DIY:Eco-friendly floors
For a touch of class and a natural modern feel, you can’t beat a real wood floor. It goes with every colour scheme, looks elegant and is easy to clean. But is not necessarily the most environment-friendly of options.
With irreplaceable forests being depleted at an alarming rate, it seems much real wood flooring is now a luxury most of us would struggle to justify ecologically speaking.
But now there is a way to enjoy beautiful wood floors without the guilty conscience.
Laminate flooring that combines various wood fibres from sustainable forests enables you to have the floor you’ve always dreamed of while maintaining a green conscience. Flooring manufacturer QuickStep produces laminate flooring made from high density fibre (HDF), which is made from various wood fibres. The firm only uses wood that carries a Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) label. This certifies that the wood comes from sustainable forests that are managed in an environment-friendly manner.
Through sensible maintenance and development of the forest, PEFC makes sure its future is guaranteed. Recognised and independent institutions verify when, how many and which trees can be used in order to guarantee the life of the forest.
QuickStep offers a range of different styles and colours to suit every home, large or small. From white brushed pine to natural varnished maple, there is a texture and style to enhance even the smallest and darkest of rooms. The company’s laminate stone range brings you the look of natural stone but is easier to maintain than the real thing. Choose from a black marble-like Trento stone tile for a deeper feel or a creamy-coloured Palermo tile to open up a room.
When choosing the colour of the floor, you should take into account the desired end result and the influence of the other existing or planned colour elements on the interior. The result of this combination can really make or break a room, as the whole space is given a new identity. Don’t be tempted to opt for the same theme throughout your home, as every room is different and requires a specific approach, depending on the desired end result.
As well as being eco-friendly, laminate flooring is much easier to maintain than real wood and has a more durable quality. If you are worried it will look tacky or cheap, you will be pleasantly surprised to see that laminate has come on leaps and bounds and now has a very natural look and feel to it. Surface structures referred to as “natural authentic” and the hand-scraped effect of the “country surface” are at the foundation of a new generation of laminate floors that can barely be distinguished from solid wood.
So now there is no excuse for compromising on looks or ecology, as you can buy environment-friendly and natural looking floors without sacrificing valuable and scarce trees.
