If Hardwood Floor Prices Have You Down, Try a More Eco-Friendly Option
Better for the environment and easier on the wallet, too.
From left: Eucalyptus, Marmoleum, Trex, vinyl, cork, and bamboo flooring.
Source: Vendors
Hardwoods are often a first choice when it comes to flooring, but they’re not perfect for every space. For one thing, they’re expensive—even more so now. (See “Lumber by the Numbers” below.) But even if money is no object, hardwoods and pets—or kids—don’t really get along, and sound travels right through them. Thankfully, there’s a whole range of other eco-friendly flooring options that look as beautiful as hardwood and are equally built to last.
Installation for snap-and-click options such as cork or bamboo is roughly two to three hours for a 10-by-20-foot room, but add one to two hours if you have to work around cabinets, a refrigerator, or a toilet. Pros, on the other hand, can finish a 1,000-square-foot space in a day or two.