Natural Floors
Natural floors… There was a time when all floors were natural, now we have to go out of our way to find them. A natural floor, as defined by DRAKES, is a floor that is comprised only of natural materials and ingredients.
Marketing is a wonderful thing! So be wary - there are varying degrees of natural. Perhaps the bamboo is natural but the top coat is not. There are varying degrees of greenness - just because something is natural does not mean that it was harvested in an environmentally sound manner or that shipping something all the way from the South Pacific doesn’t leave a “footprint”. There are varying degrees in quality. For example if bamboo is harvested prior to its recommended maturity, it will not be as strong as many claim bamboo to be. http://www.fscus.org/
Regulations, definitions and qualifiers of “Natural” and “Green” are not universally clear. There are lots of pseudo natural floors out there, so be careful, be sure you consult with DRAKES to determine the greenness and naturalness of your floors to ensure you get a product that is in line with what is most important to you.
BAMBOO
Bamboo is all the rage these days and comes in various styles and colors. As in the examples above, it is notoriously sold to customers as green and natural when there are distinct differences in quality, manufacturing materials, and the like. We have a variety of Bamboo products to fit your budget and conscience.
Cork is the bark of the Cork Oak Tree or Quercus suber which grows primarily near the Mediterranean. Cork is harvested about every 9 years, but cannot be harvested the first time until the tree it is taken from is 25 years old. Cork flooring is often made from the remnants that are created when punching out wine bottle stoppers from the harvested sheets of bark. Cork tiles come in varying thicknesses, it can be stained so there are color options, it can have several types of top coats and it can be refinished like hardwood floors. It also comes in planks and can be installed as a floating floor. Cork can serve as an underlayment for wood or other flooring applications and has natural sound dampening characteristics.
Marmoleum is a beautiful, durable, clean, and allergen-free linoleum floor covering that is warm to the touch and comfortable under foot. It comes in over 100 color options and is available in sheet, tile and click planks. Harmful micro-organisms cannot live or breed on Marmoleum flooring. It is made from natural ingredients: Linseed Oil (from the flax plant), Wood Flour (saw dust), Rosins from pine trees, environmentally responsible pigments, with a backing made from natural jute fibers. That’s it…all natural.
Technology puts it together responsibly as well. Forbo, the manufacturer, is a leader in creating better environments. Come to the store to see the many ways you can make your floors fun with Marmoleum.
Natural fibers are soft, durable and can last a life time when well cared for.
We carry 100% wool carpet in a variety of styles and colors. The Natural wool carpet that we have available has a natural fiber jute backing held in place with natural rubber latex. This results in an ultra-low toxicity floor covering which actually improves indoor air quality for your health and comfort. http://www.carpet-rug.com/technical_bulletins/9902_Carpet_and_IAQ.pdf
We also carry wool carpet with backings that are manufactured using traditional materials and methods. Although this wouldn’t be Natural, it is considered “green carpet” because it meets CRIs green label program. http://www.carpet-rug.org/residential-customers/selecting-the-right-carpet-or-rug/green-label.cfm
RUBBER
Rubber flooring:
- virgin - from trees,
- synthetic – manufactured, or
- recycled – reclaimed post-consumer.
Tiles, sheets, panels…endless uses. If you are putting in a gym or playground, or have another idea, give DRAKES a call and we will be happy to consult with you.
LEATHER
The latest trend in floors uses the leftover pieces from leather producing product manufacturing to create beautiful and elegant leather flooring. Typically sold in planks as a floating floor, it is an excellent alternative to traditional flooring.
Many people feel that nothing is more beautiful than natural stone floors. If you are interested in Marble, Travertine, Slate, Limestone, or any other natural stone floor, we can get you the best product at great prices and provide you with the highest quality installation. Stone flooring is easy to care for but depending on the stone, there can be periodic maintenance that is not inexpensive. As with all floors, the better you take care of it, the longer it will last and major refinishing costs are minimized. There is a lot to share about natural stone, so please see our Natural Stone page for more information.