Support About Us Register My Account Login Logout
  • 800.405.0222
Shopping Cart
 ITEMS   $0.00
 
Proceed To Checkout
  • sustainable
    FLOORING
    • Cork Flooring

      • Waterproof Cork Flooring
      • Cork Underlayment
      • Traditional Cork Flooring
      • Cork Molding
      • Moisture Barrier, Tools & Adhesive
      • Sustainable Sample Boxes
      • View All Cork Flooring

      Marmoleum

      • Floating Click Marmoleum
      • Sheet - Glue Down
      • Tile - Glue Down
      • Underlayment, Tools & Adhesive
      • View All Marmoleum

      Bamboo Flooring

      • Solid Bamboo Flooring
      • Engineered Bamboo Flooring
      • Floating & Click Bamboo Flooring
      • Tongue & Groove Bamboo Flooring
      • Bamboo Molding
      • Underlayment, Tools & Adhesive
      • View All Bamboo Flooring

      Hardwood Flooring

      • Underlayment, Tools & Adhesive
      • Hardwood Molding
      • View All Hardwood Flooring

      Wool Carpet

      • Wall to Wall Wool Carpet
      • Carpet Pad
      • Wool Area Rugs
      • View All Wool Carpet

      Shop By...

      • Waterproof Flooring
      • Click Flooring
      • Vinyl Flooring
      • Laminate Flooring
      • Polyurethane Finish Flooring
      • Engineered Flooring
      • Floating Flooring
      • Oil Finish Flooring
      • View All Flooring

      Trusted Brands

      • Amorim
      • Nature's Carpet
      • Kahrs
      • Nova
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Green Building Supply Bamboo
      • Pure Life Carpet by Kaleen
      • Tesoro Woods
      • Earth Weave
      • Unique Carpets, Ltd.
      • Teragren
      • Wicanders
      • J Mish
      • DriTac
      • View All Trusted Brands
      • View All Brands

      Shop By Price

      • $3 to $4
      • $4 to $5
      • $5 to $6
      • $6 to $7
      • $7 to $8
      • $8 to $9
      • $9+

      Learning Center

      • Which Floor is Right for Me?
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • Why we Don't sell Luxury Vinyl Tile!
      • Marmoleum Buyer's Guide
      • The Difference Between Waterproof and Water Resistant Flooring
      • 44 Reasons Why We Don't Sell Synthetic Carpeting
      • Bamboo Flooring Buyer's Guide
      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • View All Learning Center
      • View All Learning Center
  • non-toxic
    PAINTS & COATING
    • Paints & Primers

      • Paints & Primers
      • Strippers & Thinners
      • Plasters & Pigments
      • Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives

      Wood Stains & Sealers

      • Hardwood Floor Finish
      • Wood Stains & Sealers
      • Odor Blocking Sealers
      • Grout Sealers
      • Concrete & Masonry Sealers
      • Polyurethane Sealers

      Brushes & Tools

      • Brushes & Tools
      • View All Paint Tools and Accessories
      • View All Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings
      • View All Non Toxic Paints and Coatings

      Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Bioshield
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • ECOS Paints
      • Silacote
      • Vermont Natural Coatings
      • Paperstone
      • Chemlink
      • Caliwel
      • Pro-Lab
      • Radiosity
      • Franmar
      • Gulf Synthetics
      • View All Trusted Brands
      • View All Brands

      Learning Center

      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • What Makes a Healthy Paint
      • Samples
      • View All Learning Center
  • eco
    HOME GOODS
    • Energy, Water & Air

      • Air Purification
      • Lighting
      • Tubular Skylights
      • Test Kits & Energy Monitors
      • Insulation
      • Water Purification
      • View All Energy, Water & Air

      Eco Home Goods

      • Cutting Boards
      • Utensils
      • View All Eco Home Goods

      Cabinets & Countertops

      • Cabinets
      • Countertops
      • Non-Toxic Kitchens
      • View All Cabinets & Countertops

      Building Materials

      • Roofing
      • Sheet Goods
      • View All Building Materials

      Trusted Brands

      • Austin Air
      • Natural Light Energy Systems
      • EcoStar
      • Pro-Lab
      • Radiosity
      • AquaRain
      • Brava
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • Air Purifiers: An Introduction
      • Using Marmoleum for Countertops and Wainscotings
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Is solid wood T-1-11 safe for interior use?
      • Can a wood butcher block countertop be permanently sealed?
      • View All Learning Center
  • healthy
    CLEANERS
    • Healthy Cleaners

      • Floor
      • Household
      • Mold & Mildew
      • Body Soaps
      • View All Healthy Cleaners

      Blissfully Clean

      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Extra Sponges
      • View All Blissfully Clean

      Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Bioshield
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • Wools of New Zealand
      • Blissfully Clean
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Paperstone
      • Caliwel
      • Woodwise
      • Pro-Lab
      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
      • Franmar
      • PerfectCLEAN
      •  
      •  
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • What is the safest primer to use to get rid of tobacco smells in a home?
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Blissfully Clean 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
      • Samples
      • View All Learning Center
  • shop
    ALL DEPARTMENTS
    • Sustainable Flooring

      • Cork Flooring
      • Marmoleum
      • Bamboo Flooring
      • Hardwood Flooring
      • Wool Carpet
      • Tools & Supplies
      • Adhesives & Underlayment
      • View All Sustainable Flooring

      Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      • Wood Stains & Sealers
      • Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives
      • Concrete & Masonry Sealers
      • Paints & Primers
      • Hardwood Floor Finish
      • Odor Blocking Sealers
      • Grout Sealers
      • Strippers & Thinners
      • Plasters & Pigments
      • Polyurethane Sealers
      • Brushes & Tools
      • View All Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      Eco Home Goods

      • Cutting Boards
      • Utensils
      • View All Eco Home Goods

      Cabinets & Countertops

      • Cabinets
      • Countertops
      • Non-Toxic Kitchens
      • View All Cabinets & Countertops

      Energy, Water & Air

      • Air Purification
      • Lighting
      • Tubular Skylights
      • Test Kits & Energy Monitors
      • Insulation
      • Water Purification
      • View All Energy, Water & Air

      Healthy Cleaners

      • Floor
      • Household
      • Mold & Mildew
      • Body Soaps
      • View All Healthy Cleaners

      Blissfully Clean

      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Extra Sponges
      • View All Blissfully Clean

      Building Materials

      • Roofing
      • Sheet Goods
      • View All Building Materials

      Shop By...

      • Customer Favorites
      • Featured
      • On Sale
      • New Arrivals
      • Free Shipping

      Top Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • Amorim
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Kahrs
      • Bioshield
      • ECOS Paints
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • Blissfully Clean
      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Caliwel
      • Chemlink
      • Natural Light Energy Systems
      • Tesoro Woods
      • Unique Carpets, Ltd.
      • Earth Weave
      • Paperstone
      • Teragren
      • EcoStar
      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
      • DriTac
      • Gulf Synthetics
      • J Mish
      • Franmar
      • Brava
      • Wicanders
      •  
      •  
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Top Articles

      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • Why we don't sell luxury vinyl tile!
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • What Makes a Healthy Paint
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Samples

      Learning Center Categories

      • Flooring
      • Paints & Coatings
      • Cabinets & Countertops
      • Cleaners
      • Energy, Water & Air
      • Building Materials
      • Featured Articles
      • In the News
      • Green Home Guide Articles
      • Green, Greenwashing & Chemical Sensitivities
      • Webinars
  • 800.405.0222
  • FLOORING
    • Cork Flooring

      • Waterproof Cork Flooring
      • Cork Underlayment
      • Traditional Cork Flooring
      • Cork Molding
      • Moisture Barrier, Tools & Adhesive
      • Sustainable Sample Boxes
      • View All Cork Flooring

      Marmoleum

      • Floating Click Marmoleum
      • Sheet - Glue Down
      • Tile - Glue Down
      • Underlayment, Tools & Adhesive
      • View All Marmoleum

      Bamboo Flooring

      • Solid Bamboo Flooring
      • Engineered Bamboo Flooring
      • Floating & Click Bamboo Flooring
      • Tongue & Groove Bamboo Flooring
      • Bamboo Molding
      • Underlayment, Tools & Adhesive
      • View All Bamboo Flooring

      Hardwood Flooring

      • Underlayment, Tools & Adhesive
      • Hardwood Molding
      • View All Hardwood Flooring

      Wool Carpet

      • Wall to Wall Wool Carpet
      • Carpet Pad
      • Wool Area Rugs
      • View All Wool Carpet

      Shop By

      • Waterproof Flooring
      • Click Flooring
      • Vinyl Flooring
      • Laminate Flooring
      • Polyurethane Finish Flooring
      • Engineered Flooring
      • Floating Flooring
      • Oil Finish Flooring

      Trusted Brands

      • Amorim
      • Nature's Carpet
      • Kahrs
      • Nova
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Green Building Supply Bamboo
      • Pure Life Carpet by Kaleen
      • Tesoro Woods
      • Earth Weave
      • Unique Carpets, Ltd.
      • Teragren
      • Wicanders
      • J Mish
      • DriTac
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • Which Floor is Right for Me?
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • Why we Don't sell Luxury Vinyl Tile!
      • Marmoleum Buyer's Guide
      • The Difference Between Waterproof and Water Resistant Flooring
      • 44 Reasons Why We Don't Sell Synthetic Carpeting
      • Bamboo Flooring Buyer's Guide
      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • View All Learning Center
  • PAINTS & COATING
    • Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      • Paints & Primers
      • Strippers & Thinners
      • Plasters & Pigments
      • Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives
      • Hardwood Floor Finish
      • Wood Stains & Sealers
      • Odor Blocking Sealers
      • Grout Sealers
      • Concrete & Masonry Sealers
      • Polyurethane Sealers
      • Brushes & Tools
      • View All Paint Tools and Accessories
      • View All Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Bioshield
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • ECOS Paints
      • Silacote
      • Vermont Natural Coatings
      • Paperstone
      • Chemlink
      • Caliwel
      • Pro-Lab
      • Radiosity
      • Franmar
      • Gulf Synthetics
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • What Makes a Healthy Paint
      • Samples
  • HOME GOODS
    • Energy, Water & Air

      • Air Purification
      • Lighting
      • Tubular Skylights
      • Test Kits & Energy Monitors
      • Insulation
      • Water Purification
      • View All Energy, Water & Air

      Eco Home Goods

      • Cutting Boards
      • Utensils
      • View All Eco Home Goods

      Cabinets & Countertops

      • Cabinets
      • Countertops
      • Non-Toxic Kitchens
      • View All Cabinets & Countertops

      Building Materials

      • Roofing
      • Sheet Goods
      • View All Building Materials

      Trusted Brands

      • Austin Air
      • Natural Light Energy Systems
      • EcoStar
      • Pro-Lab
      • Radiosity
      • AquaRain
      • Brava
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • Air Purifiers: An Introduction
      • Using Marmoleum for Countertops and Wainscotings
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Is solid wood T-1-11 safe for interior use?
      • Can a wood butcher block countertop be permanently sealed?
      • View All Learning Center
  • CLEANERS
    • Healthy Cleaners

      • Floor
      • Household
      • Mold & Mildew
      • Body Soaps
      • View All Healthy Cleaners

      Blissfully Clean

      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Extra Sponges
      • View All Blissfully Clean

      Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Bioshield
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • Wools of New Zealand
      • Blissfully Clean
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Paperstone
      • Caliwel
      • Woodwise
      • Pro-Lab
      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
      • Franmar
      • PerfectCLEAN
      •  
      •  
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Learning Center

      • What is the safest primer to use to get rid of tobacco smells in a home?
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Blissfully Clean 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
      • Samples
      • View All Learning Center
  • ALL DEPARTMENTS
    • Sustainable Flooring

      • Cork Flooring
      • Marmoleum
      • Bamboo Flooring
      • Hardwood Flooring
      • Wool Carpet
      • Tools & Supplies
      • Adhesives & Underlayment
      • View All Sustainable Flooring

      Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      • Wood Stains & Sealers
      • Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives
      • Concrete & Masonry Sealers
      • Paints & Primers
      • Hardwood Floor Finish
      • Odor Blocking Sealers
      • Grout Sealers
      • Strippers & Thinners
      • Plasters & Pigments
      • Polyurethane Sealers
      • Brushes & Tools
      • View All Non-Toxic Paints & Coatings

      Eco Home Goods

      • Cutting Boards
      • Utensils
      • View All Eco Home Goods

      Cabinets & Countertops

      • Cabinets
      • Countertops
      • Non-Toxic Kitchens
      • View All Cabinets & Countertops

      Energy, Water & Air

      • Air Purification
      • Lighting
      • Tubular Skylights
      • Test Kits & Energy Monitors
      • Insulation
      • Water Purification
      • View All Energy, Water & Air

      Healthy Cleaners

      • Floor
      • Household
      • Mold & Mildew
      • Body Soaps
      • View All Healthy Cleaners

      Blissfully Clean

      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Extra Sponges
      • View All Blissfully Clean

      Building Materials

      • Roofing
      • Sheet Goods
      • View All Building Materials

      Shop By

      • Customer Favorites
      • Featured
      • On Sale
      • New Arrivals
      • Free Shipping

      Top Trusted Brands

      • Green Building Supply
      • Amorim
      • AFM Safecoat
      • Kahrs
      • Bioshield
      • ECOS Paints
      • Rubio Monocoat
      • Blissfully Clean
      • PerfectCLEAN Cloths
      • Forbo Marmoleum
      • Caliwel
      • Chemlink
      • Natural Light Energy Systems
      • Tesoro Woods
      • Unique Carpets, Ltd.
      • Earth Weave
      • Paperstone
      • Teragren
      • EcoStar
      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
      • DriTac
      • Gulf Synthetics
      • J Mish
      • Franmar
      • Brava
      • Wicanders
      •  
      •  
      • View All Trusted Brands

      Top Articles

      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • Why we don't sell luxury vinyl tile!
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • What Makes a Healthy Paint
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Samples

      Learning Center Categories

      • Flooring
      • Paints & Coatings
      • Cabinets & Countertops
      • Cleaners
      • Energy, Water & Air
      • Building Materials
      • Featured Articles
      • In the News
      • Green Home Guide Articles
      • Green, Greenwashing & Chemical Sensitivities
      • Webinars
  • 800.405.0222
  • My Account
  • Register
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Safe for Chemical Sensitivities
  • We Ship Nation Wide*
  • 32 Years Eco Experience
Learning Center > Flooring > 
Flooring

Is there an affordable and eco-friendly floor for my basement?

by
Joel Hirshberg Originally published April 9, 2013 in the Green Home Guide, a service of the U.S. Green Building Council

Q: I want to replace my floors. I'm trying to avoid a lot of chemicals and I would like something eco friendly. The problem is the greener the product, the more expensive it is—most products are out of my price range. I've read that you can't put real wood on a concrete slab but I think the wood I have now is real. The carpet guy said it looks glued down. I read that laminate floors off-gas quite a bit and that they weren't eco-friendly, then I'm seeing floor companies that carry "greener" laminates that are made from recycled materials and use low chemical glues. I'm finding so much conflicting information that I am thoroughly confused. Help.
—asked by Terry, Mount Holly, NJ

A: Your confusion is valid. Understanding the chemical nature of various flooring requires much research and skill. It seems you almost need a PhD in chemistry to decipher the cryptic language as well as the hype. There are several questions here; let me try to answer them in order.

Which eco-friendly floors are designed for concrete subfloors?

First, since you live in NJ where the climate can be cold and dry in winter and hot and muggy in summer, there can be moisture issues in concrete slabs and walls. Whether in a basement or your main floor, dry concrete absorbs moisture from the ground—almost like a sponge—and if it’s an older home, vapor barriers are either non-existent or not very good at preventing moisture from seeping through. So, your first requirement before choosing the right floor is to make sure your basement conditions are suitable, i.e the floor is clean, dry, level and humidity levels are maintained at 30-50% year round. Achieving that can be harder and costlier than you think.

Although you did not mention why you want to replace your existing floor, my hunch is that you either don’t like the look or it’s in poor condition.

Which ones are reasonably priced?

From an environmental and cost point of view, assuming the above conditions have been met, the best thing to do would be Plan A: refinish your floor by sanding and recoating (Total cost $3-$4/SF).

While there will be some dust, professional flooring companies have new sanding equipment that produces almost no dust. And for the finish, there are available non-toxic polyurethanes that are very low odor and don’t off-gas once cured. We have used AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP for years with excellent results. They are not just water-based, but actually have no solvents or toxic chemicals.

The refinishing/recoating process usually costs about $3-4/SF depending upon how much prep work is needed and how many coats of poly you want. This is a process that can be done by yourself if you are so inclined. It’s not for everyone, and there is a steep learning curve.

Also, ecologically speaking, plan A does not require the cutting of any trees, or shipping products around the world or utilizing extra resources.

Plan B would be: glue down a new solid unfinished or prefinished hardwood or bamboo floor. (Total cost $5.25-$13/SF)

Gluing a ¾” solid wood or bamboo floor could be pricey as there may be serious floor prep in removing your existing hardwood floor ($1-$2) plus the glue and installation ($1.75-$3) + flooring ($2.50-$4 unfin to $3-$8 prefinished). If you go with an unfinished floor, it will need to be sanded and coated. If you use a prefinished hardwood or bamboo, there will be no sanding or coating, just the installation costs plus the glue.

The ecological ramifications are cutting trees or grass which is ok if they are sustainably harvested products carrying the FSC label (Forset Stewardship Council). That label ensures the flooring is harvested, manufactured and distributed in a socially, economically and environmentally responsible manner. There is, however, still carbon involved in the shipping, distribution and quite a lot of resources involved in fabricating and installing a new hardwood or bamboo floor.

Plan C would be: float a wood/bamboo/cork/linoleum floor. (Total cost: $5.75-$12.50/SF less $1.75 - $2.50 if done by yourself)

There are several advantages to a floating floor:

1) Its easier and faster installation can save time and money, especially if you do it yourself.

2) It can be installed right over the existing subfloor (such as vinyl, asbestos tile, ceramic tile, hardwood as long as the subfloor is relatively flat). If you have asbestos tile that is not friable, i.e. not crumbling and subject to becoming airborne, you can apply floating floors directly over them without the hefty expense of hiring a professional mitigation team. Please proceed with caution and discuss with local authorities on the best practices.

Also, remember to check the height of your doors as you may have to cut them slightly due to the added height of the floor.

3) Most floating floors are “engineered” which means they are made with real hardwood, bamboo, cork or linoleum on the surface layer only and either wood or recycled content underneath. This uses far less actual new wood content than a ¾” solid wood floor, for example.

4) Floating floors are usually prefinished and require no additional sealing upon installation. Because they use glue to adhere each layer, there is the potential for formaldehyde especially if it is manufactured in third world countries whose standards are questionable. Most products made in the US or Europe, however, are using very low quantities or no added formaldehyde in their adhesives. But they often substitute other ingredients, so you still have to test them yourselves.

5) Modern finishes include aluminum oxides, polyurethanes, acrylics and oil/wax combinations. Many of these are cured in the factory so there is little off-gassing but some still reek out of the box and may be intolerable. Again, testing is advised prior to purchase. For a complete review visit our Sustainable Flooring Department

Floating floors range in price from $3.50/SF to $9.00 SF and require a moisture barrier and underlayment which costs about $0.50 to $1.00/SF. Some underlayment has a moisture barrier built right into it. Installation costs about $1.75 to $2.50 nationwide depending upon floor prep and is almost always faster and less expensive than glue or nail down floor installation costs. Plus there is much less mess, especially if you don’t have to remove the existing floor or glue it down. I think that answers question about pricing.

How do you know if the labels are legitimate?

But, how do you know if a floating hardwood, bamboo, cork or linoleum floor is really green and safe for you and your family? Does a green label mean that it is safe? Can you trust the label or should you trust your nose? Laminate flooring can be just as green as bamboo flooring depending upon how you define the word green.

According to SinsofGreenwashing.org, more than 95% of all consumer products claiming to be green were found to commit at least “one of the sins of greenwashing”. Check out their website for an entertaining read.

It’s estimated that more than 200 green labels are currently being used on various products indicating that they have some degree of green. Most, but not all, labels are purchased. That’s right; they are purchased from an organization that’s not always independent and unbiased as you might hope. The problem is in the definition of green which is open to interpretation by everyone and often raises more questions than it answers.

For example, some green floors are made with renewable resources but may still have toxic chemicals in their adhesives or finishes, or use inefficient means to produce and distribute them. Others employ recycled content or bio-based content in certain quantities, but from where they came are anyone’s guess and what type of pesticide was used to grow them is also unknown.

Most consumers have learned that manufacturers don’t always tell the whole truth when it comes to marketing their products. There are many good websites like this one you’re reading that address many of these questions in more detail.

The bottom line is that you have to do your own homework: read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) of each product to know its contents, read reviews and blogs as they often are very revealing. Most importantly, you must test any new product for your own tolerances to be sure it’s truly safe for you and your family. Trust your nose and if it smells bad, there’s probably a better alternative now available.

Resources

If you review some of my other answers in these articles you’ll find several that go into depth about VOCs, toxicity and your health. You can also find out more on our website at How to buy a green floor: Seven common mistakes and how to avoid them.


800.405.0222
Healthy Home Advisors


Email Us
 

Hours Available
   

Mon to Tue: 9am - 5pm CST
Wednesday: 9am - 4:30pm CST
Thu to Fri: 9am - 5pm CST
Saturday: 10am - 4pm CST  

GET TO KNOW US
  • 100% Solar Powered
  • Meet the Team
  • What is Green Building Supply
  • How We Test Products
  • What Our Customers Are Saying
  • Sites We Enjoy
  • Careers
POPULAR PRODUCTS
  • Bamboo Flooring
  • Cork Flooring
  • Marmoleum
  • Bamboo Countertops
  • AFM Safecoat
  • Kahrs
  • Teragren
CUSTOMER SERVICE
  • My Account
  • Wish List
  • Shipping Tips
  • Shipping Rates
  • Receiving Freight
  • Returns & Exchanges
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions of Use
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
  • Average Rating

  • Customer Reviews
CONNECT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions of Use
  • Copyright © 2004– Green Building Supply, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to Green Building Supply

Green Building Supply, founded in 1991, continues to be the nation's trusted source for the best non-toxic and eco-friendly building materials. We specialize in products that are safe for everyone—including the chemically sensitive—as well as safe for pets and the environment.

Whether you're remodeling or building a new green home, you'll find our experienced eco-advisors can help you choose the safest alternatives for your home. We ship nationwide.

Feel free to call us at 800-405-0222 or visit our 7000 SF showroom.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletters that share:

  • Special offers
  • The latest green building products
  • Solid sustainable solutions to everyday building


By signing up, you agree to receive Green Building Supply emails and promotions. You can unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

We can help you find the right floor

We have 1,000+ Floors to choose from

Finding the right floor is a lot more complicated than just picking the right color. Answer a few simple questions and we'll get you the right type of flooring for your project.

Yes, please!     No, thanks