When most homeowners think about flooring, they think about materials, colors, and aesthetics. They contemplate the best flooring for the space. They think about how easy it will be to maintain it.
But once you dig in and start doing your research, the idea of indoor air quality can pop up. There are many ways your flooring impacts indoor air quality. It’s time to think about them before you invest in your next flooring choice.
Understanding Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of the air within buildings, homes, and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. It’s a measure of air purity on the inside, and is impacted by various pollutants, including dust, allergens, chemicals, and microorganisms. These pollutants can live anywhere: air vents, bedding, curtains, furniture, and in your flooring.
Poor IAQ can lead to a range of health issues, such as skin irritations, fatigue, headaches, respiratory problems, allergies, and even long-term illnesses. Many homeowners are becoming more aware of this during their home remodeling research, and are doing their due diligence before investing in something new. Key factors to keep in mind that affect indoor air quality include:
- Ventilation: Proper ventilation helps to dilute and remove indoor pollutants, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh air.
- Humidity Levels: Maintaining optimal humidity levels (30-50%) helps to prevent the growth of mold and dust mites.
- Pollutant Sources: Identifying and controlling sources of indoor pollution, such as smoking, household chemicals, and building materials, is essential.
- Air Filtration: Using high-quality air filters can capture airborne particles and improve overall air quality.
How Flooring Fits Into Better Indoor Air Quality
Think about everything that impacts indoor air quality – what circulates through vents, what comes in on your pets, what you track in on your shoes, what materials are used in your design features, what sprays you use to clean your home. While each of these will circulate throughout your home in different ways, it ultimately ends up on the floor.
Now take a look at your flooring choices. All of this microscopic stuff can end up in the fibers of your carpet. It can also end up in the cracks and crevices of your luxury plank flooring, wood, floor tile, and sheet vinyl. Not trying to scare you away from specific flooring here, but it is worth a minute thinking about your flooring from this angle. It’s how you learn to protect it. And there are a lot of angles to think about.
Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Many flooring materials, adhesives, and finishes emit VOCs, which are chemicals that can cause adverse health effects. High levels of VOCs can lead to respiratory issues, headaches, and other health problems. Choosing low-VOC or zero-VOC flooring options can significantly reduce these harmful emissions.
Allergen Management
Flooring can either trap or repel common indoor allergens such as dust, pet dander, and pollen. Materials that trap allergens can help reduce airborne particles but require regular cleaning to prevent buildup. Conversely, smooth surfaces that repel allergens may be easier to clean and maintain, but may bring air quality problems from the way the product is crafted. This isn’t an easy, one-size-fits-all answer. It’s important to look at it from all sides.
Moisture Resistance
Moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, which negatively affects IAQ. Flooring materials that resist moisture, such as tile and certain vinyl options, help prevent mold proliferation. This is where it helps to pay attention to the materials used and the location you’re installing. Your lifestyle and habits should weigh in on your final decision. Proper installation and maintenance are also key to managing moisture levels.
Ease of Cleaning
Flooring that is easy to clean helps maintain better IAQ by reducing the accumulation of dust, dirt, and allergens. Regular cleaning routines, including vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping, are essential for all flooring types to ensure a healthy indoor environment.
Durability and Longevity
Durable flooring materials that resist wear and tear contribute to better IAQ over time. Floors that need frequent replacement or repair can disrupt IAQ with new emissions and increased dust. Long-lasting flooring reduces these disruptions and maintains a consistent air quality.
Impact on Humidity Levels
Certain flooring materials can influence indoor humidity levels, either absorbing or repelling moisture. Maintaining balanced humidity (30-50%) is crucial for preventing mold growth and dust mite proliferation. Flooring choices that help manage humidity contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
Reducing Contaminant Tracking
Floors located near entrances or high-traffic areas can track contaminants from outside. This is where it pays to look at your lifestyle. Do you have pets and kids that run in and out all day long? Are some entryways busier than others? Choosing flooring that is easy to clean and placing mats at entryways can help minimize the introduction of pollutants into indoor spaces.
Thermal Comfort
Flooring isn’t just about looks. On a cold, winter day, nothing feels quite as good underfoot as warm flooring. You might do it for comfort of a space, yet indirectly it impacts IAQ. Materials that maintain a consistent temperature help regulate indoor climates, reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling that can stir up dust and other particulates. Ever noticed a dustier house when your HVAC equipment is working in overdrive? The solution starts with better flooring choices.
So What’s The Best Flooring For Better Indoor Air Quality?
Honestly, whatever flooring choice you’re considering has options to make it better, more friendly for your indoor air quality. That’s because manufacturers get that people want more air-friendly choices, and work hard to give homeowners what they want. And they aren’t afraid to show you.
Look for certifications that tell you they go the extra mile in providing you with IAQ-friendly flooring.
GREENGUARD Certification products have been tested for chemical emissions and meet strict standards for low VOC emissions. FloorScore certifies hard surface flooring and flooring adhesives for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements. Offered by the Carpet and Rug Institute, Green Label Plus indicates that carpets, adhesives, and cushions have met stringent criteria for low VOC emissions. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification ensures that wood products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Whether you’re looking for hardwood, linoleum, stone or tile, engineered wood, carpet, or luxury vinyl, there is a solution for you.
Have more questions? We invite you to come in and view our entire line of flooring. You’ll find the perfect flooring solution to meet your lifestyle needs, and keep your indoor air quality in good shape.
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