The importance of being Eco friendly: an example with the use of wooden floor
After the closure of the Green build Expo in late June this year, it is now time to underline to consider the main topics discussed during the event in more detail. We can pinpoint various original innovations, but it appears even more important to underline the focus on wooden floors. Indeed, more attention was made to this peculiar topic as the message to consumers was to pay attention to the provenance of the wood they use for their floors. This comes as more and more people are opting for wooden floors for their houses nowadays.
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This phenomenon can be explained due to several reasons, the following being the main ones which encourage consumers to opt for wooden floors:
– It looks better than most surfaces
– Creates a warm atmosphere
– hard-wearing
– Easy to clean and maintain
The issue is that since wooden floors are getting more and more popular, the consequences for the environment are growing more dramatic with tree cutting booming round the world, and the number of forests threatened by deforestation increasing each year.
Therefore the solution is to encourage contractors to extract wood from protected forests, also known as sustainable forests. These forests are mostly located in Europe and North America and are characterized by the fact that for each tree cut, more are planted in their place.
And when you know that forest loss is the second largest contributor to global warning it adds even more importance to the reforestation cause.
Use the existing wooden floor
If you already have a wooden floor in your French property but it’s not in good condition, you shouldn’t buy a new one as it is generally expensive and not very practical. Therefore, you might consider renovating your wooden floor. If some areas are damaged, you should think of replacing them with new pieces of wood. The best option would be to replace them with environmentally friendly wood, which you should be able to find at similar prices to new wood. And don’t be afraid of the aesthetic aspect as it can look fine if you find a wood that matches your original parquet. Otherwise, you could think about treating each of the damaged pieces (sand, paint and then wax them…) but it could be time consuming.
This technique requires some time and physical effort so if you want to avoid it, there is another quite popular solution these days: putting a laminated floor over your damaged parquet.
Use laminated wooden Floors
Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product, fused together in a lamination process. It simulates wood but is more like a photo under a clear protective layer.
Laminated wooden floors possess many advantages compared to other coatings:
– environmentally friendly material
– impact resistant
– almost maintenance free
– Cheaper than other wood flooring
In fact, laminate floors are very popular amongst pragmatic customers because they know that it is extremely hard wearing and nothing will happen to the floor in the coming years. Moreover, installing it is very easy and can be executed by a non-professional. One other advantage is that a wood block can be polished if any defect appears on its surface. Laminate flooring will definitely be an asset your French property. However, it is important to have a look at how to treat your floor.
Be tempted by reclaimed flooring
Reclaimed wood flooring is wood that was previously used in the building of another structure, then recycled and used in a new building. This new trend has been booming for the last few years now and attracts more and more customers. It’s become popular for many reasons:
– You can get some exceptional pieces of wood that will enhance your entire French property
– It is extremely sustainable
– It adds character and charm
– The value for money of a floor for life
Despite being popular, this type of flooring has some drawbacks:
– You must know where the wood comes from to avoid using wood full of chemicals
– Most reclaimed parquet flooring could have a layer of bitumen on the underside
– You need to clean the wood before laying it
– Could be the most expensive parquet flooring
Maintaining your wooden floor: the importance of using quality floor treatments
Choosing a wooden floor that comes from a protected forest is crucial; however it is also important to think beyond the primary material.
You must also consider the use of protective oils and waxes which are environmentally friendly. Products which do not contain any solvents or organic ingredients will make your floor look great and will improve the appearance of the wood. Moreover, quality finishes prevent the need for regular treatments and mean you can avoid damaging the floor with chemicals used in the maintenance of such surfaces.
To summarize:
If you have a wooden floor and you want to change it, there are several options available. It all depends on what your expectations are, your budget and your tastes. Currently, reclaimed wooden floors are very popular but extremely expensive. Laminate flooring, the cheaper option, is thus become more popular. Whichever type of wooden floor you opt for, you may well have to treat and clean the wood to ensure it looks great. As a result, it is vital to choose quality wood cleaning products.
Here is an example of a beautiful character stone house with a nice wooden floor that is available with Sextant French Properties. If your budget stretches further, this French Manor might be the one for you.