There’s a lot of talk these days about eco-friendly products, “green” materials and manufacturing techniques. We at Merkel have been carrying these products for years, even before they were in vogue. Carpets made from recycled soda bottles, or partially from a corn species grown specifically for industry, from mills that employ zero waste initiatives to re-use by products for other uses. Shaw Industries has even found a way to recycle used nylon carpet and save thousands of yards from being cast into the landfills, while making a beautiful, durable and cost-effective carpet.

New sustainable forestry methods have been used for years now, with several organizations monitoring every tree through forestry stewardship, to ensure our future generations will enjoy the same forests that we do currently. Wood floor manufacturers are also stepping up to their responsibilities and using less toxic curing and finishing methods, using less raw materials by making more engineered wood floors, and creating almost no waste materials.

Bamboo and cork floors are also a way to make your home beautiful, yet eco-conscious. Bamboo comes in many forms, from carbonized (darker) to natural, and the newest most durable is strand Bamboo, which uses smaller pieces of material, compressed to make a more dense floor. Cork is one of the first “eco-friendly” floors ever to be produced. Because it is made from harvested bark from a cork tree, within a few years the bark grows back, only to be harvested again. Cork floors have been used for nearly 100 years in some of the most beautiful historic homes in the country, including the White House in Washington D.C.

Linoleum is also a floor making a dramatic comeback. Made from linseed oil, cork resin and wood pulp, Linoleum is a great choice for superior durability, resistance to moisture, and high fashion with a multitude of designer colours.
Stop in and see any one of us at Merkel carpet one, and let us show you the world of possibilities we have for you.

Hope to see you soon,

Kristin Gignac, Designer
Merkel Carpet One, Chelsea MI