco-Friendly?
When evaluating environmentally friendly flooring, there are a few key factors to look for:
- Made from renewable resources – The most sustainable floors are made from materials that can be easily renewed, like bamboo, cork, wood, linoleum, and wool. This avoids depleting finite resources.
- Recycled content – Many floors incorporate recycled materials, like scrap wood, old glass, or even tires. Using recycled content reduces waste.
- Low VOC emissions – Flooring made with natural materials often emits fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which can be harmful to indoor air quality. Low VOC options are better for your health.
- Locally sourced – Choosing locally harvested and manufactured materials saves on transport emissions and supports local economies.
- Long-lasting design – Durable floors that will last for decades avoid the resource use and waste of replacement. Timeless styles help too.
- Reusable or recyclable – At end of life, the flooring can be reused or recycled instead of ending up in a landfill.
Using these criteria to select eco-friendly floors can help reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Now let’s look at some of the best sustainable flooring options.
Top Eco-Friendly Flooring Types
1. Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly flooring choices. It’s a fast-growing grass that can be harvested every 3-5 years without replanting. Bamboo is naturally hard and durable, making it an excellent flooring material.
Benefits of bamboo flooring include:
- Renewing resource (no deforestation required)
- Biodegradable and recyclable
- Resistant to moisture and humidity
- Available in various plank styles and stains
- Attractive natural grain patterns
High quality bamboo flooring should last a lifetime. Look for vertical grain bamboo planks for the greatest durability. FSC-certified products ensure sustainability practices.
2. Cork Flooring
Cork is made from the bark of cork oak trees. The bark regenerates after being harvested every 9 years, making it a renewable resource. Cork has a spongy cellular structure that makes it comfortable, sound-absorbing, and insulating.
As a flooring material, cork offers many advantages:
- Sustainably harvested from cork oak trees
- Naturally water-resistant and anti-microbial
- Excellent sound and heat insulation
- Comfortable underfoot, reducing fatigue
- Available in various colors and patterns
- Easily replenished by sanding and refinishing
Cork floor tiles and planks are durable, shock-absorbing, and biodegradable. Purchase FSC-certified cork for the most sustainably sourced product.
3. Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors remain popular because of their timeless beauty. When sourced from responsibly managed forests, hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory can also be an eco-friendly option.
Seeking out FSC-certified exotic hardwoods helps protect endangered rainforests. Reclaimed lumber and oak salvaged from old barns or factories gives new life to old wood.
Benefits of sustainable hardwood flooring:
- Durable for decades with proper care
- Rich, warm wood grain patterns
- Can be refinished instead of replaced
- FSC-certified options available
- Includes salvaged and reclaimed wood
Watch out for cheap imported hardwoods, which are often illegally logged. Purchase domestically harvested lumber from reputable suppliers.
4. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) floors have grown popular for their realistic wood and stone looks, water resistance, durability, and affordability. Most LVP today is also eco-friendly, with recycled content and low VOC emissions.
Here’s why LVP can be a good sustainable choice:
- Stone polymer composite core is resistant to moisture and denting
- Protective top layer is scratch, stain, and fade resistant
- Can mimic wood, tile, and stone looks sustainably
- Contains recycled PVC to reduce plastic waste
- Low VOCs and natural additives improve indoor air
- Easy DIY click-together installation
Seek third-party certifications like FloorScore when shopping for green luxury vinyl flooring. Made in the USA products also cut down on transport emissions.
5. Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum has been around for over a century, and this natural flooring is rising in popularity again for being eco-friendly and stylish. Linoleum is made primarily from renewable raw materials like solidified linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, and limestone.
Consider linoleum floors for their sustainability features:
- Made from nearly 100% natural and renewable materials
- Biodegradable and recyclable
- Naturally antibacterial and moisture-resistant
- Available in wide range of patterns, colors and styles
- Does not emit VOCs or other toxins
- Long-lasting for up to 40 years with care
Linoleum is durable, hygienic, and easy to clean. New modern print technology allows for remarkably realistic wood and stone patterns.
6. Wool Carpet
For carpeting, wool is the best eco-friendly fiber choice. As a rapidly renewable resource that biodegrades, wool is far more sustainable than nylon or polyester synthetics. Wool is naturally soil and stain resistant too.
Other advantages of wool carpet include:
- Fiber is naturally stain, mold, and mildew resistant
- Wool is biodegradable and recyclable
- Durable for 10-20 years with proper care
- Fire resistant and excellent sound absorption
- Natural crimp provides cushioning underfoot
- Low VOC adhesives are available
- Can be sourced from local sheep farms
Wool carpets can be more expensive than synthetic versions, but they offer outstanding performance and sustainability.
Tips for Purchasing Eco-Friendly Flooring
Once you’ve settled on a sustainable flooring type, use these tips to guide your purchasing:
- Verify environmental certifications – Trustworthy ecolabels to look for include FSC, Greenguard, CRI Green Label Plus, and FloorScore. These validate the green claims made by manufacturers.
- Check where it’s made – Buying local US and Canadian flooring saves on transport miles. Some companies use renewable energy in their production as well.
- Ask about adhesives and finishes – Water-based adhesives and plant-based finishes are preferable to VOC-emitting alternatives. Inquire about options.
- Learn proper care – Following the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions keeps floors looking their best while minimizing environmental impact.
- Calculate quantity needs – Ordering the right amount avoids wastage and helps use resources efficiently.
- Inspect quality – While less expensive flooring may save money upfront, low durability means it will need replacing sooner.
- Dispose properly – When removing old flooring, reuse or recycle it if possible. Otherwise ensure it goes to a waste management facility.
Taking time to research and make informed purchasing decisions will help you select the most authentically eco-friendly flooring.
Top Eco-Friendly Flooring Stores in Alpharetta, GA
The best flooring stores in Alpharetta GA offer sustainable options alongside knowledgeable service. Here are some of the top spots to find green flooring in Alpharetta, GA.
1. Green Home Flooring
As a local family-owned flooring retailer, Green Home Flooring specializes in eco-friendly and non-toxic floors. They carry an extensive selection including wool and other sustainable carpets, cork, bamboo, reclaimed hardwood, linoleum, and low VOC luxury vinyl. Their experienced team provides personalized recommendations tailored to your needs. This is a great one-stop-shop for high quality green flooring.
2. The Home Depot
The Home Depot has made strides in expanding their eco-friendly flooring offerings in recent years. They now sell FSC-certified lumber, reclaimed hardwood, cork, bamboo, recycled glass tile, sustainable vinyl plank, and low VOC carpeting both online and in local stores. Their flooring specialists can advise you on the best options to meet your style, budget and environmental goals.
3. Georgia Carpet Industries
Family-owned since 1976, Georgia Carpet Industries provides carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile and area rugs. They carry eco-friendly wool carpets made in the Americas which saves on overseas shipping. Their extensive recycling program also keeps used flooring out of landfills. Visit their design centers in Alpharetta, Marietta, Sandy Springs, and Suwanee for an outstanding retail experience.
4. Floor & Decor
With a wide in-stock selection of tile, wood, laminate, and vinyl plank flooring, this flooring superstore has plenty of eco-friendly options marked with green leaf tags. Their Alpharetta location has specialized sustainable products including cork plank, salvaged wood, recycled glass tile, and low VOC luxury vinyl. They also donate excess inventory and recycled carpet to local charities.
5. Carpets of Dalton
Family-owned and operated Carpets of Dalton features custom carpeting made in Northwest Georgia. They offer eco-friendly SmartStrand, triexta, and wool carpets manufactured domestically with recycled content and natural ingredients. Their flooring experts provide full-service design, installation, and maintenance. Stop into their Alpharetta showroom to view their green carpet selection.
6. Lumber Liquidators
While Lumber Liquidators has faced controversy in the past, they have improved their wood sourcing policies and now offer more responsibly harvested flooring. Their stores carry FSC-certified exotic and domestic hardwood, bamboo, cork and recycled composite vinyl plank. Their discounted prices can make sustainable flooring more budget-friendly.
Installing Eco-Friendly Floors
Once you select green flooring materials, make sure to use best practices for eco-friendly installation:
- Test subfloor moisture prior to installation to avoid trapping moisture underneath
- For glued down products, use low VOC, water-based adhesives
- Where VOC adhesives are needed, ensure proper ventilation during and after install
- For floating click-together floors, these systems avoid adhesive entirely
- Select recycled underlayment padding made from recycled tires or foam
- Hire qualified installers experienced with eco-friendly floors
- Dispose of any waste properly by recycling scraps or using waste removal services
Proper installation ensures your new green floors will get off to the right start.
Maintaining and Cleaning Sustainable Flooring
Caring for eco-friendly flooring properly helps it last. Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines which may include:
- Vacuuming, sweeping or dry mopping frequently to remove grit and dirt
- Damp mopping with mild, low VOC cleaner when needed
- Using cabinet and furniture protectors to prevent scratches
- Adding rug mats in high traffic areas
- Replenishing oil finishes for wood floors when they appear dull
- Periodic reapplication of polyurethane on hardwoods for scratch protection
- Annual professional cleaning and recoat services
Avoid wet mopping wood floors and limit water exposure to all floors. Check manufacturer warranty details before using steam cleaners.
Eco-Friendly Flooring Offers Beauty and Sustainability
More homeowners today want floors that are as beautiful as they are sustainable. The good news is quality eco-friendly flooring offers both. By selecting renewable, recycled and non-toxic materials, you can create a gorgeously designed home that leaves a lighter footprint on the earth.
Choosing the ideal sustainable flooring comes down to matching your style, lifestyle and budget priorities. If you live in the Alpharetta, GA area, be sure to visit some of the outstanding eco-friendly flooring stores in Alpharetta GA mentioned above. Their expertise will help you discover the perfect green floors to enhance your home for years to come.
