Breath of Fresh Air: What GREENGUARD Gold Certification Means for Your Home
When choosing new flooring for your home or commercial space, durability, style, and budget naturally sit at the top of your checklist. However, there is another essential factor that happens right under your nose: indoor air quality (IAQ).
Because we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, the materials we bring into our living spaces significantly impact the air we breathe every day. Off-gassing from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in low-quality adhesives, finishes, and synthetic materials can trigger allergies, cause headaches, and degrade long-term indoor wellness.
At Giant Commercial Flooring (GC Flooring), we believe you should never have to compromise your health for beautiful floors. Since opening our doors in 1995 in Ottawa, Ontario, our family-run philosophy has been simple: we do not sell products we cannot stand behind.
By leveraging our massive purchasing power and buying in bulk, we anticipate what our Canadian customers need, delivering high-quality, high-value flooring at optimal prices without sacrificing safety.
What is GREENGUARD Certification?
You may have seen the distinctive green shield on premium flooring products like COREtec, Shaw, or TORLYS. The GREENGUARD Certification Program, managed by UL Solutions, tests products for chemical emissions to ensure they meet stringent third-party environmental standards.
When a flooring product earns a GREENGUARD mark, it means it has been scientifically tested in specialized environmental chambers to prove it releases low levels of chemicals into the air you breathe.
Standard GREENGUARD vs. GREENGUARD Gold: What’s the Difference?
While standard GREENGUARD Certification ensures a product meets basic chemical emission limits for general commercial spaces, GREENGUARD Gold Certification takes safety several steps further.
1. Extremely Low Emission Limits
GREENGUARD Gold certified products are screened for over 10,000 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hundreds of hazardous chemicals.
It places strict limits on total VOC emissions, as well as specific individual chemicals like formaldehyde and phthalates.
2. Tailored for Sensitive Environments
The GREENGUARD Gold standard includes health-based criteria specifically engineered for sensitive individuals—such as young children, seniors, and those with respiratory conditions or chemical sensitivities.
3. Educational & Healthcare Ready
Flooring certified with GREENGUARD Gold automatically complies with strict indoor air quality requirements for environments like daycares, schools, nurseries, and healthcare facilities.
If you have toddlers crawling on the floor, pets sniffing around, or family members with asthma, selecting GREENGUARD Gold-certified products gives you complete peace of mind.
Top GREENGUARD Gold Certified Brands at GC Flooring
We take personal pride in hand-selecting product lines that pass the highest tests of durability, longevity, and health standards.
When you browse our showroom or online store, you will find GREENGUARD Gold-certified options across several top-tier manufacturer lines:
- COREtec & Shaw Floorté: Renowned for luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and rigid core flooring that combines waterproof surface protection with elite GREENGUARD Gold air quality standards.
- TORLYS Smart Floors: Innovative laminate and engineered wood floors crafted with sustainable practices and certified low emissions.
- Mohawk & Karastan: Leading options in carpet and hard surface collections designed with eco-conscious materials and healthy home performance in mind.
Why GREENGUARD Gold Matters for Canadian Homeowners
Investing in certified low-emission flooring offers tangible benefits beyond just a clean label:
- Healthier Indoor Living: Minimizes airborne chemical buildup, reducing triggers for asthma, fatigue, eye irritation, and respiratory issues.
- Eco-Friendly Manufacturing: Certified brands prioritize responsible sourcing, cleaner manufacturing processes, and sustainable raw materials.
- Long-Term Quality: High-performance, certified products are engineered to last. They prove that health-conscious manufacturing does not mean sacrificing surface strength or waterproof capabilities.
Experience the GC Flooring Difference
Navigating product lines at big-box stores can often leave you lost in aisles of confusing specs and questionable materials. At Giant Commercial Flooring, we take a personal, hands-on approach.
Have questions about indoor air quality or need help picking the right floor for your home?
Call or visit Giant Commercial Flooring (GC Flooring) .We service all of Canada’s 10 provinces, delivering quality you can stand behind.
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
About Giant Commercial Flooring
Since 1995, Giant Commercial Flooring has been enhancing Canadian homes and businesses with premium, high-value flooring backed by a family-founded commitment to honesty.
Based in Ottawa and servicing all 10 provinces, we offer unbeatable pricing on top-tier brands by buying in bulk and maintaining a massive, ready-to-ship inventory. Unlike the impersonal experience of big-box stores, our expert team—and often the owners themselves—personally guides you through our curated selection of hardwood, vinyl, and laminate to find the perfect fit for your durability needs and budget.
We don’t just sell floors; we stand behind them with a satisfaction guarantee, ensuring you get the highest quality products underfoot, delivered with the professional care you deserve.