Fast Floors
There are durable, cost-effective, and very attractive flooring options on the market today that allow the preservation of ever-rarer old-growth hardwood forests. Made from grasses and trees that mature in roughly half of the time (or less) than it takes hardwoods to reach market size, these excellent performers can be a great fit in almost any decor.
Bamboo
Bamboo makes an attractive flooring material that matures in just three to five years. Similar to wood in appearance, it is available in different grain patterns. Bamboo is offered in both light and dark colors and will take limited staining.Bamboo that is used for flooring is harvested primarily in the Hunan province of China. The hollow stems are sliced into strips and boiled, then pressed and processed into boards. Bamboo is naturally light in color, so to achieve a darker color, the bamboo can be pressure steamed to carbonize it. Bamboo is available unfinished or pre-finished and is similar to oak in dent resistance and shrinkage.
Cork
Cork as we know it is in fact the bark of the Cork Oak tree which is native to the Mediterranean. The removal process doesn't harm the tree, and the bark renews itself about every eight or nine years. Most of the cork used in flooring is the byproduct of wine cork production, making it a recycled renewable resource. Cork is naturally light and durable, and provides a flooring material that is soft and resilient underfoot: muffling sound while providing insulation. Cork is increasingly recommended in homes with aging clients because of its natural cushioning effect.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia and New Zealand, but are now being cultivated in South America and California. There are over 500 species of eucalyptus in existence providing a range of colors and grain patterns. The eucalyptus tree can be harvested after just 14 to 16 years as a result of their long growing season.