GO GREEN

Howdyshell Flooring Inc.

Specializing in Hardwood Flooring 804-467-7925

HFI has "Green" options available ...You do have choices!

Floor material - Options
Whether it is Virginia grown & harvested oak or, plantation grown bamboo...You have choices. HFI can provide several recommendations so that your new wood floor helps keep your home and our environment green.

Today a growing worldwide awareness toward conservation and the use of regenerative building products is underway. One sure way to be a good steward of your environment is to buy local. We can offer beautiful oak flooring that is grown, harvested, and milled right here in Virginia. This greatly reduces the amount of energy and waste associated with transportation while at the same time supporting your local economy.
Bamboo flooring is specially cultivated and harvested, without damaging the ecological system of renewal. Every year the parent bamboo plant develops new stems, so the stems can be harvested after 6 years in a mature plantation without decreasing the size of the forest. Bambbo flooring is now available in many different looks and colors. It is a popular choice for residential as well as commercial applications....call HFI to see if this may work on your project

Finishes - Options

Water-based finsihes: These finishes are generally more environmentally friendly due to their lower VOC's as compared to other hardwood floor finishes. Water-based finishes are clear, non-yellowing and produce a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. They are usually available in different sheen levels, have a milder odor than oil-modified finishes, and they dry in about two to three hours. Water-based finishes are generally more expensive and it can be more difficult to perform repairs to scratches down the road. Because water-based products use fewer harsh solvents, petroleum derivatives, or other toxic substances, they reduce the environmental damage and pollution associated with the manufacture of these ingredients and thus are more environmentally friendly.

Oil-modified urethanes: This is the most commonly used floor finish. Oil-based finishes are more toxic as they contain higher VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). Available in gloss, semi-gloss, and satin sheens, oil-based urethane is generally applied in three coats, with drying time of up to 8-24 hours for each coat. This type of finish emits fumes as it dries, so adequate ventilation is important. An oil-based finish ambers with age, is less expensive, feels smoother to the touch and tends to have a richer look than water based urethanes.

Most water-based polys contain only 30 to 35 percent solids, compared with the 45 to 50 percent solids in oil-based products. Since these solids create the protective finish, you need to apply four coats of water-based finish, as opposed to three with oil-based. There’s debate over which finish is harder, but some experts maintain that hardness isn’t necessarily the primary attribute of a floor finish. You want a finish that will flex along with the floor, and a super-hard finish shows scratches more readily.

In conclusion we can see that both types of finishes have their pros and cons. The facts presented will hopefully help you to determine what type of finish is right for you. So whether you opt for the silky feel of an oil finish or its environmentally friendly water based counterpart, rest assured that both finishes will give your floors the protection needed to endure the years to come

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