What are the synthetic flooring options?

Recommended Flooring

We recommend the use of solid surface flooring instead of carpet whenever possible. This will help you avoid the chemical and allergen air pollution commonly associated with carpeting.

Solid Wood

Suitable for bedrooms and living areas

Hardwoods like oak and maple take longer to grow, but are generally more resistant to dents and damage than softwoods like pine and birch, which grow faster and are more easily replenished. Hardwood planks are typically more expensive for the raw material, though costs to install and finish the wood should be the same.

Verify that the wood species you choose is not endangered. The U.K. branch of the nonprofit Friends of the Earth maintains a Good Wood Guide with more information on different types of timber.

Note the following when using solid wood flooring:

• Select products that are FSC certified, as this indicates that the wood was sustainably harvested; or check green building retailers for recycled or salvaged wood that has not been previously painted, glued or coated (ask for documentation of the wood’s source);
• Look for wood that has been harvested and milled locally if possible, to reduce the product’s carbon footprint;
• Install wood flooring with nails, not glue;
• Seal with a water-based, Green Seal 11-certified finish; or choose pre-finished floors, instead of those finished on-site, to avoid exposure to fumes from stains and finishes.
• Water damage is a common problem with solid wood flooring, so it is not recommended for bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms.

Natural Linoleum

Suitable for most rooms, including bathrooms and kitchens

Linoleum is an environmentally friendly, affordable flooring option. It is both water-resistant and resilient, meaning it has a little give, which makes it a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

Natural linoleum is a mixture of linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, cork flour, limestone and pigments pressed together onto a jute backing. This low-maintenance option can be installed on wood or concrete subfloor, and typically needs just a coat of natural wax (beeswax and linseed oil) for protection and care. With proper upkeep, these floors should last for decades.

Note the following when using linoleum flooring:

• Choose interlocking linoleum tiles that can be installed easily without the need for adhesives, or sheet linoleum with low-VOC, solvent-free adhesives;
• “Linoleum” is sometimes used generically to refer to vinyl flooring, so verify that you have chosen natural linoleum made from linseed oil;

Dirt can stain or mar the finish, so regular vacuuming or damp mopping is important. Never leave the floor wet and clean up spills promptly because water can damage the surface, as can harsh cleaners.

Ceramic, Porcelain and Glass Tile

Suitable for most rooms, including bathrooms and kitchens

Ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles are durable choices for solid-surface flooring and are good for rooms with a lot of moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens. For a sustainable choice, look for glass tiles made from recycled materials. We don’t recommend stone tile, however, as it is energy intensive to mine, handle and transport.

Note the following when using tile flooring:

• Buy tiles made in the U.S. to avoid lead glaze;
• Use low-VOC or Greenguard Gold-certified cement backer board;
• Use water-based adhesive, cement thin set (also known as mortar) to set tiles;
• Use cement-based grout, which does not emit harmful VOCs;
• Use low-VOC sealant to protect the grout and tile; and
• Cut or grind tiles outside to reduce inhalation of dust.

The advantage and disadvantages of vinyl flooring vary significantly depending on the type and quality of the product you choose.
The well-known advantages of vinyl flooring are many. It’s comfortable and quiet underfoot, resistant to damage and moisture, easy to install and maintain, affordable, and available in a large number of colours and designs. This makes vinyl flooring a popular choice with a range of consumers, particularly the design and budget-conscious DIY consumer. Also, vinyl floors are a sustainable flooring solution as Tarkett is strongly committed to the responsible use of PVC. We apply Cradle to Cradle® principles, choosing EPEA (Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency) assessed materials for all our vinyl flooring products to ensure complete transparency throughout the production chain. Vinyl rolls are ReStart® Ready* meaning they can be part of Tarkett recycling program, depending on certain countries. Where possible, we also use materials that are both recycled, recyclable, with as low an environmental impact as possible to produce our vinyl rolls. On top, all our plants use 100% green energy.
(*Terms of registration may vary per country. Contact your local Tarkett sales offices to find out how to register for ReStart® in your country.)

On the downside, vinyl flooring can be difficult to remove if it’s glued down, it can dent with heavy objects on top of it, and it can be punctured with very sharp objects. Another disadvantage of vinyl flooring is its inability to support very high temperatures and a tendency to show fading and discolouration with excessive UV exposure. For these reasons, vinyl is generally not recommended in rooms with exposure to too much direct sunlight, such as verandas.

However, new technologies mean that vinyl flooring continues to evolve in both its design and construction, with some products now able to counter the disadvantages mentioned above. Tarkett’s Rigid LVT – Starfloor Click Ultimate, for instance, is made with an extra dense, rigid composite core that can shrug off spills in the kitchen and bathroom, temperature variations in the veranda, and the continuous battering of busy family life. And our vinyl rolls have exceptional lightfastness values making them highly resistant to fading when exposed to light.