Reused Wood, Rubber Are Alternatives

written by Jennifer Fickley, from the Ledger January 13, 2005

Did you know it takes an average of two to four whole trees to make a hardwood floor for just one room?

In these environmentally conscious days, a growing number of companies are setting up shop to offer an alternative to using new lumber for flooring in homes, by selling flooring products made from re-milled wood, recycled rubber, and all-natural materials that don't require deforestation.

One such product is cork flooring. Because cork is harvested from the bark of a tree, it doesn't require that the tree itself be cut down for use. Cork is removed from trees carefully, and many companies that produce cork for the flooring industry place strict limits on how often cork can be harvested from a single tree, as a way of preserving the tree's health.

According to Rick Elliott, vice president of operations for Duffy & Lee Co. in Lakeland, linoleum also is considered to be environmentally friendly because of its natural composition, and is often a popular choice for doctor's offices and hospitals because of its durability.

"The people that like it, love it," Elliott said. "It's a natural product made of linseed oil, wood flour, resin and dried pigments. It's not synthetic so it's got a lot of pluses."

Also, linoleum offers a lot of choices to match the color scheme of any room.

"It comes in a rainbow of colors," Elliott said. "It's very attractive, long lasting and easy to maintain."

Recycled rubber is yet another earth-friendly option. Commercial Flooring Distributors of Altamonte Springs carries ECOsurfaces tiles and pavers, which are made of 100 percent recycled rubber. Aside from being composed of recycled material, ECOsurface products are available in 49 colors and offer several benefits. Its rubber composition makes the flooring sturdy enough to be used indoors or outdoors, and gives the floor added slip-resistance.

Still, if a wood floor is a must-have in your home, there are several alternatives that are better for the environment than purchasing a brand new wood floor.

Substituting bamboo flooring for wood is one option, because while its color and appearance are similar to wood, bamboo is technically a grass, not a tree, and therefore doesn't require any deforestation to harvest. Bamboo also grows one-third faster than trees and actually regenerates itself, eliminating the need for replanting.

Another alternative is re-milled wood. TerraMai, a company based in McCloud, Calif., creates flooring from wood taken from old phone poles, houses, railroad tracks, and orchard trees, which is cleaned and re-milled for its second use.

Founders Richard McFarland and Erika Carpenter launched the company in 1991, and said that not only do their products save new trees from being cut down, but reusing older wood actually creates a more durable flooring structure.

Carpenter explained the reasoning behind this: Because so many houses were built in the United States in the 1970s, the wood that was available at that time, known as "old growth wood," was more mature and therefore more durable than the younger trees used for lumber today, for the simple reason that old growth trees had more time to develop and thicken.

Aside from being durable and attractive, Carpenter said her re-milled wood floors have found popularity among customers worldwide because each floor comes with its own unique history.

"Basically we buy from a variety of structures, wine tank vats, railway ties," she said. "It's a unique way to express character. Each floor comes from a structure that's got its own history. People call us up and say it's the centerpiece of our home. That's the selling point for us."

Occasionally the floor's past is revealed in the re-milling process, when a metal detector is used to locate any metal inside the wood. Aside from finding an expected number of nails, there have been a few other curious objects found, such as axe blades and bullets.

If purchasing new lumber is essential, homeowners can ensure they're buying wood that was harvested safely by checking for the Forest Stewardship Council seal on the product.

The FSC is a non-profit organization based in Bonn, Germany, that monitors lumber companies around the world to ensure they're not engaging in illegal deforestation or the use of slave labor to obtain timber. Companies that pass the FSC's stringent regulations receive an FSC stamp -- a check mark and tree logo -- on their products. FSC-approved products are offered at both The Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement stores.

For more information on these products, contact Duffy & Lee Co. at 800-778-0001, Commercial Flooring Distributors at 407-788-5331, or visit TerraMai.com on the Internet