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| Sustainable Building Sourcebook | ||
| Chapter: Materials | ||
| Floor Coverings | ||
| CSI Numbers: 09680 Carpeting, 09681 Carpet Cushion, 09690 Carpet Tile, 09300 Tile, 09760 Floor Treatment, 09700 Special Flooring | ||
| Introduction: | ||
The floor coverings addressed in this section are made from or contain natural or recycled materials. They include non-wood flooring such as carpeting and its padding, tile products, and linoleum (distinctly different than vinyl). These are coverings that might be used in any primary area of a building. Wood Flooring is addressed in a separate section in this Sourcebook . Recycled-content carpet padding is widely available and comes in two primary types; one made from old carpet padding and another from reclaimed carpet fibers. Recycled-content carpeting can be made from recycled PET, derived primarily from post-consumer plastic soft drink containers. It makes for a durable, high-quality and attractive floor covering suitable for residential applications. PET carpet is not durable enough for most commercial applications. However, Collins & Aikman and Interface (see Resources in this section) both carry lines of commercial carpet with a high recycled content (much of it carpet fiber). The use of these materials strengthens recycling efforts and helps conserve resources and energy. Natural linoleum can be made from various combinations of natural materials, including softwood powder or sawdust, linseed oil, pine tree resins, cork, and chalk. Linoleum usually has a jute backing. Natural cork is made from the bark of the cork tree. Sustainable forestry practices should be employed, as with trees in general, in the harvesting of cork. Recycled-content tile is made from a high percentage of waste glass such as light bulbs and auto windshields. Another type of recycled-content tile is made from a byproduct of feldspar mining. Natural carpets are those made from plants, including grasses and cotton, or animal products such as wool. How and if they have been treated is of concern. See Considerations in this Section. | ||
| At-A-Glance Notes: | ||
| Technology: | ||
| Adequately developed. | ||
| Suppliers: | ||
| Available locally. | ||
| Cost: | ||
| Recycled-content padding and carpeting are priced similarly to those typically used. Recycled-content tile (those with very high percentages) can be higher priced than average tile products. Recycled--content carpet is available in a variety of qualities and is competitively priced. Least toxic adhesives for use with ceramic and recycled tile are locally available at competitive prices. Linoleum will cost about the same as high quality vinyl flooring, but more than the least expensive vinyls. Natural carpet materials are more costly than common carpet materials, but competitively priced with standard high quality synthetic carpeting. | ||
| Public Acceptance: | ||
| Healthy home issues are among the highest environmental appeals to home buyers. Buyers may be wary of recycled-content floor coverings, but they will find that they are indistinguishable from non recycled-content products. Natural materials are not as common to many home buyers, but are finding increasing appeal. | ||
| Regulatory: | ||
| None. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) does publish suggested guidelines. See "General Assistance" under Resources in this Section. | ||
| Considerations: | ||
Common floor coverings are most often cited as primary contributors to indoor air contamination. This is because of the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the binders used in making carpet padding and carpeting. VOCs can also come from the adhesives used to apply carpets or their padding, tile, and vinyl flooring. Since homes are now constructed tightly in order to conserve energy, chemicals outgassing from building materials are more potent and harmful. Formaldehyde outgassing is a primary threat from commonly used floor coverings. Airing a building before it is occupied will dilute the chemicals during their most potent initial stage. It is also possible to require that the carpet be aired before it is delivered. However, VOCs can outgas for months and in many cases for years. Reducing the amount of VOCs in the home can be achieved through the choice of alternative flooring solutions. Floor Coverings, Fig. 1
The issue of molds and other allergy-irritating airborne pollutants such as dust mites, pollen and pet dander has been increasingly researched. Results indicate that these pollutants cause half of all indoor air quality problems, with the other half coming from building materials. Choosing hard-surface flooring can reduce the areas in which these pollutants can live and grow. This section identifies recycled-content materials that are durable, high quality, and attractive floor coverings. The use of these materials strengthens the viability of our recycling efforts and greatly benefits our resource and energy impacts. Linoleum and natural carpets use renewable resources and offer durability without compromising aesthetics. The cork used in linoleum can be harvested from the cork tree on an ongoing basis without harming the tree. Along with cotton and wool, other natural carpet-type floor coverings made from grasses and reeds are available. The linseed oil used in linoleum offers an anti-bacterial characteristic that makes this flooring especially desirable in medical and other highly hygienic applications. Wood flour (or sawdust) used in this material often comes from a wood production by-product as well. Linoleum costs more than most vinyl flooring products, but it is far more durable. Those individuals who are extremely chemically sensitive may not want to utilize linoleum due to some (natural) outgassing from the linseed oil. Ceramic tile offers outstanding durability and maintainability. It also has high aesthetic value. | ||
| Guidelines: | ||
Types of recycled paddingRubber-based recycled padding is quite common. It can outgas. Environmentally sensitive individuals should check a sample of the padding material for any adverse reactions. Recycled padding from jute (a plant material) and carpet fibers is also available and may be more suitable for environmentally sensitive persons. AdhesivesAs mentioned above, the glues often used to install carpet, tile or resilient flooring can outgas VOCs. These compounds have been linked to headaches, allergies, nausea and dizziness. In order to reduce or eliminate VOCs during carpet installation:
Linoleum and CorkThese materials are installed similarly to vinyl flooring. If the backing material is jute, the cuts for seams need to be beveled away from the seam. The jute backing "relaxes" with use and will spread out. Select installers who have received factory installation training. Recycled-Content TileRecycled-content tile is handled like ceramic tile. From an indoor air quality standpoint, tile set into a cement mortar bed with a cement grout is a better choice than using glue-down tiles and latex grout. Cement mortar produces fewer fumes than latex grouts and most other adhesives. Products listed in the Resources section are suitable for high traffic commercial applications, as well as for homes. | ||
| Resources: | ||
| Professional Assistance: | ||
Environment Associates Healthy House Institute Clint Good Safe Environments |
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| Components/Materials/Systems: | ||
Austin Fine Floors Bangor Cork CDC Carpets & Interiors Cornerstone Concrete Stain Designer Floors of Texas Dodge-Regupol Eco-Wise Fashion Floors Forbo Industries Freudenberg Building Systems, Inc. Innovative Interiors Intertech Flooring Manchester and Associates Matgirl.com Natural Cork Natural Home Nature's Own Construction Materials Re:Source Texas We Cork, Inc. Designer Floors of Texas Dixie Manufacturing Corporation Dodge-Regupol Dura Undercushions Ltd. Homasote Company Innovative Interiors RB Rubber Products Southwest Fibers C & A Floor Coverings Carpets by Conrad Designer Floors of Texas High-Tech Carpets Image Industries, Inc. Innovative Interiors Interface Carpet Mill Direct Carpet Milliken Environmental Design Group Re:Source Texas Shaw Contract Natural Carpets (wool, sisal, seagreass, jute, etc):Austin Fine Floors CDC Carpets & Interiors Carousel Carpet Mills Designer Floors of Texas Eco-Wise Natural Home Adhesives (water based adhesives are now prevalent):AFM Enterprises, Inc. Designer Floors of Texas Eco-Wise Franklin International Natural Home OSI Sealants, Inc. Recycled Content Tile:Crossville Ceramics Company General Polymer Corp. Summitville Tiles Inc. Syndesis Studio Terra Green Ceramics, Inc. EnviroGLAS Products, Inc. |
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| General Assistance: | ||
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) US EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse
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