Anti-allergic flooring options -
Even low-pile nylon carpets are excellent from a cleaning perspective. Ideal as bedroom or home office carpet. Carpet Flooring, Cashmere Touch, Charmeuse Amboise Other hardwood options that make for hygienic choices are laminate and hybrid floors.
You can even steam mop them. Laminates are also water-resistant and effortless to clean. Hybrid Flooring, Quattro, Sherwood Oak But what exactly are they? Not all VOCs are harmful, but some definitely are , and especially so to people with respiratory problems like asthma and allergies.
Even the scent of freshly cut wood contains VOCs, though the particular compounds contained in that tend to be less of a health issue. Other VOCs that can cause health problems include benzene , ethylbenzene , toluene and xylene , all of which can be found in a range of products including adhesives, plastics, sealants and paints.
There are now a lot of flooring options available that are certified as low-VOC , through certification programs like FloorScore. But an increasing number of manufacturers are opting for low-VOC adhesives and finishes , especially in higher-quality engineered hardwood.
So if you choose a low-VOC variety, it can be as safe as solid hardwood. Cork flooring is another standout option for asthma and allergies, as is bamboo to a lesser extent. Both are porous by nature, but the finish applies to them prevents them from collecting allergens and makes them easy to keep clean though as always, look for low-VOC finishes.
Cork is particularly good in that respect — it contains naturally high levels of a bioplastic called suberin , which is has strong antimicrobial properties. When in doubt, check out samples first. Tiles with rough textures, like some natural stone tiles and some heavily textured ceramic or porcelain tiles, can collect dust, pollen and dander in the same way that carpets can, though to a lesser extent.
So smooth-surfaced tile is a much better choice for allergies. One last note on tile — people with asthma should stay away while tile is being installed , as powdered grout mixes can be irritating to the lungs.
But once installed and sealed, it should be fine. Linoleum is often confused with vinyl, but in fact their composition is completely different. Linoleum is made from natural ingredients , like wood dust, linseed oil, and natural resins.
Marmoleum in particular — the top brand of linoleum today — has been awarded the Allergy UK Seal of Approval for its outstanding quality as a flooring option for asthma and allergies. CLEO uses a special high-end printing process for super-realistic wood, stone and tile imaging, and all with solvent-free inks.
Plus it comes in sets of 30 or more individual planks or tiles, each printed slightly differently, to mimic the natural variability of wood and stone. Be sure to check the levels and presence of one particular VOC: Formaldehyde. Be aware this may exist in the plywood subfloors or even some engineered wood products used in the construction of your home.
As with any potential new flooring job, our search for allergy-friendly floors brings us to tile and stone. Long popular for their durability, style, high-end appearance and variety, tile and stone are good allergy-friendly options for flooring if attention is paid to the selection, style, and installation.
Any smooth finish tile or stone is a good hypoallergenic option. Polished marble and granite look great and are allergy-friendly options, but they can be slick underfoot, so factor that into any decision. No matter what tile or stone you select, pay attention to the adhesive and the grout for VOC content and select one with lower quantities.
Sealing prevents dirt, dust and other allergens from penetrating the porous surface of the tile or grout. Hardwood floors have been a consistent, popular flooring choice for literally hundreds of years.
Hardwood floors are consistently rated as one of the most allergy-friendly choices on the market. When properly installed and sealed with an allergy-friendly polyurethane-style clearcoat, hardwood floors do not harbor microorganisms like dust mites or trap dirt, dust, or other tracked in allergens.
Dust, mold, animal dander and hair, are all easily addressed with a dust mop and regular cleaning with an appropriate hardwood floor cleaner. Hardwood floors can be refinished , and with care can last a lifetime or more. They are natural, renewable resources, that like anything in nature omits some VOCs, however, they pale in comparison to those contained in brace for a surprise!
the adhesive and the finish coat. Not to sound like a broken record but be sure to watch the VOCs on those products. Your partners at The Good Guys can help with navigating some of these tricky allergy-free products.
Natural flooring options, championed by products like cork and bamboo, are also a great allergy-friendly option. They are natural, which limits the VOCs, eco-friendly, and easy to maintain for an allergy-free floor for years. When properly finished, even a porous product like cork can be great for allergy sufferers.
It naturally resists mold, mildew, and bacteria and is easily maintained, like hardwood floors, with a dust mop and appropriate cleaner. Bamboo is another renewable, eco-friendly option that is durable and resistant to allergens.
One note of warning on bamboo: it is technically a member of the grass family, rather than a tree product, so if you are looking for flooring friendly to grass allergies, this may not be the best choice.
As with any of these products be careful to note the VOCs on the sealant and the adhesives used during install and adjust your product selections accordingly. The stuff that soaks up water, and by that logic could soak up mold, mildew, dirt and other allergens?
Actually, yes. In addition to being a design and flooring option increasing in popularity, when treated properly and decoratively finished, concrete is a very allergy-friendly flooring option. You can get near-infinite color and finish combinations and maintenance is very simple with a dust mop and finish-friendly floor cleaner.
As you can see, there are significantly more allergy-friendly flooring options than one might initially think. However, selection can come with some considerations. Your flooring and remodeling professionals at The Good Guys can help you with all aspects of the flooring process from selection, to purchase, to installation.
Always check your VOC contents on all the products involved in the installation and look for low- or VOC-free options for adhesives and sealants.
However, Anti-allregic one thing that does get Anti-allergic flooring options under o;tions rug is ensuring your flooring choices are Anti-snake venom research allergy-friendly. You see, Spring brings floorinh it Anti-allergic flooring options heap of Antii-allergic pollen, which can be a massive trigger for allergy and asthma sufferers. Vinyl Plank Flooring, Castlemaine, Coolabah Spotted Gum. The other option is to be regular with your vacuuming and cleaning — to minimise dust mites and manage those asthma symptoms. Most importantly, there are hypoallergenic flooring choices that will keep you and your family members breathing easy.
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