The urgency for “greener” construction is exponential these days. The Eco-friendlier the materials, the less impact your building has on the environment. Additionally, green construction choices can also save investors and business owners a substantial amount of money, both upfront and in the long run. This collective initiative for an environmentally-friendly future has recently presented itself in the flooring industry. What once was considered outdated or second-rate is now becoming popular again, not just for greener purposes, but also for flexible design, durability, and cost savings.
Continue below to learn three Eco-friendly types of flooring that are making a notable comeback in the construction and building industry, plus where to find trusted commercial flooring service in Central Indiana.
Eco-Friendly Commercial Flooring is Green Construction Approved
Eco-friendly flooring is a terrific element of green construction that can be easily incorporated into a commercial remodel or new construction build. Flooring like linoleum, terrazzo, and cork were once considered antiquated or mediocre, but today, they are viewed as superior environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional or higher-end commercial flooring materials on the market.
Let’s take a closer look at each type of flooring for commercial buildings, and how they deliver environmental protection and preservation.
Terrazzo Flooring
Fun fact: terrazzo flooring actually originated in Italy in the early fifteenth century by mistake. Terraces, or terrazzi in Italian, were accidentally peppered with chips of marble, leaving the appointed mosaic artists to solve the error by smoothing the surface over with foot traffic. The results were these beautifully designed floors that resembled slabs of marble or granite.
Terrazzo flooring is very durable and can last a lifetime, so it is commonly used in many commercial buildings, like hotels, museums, government buildings, office buildings, shopping malls, warehouses, and schools. Even better, because of the materials used to manufacture terrazzo flooring, like marble, glass, mother-of-pearl, and recycled plastic, it is considered an Eco-friendly approved flooring option.
Terrazzo flooring delivers the luxury and appeal of marble or granite, but with a much cheaper price tag and a substantially-lower environmental impact. Furthermore, it can be created in an array of different colors and pigments and can even be custom-designed to meet any color or theme.
Linoleum Floors
Sadly, linoleum flooring has lived with an outdated stigma. Many people view linoleum flooring as cheap and aesthetically-undesirable, to put it politely. But the truth is, linoleum flooring has made a substantial comeback in the construction industry. Not only is linoleum an Eco-friendly building material, but it also comes selections of structure and design, is economically-priced, and delivers long-lasting durability. It even has natural anti-bacterial properties.
Do not make the mistake of confusing vinyl with linoleum. While vinyl is synthetically manufactured with chlorinated petrochemicals, linoleum is manufactured from all-natural ingredients. Such ingredients include cork dust, wood flour, linseed oil, tree resins, and ground limestone, as well as dyes pressed onto burlap backings.
In fact, if you break the word apart, you get “linum”, which means flax, and “oleum”, which means linseed oil! We can all thank Englishman, Frederick Walton, who patented the product in 1863. Two common complaints regarding linoleum installation are the after-smell, which fades away after a few weeks, and the need to have the flooring treated with an acrylic sealer to protect it from wear and tear.
Cork Flooring
Cork flooring has been used for ages, but most recently, it has made quite the comeback as top-choice green building material. As a remarkable renewable resource, cork can be applied in several elements of construction. As for flooring, cork delivers a wide range of benefits for both investor and user. Not only is cork and inexpensive material to procure, but it also has several properties that make it a top flooring choice.
Cork floors are naturally anti-bacterial, anti-allergenic, and slip resistant, plus they deliver natural warmth, sound and shock absorption, and cushioned support. But that’s not all; they are scratch resistant, stain resistant, and highly-durable, plus easy to clean and maintain. You can order cork floors in a wide selection of designs and textures.
If you are looking for highly qualified commercial general contractors for your flooring renovation or procurement needs, look no further. Contact BAF Corporation at 317-253-0531 to speak with our skilled commercial flooring contractors in Indianapolis, Indiana. We work with clients all throughout the state.
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