You may have seen or heard about National Geographic’s powerful documentary “Before the Flood,” hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio, who steps into the role of scientist/journalist to reveal the global threat of climate change. One of the segments focuses on rainforests that are being destroyed at an alarming rate by the palm oil industry, releasing huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
Whether forests around the world are being destroyed intentionally for manufacturing purposes or destroyed by nature itself, more and more people are becoming aware that depleting forests becomes a threat to our planet, and therefore, making “green” choices inside our own homes to help combat this global crisis. One of the steps we can take in contributing to this cause is choosing eco-friendly flooring over wood. General contractors in Las Vegas are seeing more movement towards introducing flooring products to customers who wish to contribute to helping our environment.
There was a time when the term “eco-friendly” meant something good, but visually probably dull. However, today’s designers have changed that stereotype by striving to satisfy eco-friendly customers with a wide variety of beautiful designs! Although other products are out on the market that replicate wood, such as tiles and laminates, we would like to focus on two of the products favored by Eco-Pro Planet flooring solutions here in Las Vegas.
BAMBOO
One of the eco-friendly solutions for flooring installation in Las Vegas we would like to recommend is bamboo flooring. With bamboo, there is no need to fill vast areas of forests and jungles to obtain timber. Instead, bamboo is harvested from massive groves throughout Asia, growing in abundance and regenerating itself to maturity within only 3-5 years. When bamboo is growing, it generates 35 % more oxygen than other trees!
Bamboo flooring offers many different styles to complement your home design. This exquisite flooring is very dependable and is known to surpass some of the more common hardwood floors in strength and durability, as it has an even stronger structure than steel. It has many similar visual characteristics to hardwood, as the way it is milled allows it to be formed into planks, much like hardwood floors. Cleaning bamboo is also eco-friendly as it only needs to be maintained by simply vacuuming and a mop with warm water. There is no need for any chemical cleaners with bamboo. Bamboo flooring can last up to 50 years or more with proper care and can be refinished for a refreshed look. Bamboo flooring is guaranteed to increase the value of your home and will hold up in any environment as long as it is properly acclimated. Your Las Vegas contractor will explain the simple acclimation process when you are ready to install your new bamboo flooring!
VINYL
As more and more consumers lean towards making “green” home renovation improvements, home remodeling in Las Vegas is seeing more vinyl flooring installations. Vinyl flooring has become favored in that with virgin PVC vinyl, it has proven to be the most practical and environment-friendly alternative solution to hardwood floors. Like bamboo, there is no need to fill vast areas of forests and jungles. Vinyl has many other attributes, such as the product can be installed almost anywhere in the home. Vinyl is the most favored choice in the bathroom, laundry, and kitchen areas as it is 100% waterproof with non-slip properties. Vinyl is known for its comfort and durability for more high traffic areas in the home. It is sound absorbing, helping to reduce noise in multi-level homes and homes with young children and pets. The comfort, low maintenance, and scratch-resistant qualities are a bonus for pets. Vinyl is very easy to clean, and should you be installing it on your own, it is one of the easier/faster installations for flooring products. Vinyl can cost as little as 50c per SF, and even with its higher-end premium vinyl at $10 per SF, it is still less expensive than other premium flooring options.
OUR FRIENDS AT ECO-PRO PLANET
GI Construction is embracing “green” by working closely with Eco-Pro Planet to promote its products and give customers a choice of going green. Eco-Pro Planet is a Las Vegas-based manufacturer of eco-friendly building materials made primarily from 100% virgin PVC vinyl (phthalates free). Eco-Pro Planet is passionate about keeping the planet green now and in the future. They strive to provide the best environmental-friendly building products for modern construction professionals while delivering quality, affordable goods with superior customer service. Their vinyl products have been tested by the Consumer Products Safety Commission to ensure their vinyl is phthalate-free as well as:
-100% formaldehyde free
-100% phthalates free
-100% waterproof
-100% sound absorbing and deadening
-Safety and Non-Slip
-Anti-Flaming & Fire Resistant
General construction in Las Vegas is trending more and more towards eco-friendly materials. Going green can have a significant impact on our planet and our lives. GI Construction is honored to work with Eco-Pro Planet as we share their mission to create a safe and healthy environment for our future.
