Hardwood Flooring is Environmentally Friendly

Did you know that hardwood flooring is not only beautiful, but is also environmentally friendly? With a multitude of choices available, installing hardwood flooring in your home allows you to be creative and care for our environment at the same time!

Sustainable forest management allows wood to be harvested without causing serious harm to the environment due to the fact that trees are a renewable resource. Here are some facts taken from the National Wood Flooring Association's website:

• Average annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than average annual removals (Source: US Department of Agriculture Forest Service)
• Indoor air quality is better with wood floors (Source: US Environmental Protection Agency)
• Wood is a carbon neutral product that produces oxygen during its growth cycle and stores carbon during its service life (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis)
• Wood floors use less water and energy to produce than other flooring options (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis)
• At the end of its service life, wood flooring can be burned as fuel or recycled (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis)
• Wood floors last hundreds of years, so won’t need to be replaced as often as other flooring options (Source: National Association of Home Builders)
• While it takes most hardwood trees 40-60 years to mature, the inventory planted today won’t be needed for 100-plus years (Source: National Wood Flooring Association)
  Learn about installing hardwood flooring in YOUR home by calling GR Flooring and speaking with one of our professionals!

What is the Difference Between Solid and Engineered Hardwood Floors?

One frequent question we get at GR Flooring is, "what is the difference between solid hardwood floors and engineered hardwood floors?" Here is a quick explanation:

 Solid Hardwood Floors: Real wood from a hardwood species is the only material used in solid hardwood flooring. This flooring may be affected by environmental conditions such as extreme heat or rainy seasons which may cause the floor expand and contract. The thickness of the wood allows it to be sanded and refinished many times.




Engineered Hardwood Floors: This flooring is comprised of three or or more layers of HDF or MDF, with a real hardwood veneer, which are bonded together under heat and pressure. This means the wood is less likely to expand and contract in response to the climate.

Call GR Flooring to discuss the best option for your home!