Can you afford not to use solid hardwood floors?

A floor made in solid hardwood is strong and durable. There are no layers of inferior quality; no glue or harmful chemical substances which can adversely affect the air in a room - nothing but real, natural wood through and through. With a lifespan of 60 years plus, the longevity and lifecycle cost of a good quality solid wood floor are second to none. This means less waste management and ultimately, lower demands on natural resources. In comparison, an engineered wood floor has significantly more embodied energy and uses greater quantities of glue and resin.

Hardwood is a natural, biodegradable and recyclable material and it is non-hazardous when disposed of. Most other flooring types will not last as long, which puts greater pressure on landfill as well as challenges in terms of chemical release during disposal. For example, a solid wood floor has a lifespan four times that of an engineered floor, meaning the total amount of energy used for solid wood floors is further reduced as one solid wood floor is manufactured for every four engineered floors.

Many floor finishes will have to be stripped out and disposed of after ten years or less. At roughly the same interval, a Junckers solid hardwood floor can be sanded and sealed to give it a new lease of life. A structural floor, usually with a thickness of 20mm+, can be sanded between eight and ten times, which means a lifespan of 60 years is comfortably exceeded.

More and more buildings are certified according to schemes such as BREEAM, LEED and DNGB, where each product specified for a project is measured in terms of its sustainability credentials. A manufacturer who can offer responsibly sourced wood with FSC® and PEFC™ accreditation along with and an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) will aid in achieving net zero carbon buildings. An EPD assess the manufacturing and material sourcing activities of a company and presents data in relation to the company’s environmental impact, resource use, waste categories and output flow. The EPD, which represents a measure of the embodied carbon for the product, contributes towards BREEAM, LEED and DGNB assessments by providing the specifier with important data pertinent to achieving sustainability accreditation for a building. A manufacturer who demonstrates the sustainability of its products with traceability and transparency can simplify the specification process a great deal. A solid wood floor is a beautiful backdrop in any building, but there is more to specifying flooring than looks. A knowledgeable technical team coupled with good continuity of supply can make all the difference to finishing a project on time and on budget.