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Sustainable Eucalyptus Wood Flooring

A lesser known alternative...

By Jenny E.K. Riddle

When thinking of a sustainable wood flooring product, what probably first comes to mind is bamboo flooring. We all know that bamboo is one abundantly renewable resource.

In this article we are going to embark upon an option other than bamboo. But before that, let’s get a little education on bamboo. Bamboo is one of the most common choices of a sustainable “wood” flooring product.

What is lesser known is that bamboo is actually not true wood flooring at all; indeed, it’s a tree-like grass. Bamboo can reach

full maturity and be harvested in between 3-7 years depending on species and region. It can grow over 3 feet in a single day. Once harvested, the cut stem has the ability to regenerate fairly fast. It sprouts again right out from the cut.

“Applications of fertilizer and pesticides are often required.”

Due to the fast regeneration and growth in general some concerns arise. Natural tree forests are often being replaced with commercial bamboo plantations. Bamboo is a short rotation crop;

therefore, fertilizers and pesticides are often required for optimal turn around and growth.

In short, the process of manufacturing bamboo flooring is simple: hollow bamboo stems are sliced, glued and pressed together. Formaldehyde is used in the glue processing. The product is heated to change its color and tone. Finally what we have is Carbonized Bamboo. Strand bamboo is similarly produced, although leavings are reclaimed from the foregoing bamboo making process.

Sounds Green?...

Page 2.

Sustainable Eucalyptus Wood Flooring

A lesser known alternative...

In comparison to bamboo, hardwood flooring consists of solid pieces of wood that are sawn directly from trees. The processing is minimal. The “carbon foot print” (energy consumed) is actually less also considering the amount of materials required in the manufacturing process.

“Bamboo is actually not true wood flooring at all, it’s a tree-like grass”

Moving along the sustainable wood flooring spectrum - We are alternatively going to look at eucalyptus wood flooring.

Eucalyptus plantations reach mature lumber size in an average of 14 years. In that time a single tree can grow upwards of 120 feet tall. In a year, eucalyptus plantations have the potential to produce 30 times the volume of lumber per acre more than its other exotic wood counterparts, which may take an average of 80 years or more to mature.

What are the benefits of eucalyptus or otherwise occasionally marketed “Lyptus” Flooring ?

“Eucalyptus wood flooring is cost-competitive to traditional hardwood flooring species and frequently less expensive.”

As far as machining and turning properties, eucalyptus produces very good results. The aesthetics are very similar to Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry); likewise, it serves well as staircase material or finish carpentry work.

It remains smooth under friction and can be sanded to a smooth semi-polished surface. Stains are absorbed evenly from oil to water-based finishes. It also is a very durable wood with a density similar to other exotic hardwood flooring species

“Eucalyptus Plantations has the potential of producing upwards of 30 times greater volume of lumber per acre and year than other exotic wood counterparts of which may take an average of 80 years or more to mature”

There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus. The oil from the wood is used for cleaning and functions as a natural insecticide

Lyptus has a Janka hardness of 1550, making it harder than Oak 1290.

Carbonized Bamboo, which is the most commonly sold bamboo product, has a Janka Hardness of 1120. It serves well for both glue down and nail down applications. The dimensional stability is comparable to traditional wood flooring.*

“Eucalyptus Plantations reaches the mature lumber size in an average of 14 years.”

Depending on the species and origin eucalyptus is fairly light with a pale pink to reddish brown color to it. As previously mentioned, it accepts stains very well and can be stained to look like the color family of: IPE, Brazilian Cherry, dark Espresso, or other browns, reds, Golden Wheat, and so on.

The eucalyptus’s sapwood is usually of a light brown color while its heartwood comes in a range of pale pinkish color to a reddish brown. The grain is straight and interlocked and somewhat uniform in texture.

It’s a perfect “new” substitute for exotic hardwood applications when making a sustainable choice. Material is available with the following certifications: (FSC) (PEFC) (CERFLOR)

Eucalyptus material is recognized to help meet green building objectives such as LEED, NAHB Green, and GBI.

Eucalyptus wood flooring is cost-competitive to traditional hardwood flooring species and frequently less expensive.

Next time your client desires an environmentally responsible product hopefully you will consider this beautiful, cost effective, eco-friendly, long lasting alternative to a traditional choice. I hope this article has caught your interest in this lesser known “alternative”.

You will not be disappointed.

*The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of a type of wood to resist denting and wear. Data: According to testing by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory and Weyerhaeuser Technology Center.

By Jenny E.K. Riddle NWFA CSC

Co-owner of AJ BROTHERS Hardwood Flooring & Stairs, with

Alan T. Riddle NWFA CWFI, CI, CSF. Email: info@ajbrothers.org