Eco Friendly Stone Polishing pads Cheetah Overview

Environmental Friendly Stone Polishing pads Cheetah Overview
Stone Restoration Polishing Pads for Marble, Travertine, Limestone & Terrazzo
Cheetah Pads are incredible new stone restoration pads for Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Terrazzo, and other natural stone floors and surfaces. A quantum leap forward in diamond pads technology Cheetah Pads make high quality stone restoration faster, less expensive and more profitable.
Diamond Pads That Perform Stone Restoration in Half The Time
Using traditional diamond pads, stone restoration takes hours. The operator is constantly changing the buffer pads to achieve the correct honing, resurfacing and polishing. Using Cheetah Pads stone restoration of Terrazzo, Marble, Travertine, and Limestone is very fast. The pads allow the operator to combine three and sometimes four steps into just one saving hours of labor. Cheetah Pads on average achieve up a 70% reduction in labor hours.
Marble, Terrazzo, Travertine Floor Repair without Harsh Chemicals or Special Equipment
Cheetah Pads repair high quality stone floors such as Marble, Terrazzo and Travertine using only water. There is no need for powders or harsh chemicals at all. In addition, Cheetah Pads work on standard floor buffers, orbital or planetary machines. There is no special equipment required.
Stone Restoration without 20 Years of Experience
In addition to being fast at stone restoration, Cheetah Pads do not need operators with years of experience to use them. In just a short time regular staff members with minimal training can complete phenomenal resurfacing projects using Cheetah Pads. This includes previously difficult techniques such as lippage removal, honing and polishing.
More Profitable Stone Restoration Projects
advanced technology. The advanced patent pending technology in Cheetah Pads makes this possible.
The Fastest Stone Restoration System On The Planet!!!

Saving hours on labor, chemicals and job time gives your business the competitive edge to win more bids and to earn more profits from this advanced technology. The advanced patent pending technology in Cheetah Pads makes this possible
Diamond Pads That Perform Stone Restoration in Half The Time

• Very easy To Use
• Up to 70% reduction in labor
• As much as 75% lower cost
• Work well on any floor buffer, orbital or planetary machine
• No heavy duty equipment required
• Extremely fast cutting
• No chemicals used, only water
• No acidic components
• Extreme concentration of micro abrasives
• Works incredibly well on ALL Marbles, Travertine, Limestone, Terrazzo and Polished Concrete
• Chemical free Diamond pads are an Eco Friendly way to achieve a dull hone on Travertine, Marble, or Limestone Floors, countertops or walls.
• Use on floors walls or countertops with little to no lippage (uneven tiles).
• Pads remove wear and provide a variety of appearance levels from dull hone (no shine) to highly polished.
• Safe on all stones and tile, will not damage any stone
• Professional strength formula.

Environmentally Friendly

Made in the U.S.A
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• Eco Friendly Cheetah Pads FAQs
• Eco Pads Diamond Stone Polishing instructions
• How to get the most from your Cheetah Eco Pads

Eco Friendly Stone Polishing Pads Video’s

Eco Friendly Cheetah Pads FAQ’s

Cheetah Pads FAQ’s

Q: How long does a cheetah pad last?
A: On Average the cheetah pad can last up to 5000 sq ft. Step one will obviously wear faster due to its aggressive nature. Step 4 will last much longer. Flat leveled even smooth surfaces tend to give a much longer lifespan to the Cheetah pads up to 20,000sqft. Rough textured, uneven surfaces with lippage will wear the pads faster.
Q: What types of surfaces can you use the Cheetah Pads on?
A: Marble, travertine, limestone, terrazzo and polished concrete. Many types of polishing equipment can only be used on certain types of marble, Cheetah Pads however, work effectively on extremely soft and extremely hard types of marble, even on the most difficult of marbles such as the green serpentine and still achieve extremely high gloss meter readings.
Q: How much do the new Cheetah Pads cost?
A: The 17″ Cheetah Pads are $125.00 each. If you compare the Cheetah pad with these other types of products that you’d need to do the same job, the Cheetah is by far the most cost-effective process available today. For example the Cheetah pad step 1 replaces the need to use 50,100,200 & 400 grit resin bond diamond. So, in essence, step 1 the pad is $125.00 compared to the 24 resin diamonds required at $480.00. That’s a savings of over 70%!!!
Q: How fast do cheetah pads work?
A: Taking into consideration the fact that FOUR Cheetah Pads replace eight of the traditional steps of resin bond diamond pads and also the place of marble polishing compounds & crystallizers. The Cheetah is by far faster, you can save as much as 70% on labor when compared to any other traditional marble grinding and polishing systems.
Q: How much weight should the floor machine carry in order for the Cheetah Pad to work at maximum efficiency?
A: Cheetah Pads were designed to be used with even the lightest weight floor machine possible. A heavy duty stone grinding and polishing machine is not required. You can use a machine that weighs as little as 70 lbs to 180lbs. Keep in mind the more weight you use the faster the pad will wear, the ideal weight is approximately 110lbs, that maximizes lifespan and the effectiveness of the pad.
Q: How much training is involved in being able to use the Cheetah pad effectively to offer professional results on marble, travertine, limestone, terrazzo and polished concrete?
A: The traditional methods for stone restoration require years of on-the-job training, thousands of hours practicing and learning because of the complexity of marbles and the thousands of different types of stone make these methods very difficult. The Cheetah four step methods are extremely effective and easy to use on all surfaces mentioned before. In as little as 30min of practice you will be able to offer professional results that are beyond factory polish without worry of risking damage to the surface. The Cheetah is designed to create perfect uniform results on every type of marble, travertine, limestone, terrazzo and polished concrete and do not require extensive training or any high level of skill to produce a fantastic finish.
Q: Is it possible to use them in showers, on counter tops, corners and edges or small areas?
A: YES, Cheetah pads are available from a small 5″ to a 20″ pad size and can be used on a wide variety of different machines in order to achieve professional results on floors, walls and counter tops.
Q: What type of machine do I need to be able to use the Cheetah Pads?
A: The pads were designed to be able to use on all major types of machines for grinding, polishing and resurfacing floors. Walls and counter tops are for the hand held buffer or polisher. The medium size pads can be used on all different types of rotary floor scrubbers or orbital floor polishers and planetary head machines. They also can be used on a cimex as well.
Q: How do I use the Cheetah pad?
A: The simplest description is, in heavily damaged areas the process would be;
1. Put pad on machine, whichever one you are using.
2. Clean surface of any debris laying on surface.
3. Wet the surface where you will be working on and around it.
4. Move the machine in a left to right pattern at a slow steady speed back and forth.
5. Repeat the 4th process 4 to 8 times till damage is removed for light damage if its heavier then check work and if needed do a few more passes.
6. Rinse and vacuum area thoroughly leaving nothing from previous step before moving on to the next also making sure damage is gone.
7. Repeat process 3, 4 & 5 for cheetah pad # 2, 3 & 4. The process is identical to step one except for the fact that all of those extra passes are not necessary. Most situations you only need to do four overlapping passes for each area first. However there are exceptions to these rules, for example some softer stones such as limestone may not require so many passes, harder stones such as the green serpentine marble may require a few more passes and possibly additional weight to help speed the process.
An important point to remember.
Removal of any abrasive debris or soil prior to starting with any grinding or polishing is an absolutely critical process to the success of the job. Be sure to clean vacuum and sweep extremely well before doing anything. Not performing these tasks will just prolong the job and create a tremendous amount of extra work and have adverse results.
Q: Do I have to use all four steps of the Cheetah pads on every job?
A: Absolutely not. You only need to use the steps to achieve the finish you desire. For instance a marble floor that is in very bad condition with extremely heavily worn traffic areas and possible chemical damage to the surface will require a full restoration. This means you would use steps 1-4 to remove the damage and prep the surface before final polishing with the 11,000 grit monkey Pad. If you like using polishing compounds instead of pads, even on extremely worn circumstances you would only need to use step 1 and 2 before polishing with your compounds.
For situations where the customer only desires a slightly glossy surface such as semi-gloss and you have extremely worn or damaged surface use steps 1-2 Cheetah pads then follow the process with 800 or 1500grit Monkey Pads to smooth surface out and give it the semi-gloss look your customer was looking for. If there is an extremely worn surface but customer doesn’t want any shine at all then you would only use Cheetah Pad step1 to remove the damage and give the surface a dull finish then follow that with a 200 grit Monkey Pad to smooth out the surface for a uniform dull honed look.

Q: How much can I charge for the types of services the Cheetah Pads do because they work so fast and cost so little? Does that mean I have to charge less for my services?
A: No, in most cases the customer will find more value in the fact that you can achieve a better result in less time, therefore even though Cheetah Pads are far faster and cost far less than traditional methods you can charge more for the convenience to your customer of being able to use their surfaces faster than it normally would be. Depending on the region of the country you are in and the level of damage and what type of surface you’re working on you can expect to get between two dollars and eight dollars per square foot for complete restoration of stone surfaces. Counter tops and showers should be charged at a much higher rates due to the fact that they are small in square foot size and require extensive work with hand tools typically you would charge double or triple what you would charge for the same type of work on a floor.
Q: Can Cheetah Pads remove lippage?
A: No, Cheetah pads were designed to be the most efficient most effective and easiest to use method for complete restoration of all stone types even in the worst condition and also to produce an extremely high level of gloss. Cheetah pads were not meant for lippage removal. If your customer wants a perfectly flat floor you would need to use metal bond diamond pads to flatten and remove lippage prior to restoration with Cheetah pads.
The Cheetah pads are rated by step1, step2, step3 and step4, what grit level do those steps represent?
Cheetah pads actually contain multiple types of abrasives and multiple grit levels in each pad; therefore there is no simple answer to that question. That is why we have rated them as “step 1″ for removal of heavy damage, “step 2″ is made for removal of moderate to light damage and steps 3 & 4 are our preparation steps for final polishing with the Monkey pads.
Q: How do I know when the Cheetah pad is worn out?
A: When you see no trace of the spiral left on the pad that is when its worn out. Typically the pad itself wears out long before the spiral containing the abrasives wears out.
* Please take a close look at the cheetah pad instructional chart on the TECH INFO page for more detailed examples of what pads are necessary to achieve what level of finish on variety of different surfaces. This will tell you when to start and what steps are required to give you the finish you need.
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Flooring Products That Are HypoAllergenic for Sensitive People

There are several people who suffer from allergies that are triggered by allergens present in their surroundings. People can develop allergies due to a multitude of allergens, such as dust, dust mites, mold spores, sawdust and others. Presence of allergen in the environment may cause adverse reactions in hyper sensitive people, including sneezing, coughing or scratching. Watery-eyes, spots like blisters that are quite painful or lung infection are some other problems which they might face. To prevent these, it is important to avoid all activities and products that aggravate allergens.
There are so many things in the house, like flooring, cleaning solutions and others, which have the potential to harbor allergens, such as dust and dust mites. These can be found in homes where people spend over twelve to fourteen hours daily. Therefore, precaution must be taken to keep homes free from allergic-causing substances.

Homeowners can opt for ‘hypoallergenic’ products which are made using ingredients that are usually light on chemicals. These products are mostly eco-friendly and are manufactured using recycled or organic material. Further, these comprise fewer components, thereby reducing chances of developing allergies. The hypo-allergenic products are generally free from perfumes and odors, which normally make sensitive people sneeze, or feel breathless.
There are many hypoallergenic flooring products that can be chosen by sensitive people. Among all the available options, ceramic tile is the best choice, primarily because of its hard, slick surface that does not allow allergens like dust or mold to settle on it. Ceramic tiles are available in diverse sizes, shapes, designs and patterns. You may also select glass tiles, which are little expensive than ceramic tiles.
People also have the option of selecting environment friendly cork flooring. The tough surface of cork prevents dust and moisture absorption that can give rise to allergy. In addition, cork is free from toxic substances found in few flooring and carpeting products. Besides, you can also choose amongst concrete, rubber, bamboo and hardwood, finished with organic shellac or varnish.

You can also opt for various rugs and carpets, made using natural material like cotton and wool. Linoleum is another great hypoallergenic, Eco green flooring option which is soft, durable, easy to maintain and clean. This naturally fire resistant flooring option is available in a wide palette of appealing colors that can enhance the appearance of any room.
Apart from these flooring options, there are various cleaning and washing formulas that are hypo-allergenic, organic and green. Before purchase, people must read the information and details of each product. This simple measure helps in avoiding purchase of products that contain allergic substances.
In case you are planning to renovate your home and want to install new flooring products, do check whether or not you are allergic to any of them. For example, if you sneeze continuously while walking through the carpet section of a store, probably you are allergic to it. Bamboo can also lead to allergy in certain individuals, causing red rashes all over the body. Thus, it is advisable that you carefully test each product, and purchase those that do not trigger any allergy. With so many options available, you will easily find hypo-allergenic flooring products to which you are not allergic.

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Cypress and Hickory Unique hardwood flooring trends

Amongst all the different flooring options available in the market, hardwood floors are undeniably the most elegant flooring option which adds an aesthetic look to the whole place. Moreover, the hardwood flooring can be installed anywhere, including kitchen, hallway, dining room and living room. These are increasingly being used in residential and commercial buildings. Amongst the different types of hardwood floors such oak, maple, pine, fir or birch; cypress and hickory are the most unique flooring trends of today.
Cypress has become quite popular among homeowners; it resembles knotty pine with better natural tone. These are available in delicate cream and soft brown shades, sometimes with hints of green. Over time, the natural darkening and aging of the wood occurs giving it an amber or honey-colored appearance. In addition, the knots and swirls gives it a more natural and unique appearance. The cypress hardwood flooring beautifully compliments the decor of the house, including any type of furniture or color of the interior. Harder than red oak flooring, cypress hardwood flooring is durable and can easily withstand heavy wear without any damage.

This hardwood flooring option has become the foremost choice of homeowners who want to give a warm and rustic country look to their dwelling. The rustic country look has gained popularity in remodeling old homes as well as in new construction in the past decade. The availability of Cypress hardwood flooring in a wide range of cream and brown tones with so many knots makes it the ideal flooring choice for this effect.
Moreover, the natural darker knots and striations in the cypress wood, makes it a good option for high traffic areas as the scratches and dents, if any, get camouflaged with the wood’s natural patterns. As a result, it easily hides abrasions and stains, unlike other glossier floors. Furthermore, cypress has also become a favorite choice of many hardwood flooring contractors, they find it easy to work with, since it is easy to sand and cut cypress wood.

Another popular choice is the hickory hardwood flooring which is available in a wide spectrum of colors. These are available in almost whites, to tan, and from soft brown to rich dark brown tones of the heart wood. Installing different shades together can produce quite vibrant, unique and dramatic looking hardwood flooring, which easily compliments any kind of decor. As a result, it prevents homeowners from worrying about fixtures and furniture clashing with the flooring. Next only to mesquite wood flooring, it is the second hardest domestic wood species used for hardwood flooring, and proves quite durable and cost-effective over other hardwood flooring such as oaks and maples. Similar to cypress hardwood flooring, hickory can also be used in any part of the house, such as the den, bedroom, living room or family room, giving the place a whole new look.
Hence in case you are building your new home or remodeling the old one and are looking for a good flooring option, choose the cypress or hickory hardwood flooring to give your place a royal and elegant appearance.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

An idea for Kids Room Furnishing

Creating an environment which is a blend of fun, learning and comfort for kids is a challenging task. Parent these days try to make the kids room as exciting as possible so that they learn via every aspect of the room. But, room furnishing comes with knowledge and experience. There are certain aspects you need to keep in mind while furnishing a kids room. The process should be such that each corner of the room speaks volumes for itself. Here are some key aspects.
Bed: Here longevity is the key. Bed is the most expensive thing in the room. Without a doubt kids love their beds. You would often find kids even study on their bed. So, choosing the right bed is very important. There are some terrific theme type beds to really add to a room. There are theme beds that are cars, planes, ships, castles, and under the sea motifs. If you could do the right matching bedding, it can add extra charm to the room.

Book Case: This is where the learning factor comes in. A room should offer fun, but should also carry a weight of responsibility. The room should be a clever blend of enjoyment and study. An ideal book case should club both. If you are completing a theme room, try finding a bookcase that goes along with the idea. If you can’t locate a bookcase that matches the theme, try adding transfers or stencil theme type patterns on the bookcase.
Toy Box: Without a toy box, the kids room can only be described in one word- Incomplete. This fun box should have all the varieties of toys including arcade, sport and puzzles. Consider the room and theme, the child has before picking a toy box for the room.
Chairs: The chairs in the room should be bought depending on the color combination of other furniture items in the room. A chair that is comfortable for kids should be considered. Try purchasing a light weight chair so that kids can take them from one place to another easily. Chairs can be used around a small table for a play and art center, or can also be used to make a comfortable reading area in the room. The modern beanbag chairs can be a good option for the kid’s room.
Floor Heating: This is very important as far as the comfort and health of the kids is concerned. In winter seasons when temperature slips below zero degrees, it is important that the heat frictions between the floor and the foot should have a balance. There are many eco friendly floor heating options available that might be of great help. You can always opt for radiant floor heating mats for a perfect floor heating.
Bathroom: This is the most fun filled part of the kid’s room. A color full bathroom with fancy showers and bath tubs is something that kids look out for. Try to give a more grip based tiles in the bathroom. Greasy tiles may be slippery which is a bit risky for the kids. Unique looking towel bar and toilet holders are also a good idea.

Dresser: Kids like dressing well. So, a dresser with all the essential tools is a must. Having a solidly made dresser that can hold up to having drawers opened and closed is a must. At times people don’t prefer a theme based dresser in order to keep the option of room mobility open. If you don’t want the dresser to be part of the theme, you can always stick to a neutral or basic color such as white, cream or a solid color.
I hope the above mentioned aspects have given some important information on the various aspects of room furnishing for kids.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Use eco friendly products for a healthier home

A number of people complain of dizziness, breathlessness and general uneasiness while using a cleaning solvent. One of the primary causes for this could be sue to the harmful chemicals that are present in cleaning solutions used by you. Apart from such short term effects, harmful chemicals in traditional cleaning solutions are known to cause serious conditions such as cancer.

Ammonia, Chlorine Bleach, Phosphates and Sodium Hydroxide are some of the chemicals that are found in cleaning solutions. These chemicals are not only harmful to humans, but cause severe damage to the environment as well. It is for this reason that you are recommended to use eco friendly cleaning solutions instead of traditional ones that contain harmful chemicals.

A numbers of eco friendly solutions are available in the market these days; however, it is important to carefully analyze their constituents in order to be sure of their eco friendly nature. A few things that you should consider while selecting an eco friendly cleaning solution include their pH levels, level of solvents and their biodegradable nature. Cleaning solutions that have pH levels of either more than 7 or less than 7 are considered to be highly corrosive; therefore, you should look out for a cleaning solution that has a neutral pH level. Solvents such as PGEs (Propylene Glycol Ethers) and EGEs (Ethylene glycol ethers) are also considered to be harmful and should be avoided in a cleaning solution. Finally, it is important to consider the biodegradable nature of your cleaning solution to ensure that it does not harm the environment.

Use of eco friendly cleaning solutions will benefit you & your family by reducing the risk of allergies as well as of toxins. Children and the elderly are generally more prone to allergies that are caused by chemicals found in cleaning solutions. Bleaches, phosphates and perfumes found in most cleaning agents are known to cause severe allergies. It is important to realize this correlation between allergies and such chemicals, and to reduce the use of these harmful chemicals by purchasing eco friendly cleaning solutions.

Most of the traditional cleaning solutions contain toxins that can cause severe conditions such as cancer and respiratory problems. Such solutions, when sprayed or applied to the surface, pose a risk of inhalation, and severe medical conditions in the future. In order to ensure that your house stays free of such toxins, an ideal solution is to phase out the use of traditional cleaning solutions and replace them with eco friendly ones.

Not only are eco friendly products safe for humans and for the environment, their eco friendly nature enhances their cleaning capacity. Such solutions contain effective alkaline formula to ensure that they are safe as well as effective to use on all kinds of stones and tiles. With the numerous benefits of green cleaning solutions becoming apparent, more & more people are opting for the green way of cleaning their house. You too can eliminate the source of toxins and allergens in your house by replacing your traditional cleaning solvents with eco friendly ones.

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Eco Green Stone Care Guide for natural Stone Surfaces

A common concern many people have when purchasing natural stone is maintenance. EcoStone Solutions can solve these problems with our easy to use products. Stone Care maintenance should not be a concern as it generally requires the same amount of care as any other floor or countertop surface.You need to perform preventive maintenance on all your stone surfaces because an ounce of prevention is much easier than a restoration project, and much less expensive.
Countertops
Granite has become the most popular decorative surface in the kitchen. Granite is an attractive and durable natural material but is susceptible to staining as it ranges from slightly porous to very porous. To protect all granite surfaces from staining, we recommend our Granito Impregnator. When applied properly, Granito does not leave a surface coating that could affect food preparation and it will not change the natural appearance of the granite. For routine cleaning, we recommend Kleen Stone Plus, which is safe enough to use daily on granite, tile and other countertop masonry surfaces.
Floors Typically we find travertine, marble or limestone used on our floors. The accumulation of dirt and grit can damage these natural stone surfaces. To minimize wear, sweep or dust surfaces frequently and use mats at all entrances and under areas subject to high traffic conditions. Because the porosity of these flooring materials can lead to staining, we recommend you protect these surfaces with our Travertino & Marmo Impregnator. After the floors are swept or dust mopped, use diluted Kleen Stone to damp mop these surfaces to return them to their natural attractive appearance. Bathrooms
Marble and granite attract soap scum, just like ceramic and porcelain tile. Keep a squeegee available for shower walls, and clean all stone surfaces regularly with Kleen Stone Plus to keep them protected. Use Basic Impregnator in showers to protect against staining.
Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tile generally do not need to be protected, but the grout does. Protect with Basic Impregnator, which is easy to use, and cost effective. When your grout needs a thorough cleaning, use Big Time Grout Cleaner. Maintain with Kleen Stone or Kleen Stone Plus for additional protection.
Do’s and Don’ts of Stone and Tile Care

1. Do use preventive cleaning measures to keep your stone in pristine condition.
2. Do use eco-preferred impregnators from EcoStone Solutions to protect all your stone, tile, and grout.
3. Do blot up spills quickly, especially on marble, travertine and limestone, and rinse immediately.
4. Don’t use any acidic cleaners on marble, limestone, or travertine.
5. Don’t use harsh cleaners on any natural stone.
6. Do visit our website for maintenance instructions.
7. Don’t fear the maintenance of natural stone.
8. Do enjoy your stone and the added value it offers to your home over other surfaces.

Product Selection Guide
Granite & Limestone

• Restoration Cleaner- Powerful Stone and Tile Cleaner
• Daily Cleaner- Kleen Stone Plus™
• Protect- Granito Impregnator™

Travertine & Marble

• Restoration Cleaner- Powerful Stone and Tile Cleaner
• Daily Cleaner- Kleen Stone Plus or Kleen Stone
• Protect- Travertino and Marmo Impregnator™
• Appearance Enhancement – Enhance & Protect™

Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

• Restoration Cleaner and Descaler- Big Time Grout Cleaner™
• Daily Cleaner- Kleen Stone™ or Kleen Stone Plus
  
• Protect- Basic Impregnator™
• Outdoor StoneRestoration Cleaner- Powerful Stone and Tile Cleaner™
• Protect- Basic Impregnator
• Efflorescence Removal for Non-Polished Surfaces- Big Time Grout Cleaner
• Granito Impregnator™

Protects all silicates such as Granite, Quartz, and Slate.

• Travertino and Marmo Impregnator™ Protects all calcium carbonates such as Travertine, Marble, and Limestone.
• Basic Impregnator™Protector for exterior surfaces, grout, showers. Use also as a grout release for new installations.
• Stone Enhancer™Protects and enriches the natural appearance of stone.
• Kleen Stone Plus™Neutral daily cleaner with added protection for your stone and tile. Great for countertops, vanities, showers.
• Kleen Stone™Neutral daily cleaner. Economical. Best for floors.
• Powerful Stone and Tile Cleaner™Concentrated deep cleaner for all stone and tile. Incredible results!
• Big Time Grout Cleaner™Concentrated cerami

It Isn’t Easy Being Green…or Is It?

It Isn’t Easy Being Green…or Is It?

We’ve all heard it in the news. There is a clarion call nowadays to be eco-friendly, or green. Regardless of your thoughts on the global warming situation, being responsible about the environment is something everyone can get behind. If you are renovating your home or buying a new one, environmentally friendly flooring solutions are available to you.

Going “green” with your flooring is a great way to conserve and responsibly manage the earth’s resources. It can also help you live healthier by reducing or eliminating pesky allergens like dust, mold, and mildew. So the question is “What type of flooring is out there?” I’m glad you asked.

Linoleum and Marmoleum.

Let’s start with that ole standby, linoleum. Linoleum is not made from vinyl, as some would have you believe. It was actually originally made from flaxseed oil. A more recent development is Marmoleum. It is made from linseed oil, wood flour, jute, and pine resin. It is very biodegradable and produced with a minimal environmental impact. Couple it with a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) adhesive and get even more benefit.

Hardwoods

If the idea of hardwood flooring makes you smile (of course it does), but the thought of all of those trees meeting an early death to give you a pretty living room makes you cringe, then I have something special for you. Remember this term: “Reclaimed hardwood floors”. That means that the planks for the flooring are made from old torn down buildings like schoolhouses, churches, and barns. They are considered superior to today’s wood planks in many cases because they are taken from earlier generation trees that were allowed to mature to the fullest before being cut-down. They are durable, and available in virtually any finish traditional hardwoods are found in. They cost about the same too. So you can have a beautiful hardwood floor in your home, minus the guilt.

Cork

Cork is an imaginative choice for your eco-friendly flooring. It has a distinct look and some unique benefits as well. You can stand on cork floors for much longer periods of time on cork without hurting your feet, which makes it a great option for the kitchen. It also is soft enough that your can drop breakable objects on it without the worry that they will shatter into a million pieces, which is handy if you have children. It’s environmentally friendly because it is harvested from the bark of the tree, which can be done without harming the tree itself. If you are looking for something fun and responsible, cork is the way to go.

Bamboo

Did you know that in addition to being what is on the dinner table at the panda house, bamboo could be used to make a very cool looking and very eco-responsible floor? Bamboo is a grass that can be grown to full maturity in just a few years. Bamboo is similar to hardwoods in durability, but has a distinctive look that is really starting to catch fire. Those who consider themselves unique can take this flooring route and know that they are doing the environment a huge favor.

Some Tile Alternatives

Maybe you really like the look of tile flooring, and wonder if any options exist for you. I am happy to tell you about tile made from recycled glass. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and only imagination will limit the possibilities. If you are looking for durability and aren’t afraid to pay a little more for it, you should go with stone flooring. It is beautiful, environmentally sound, and will last a lifetime.

As you can see, there are a host of alternatives for your flooring needs if you want to stay “green” and not spend to much green at the same time. Whether you choose the distinct looks of cork, or bamboo, the new generation of reclaimed hardwoods, the affordability of marmoleum, or one of the other options listed, you can rest assured that your won’t have to sacrifice the environment to have the beautiful floor you desire. It’s the best of both worlds, don’t you think?

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