Toxic spaces in your home make for poor indoor air quality, in addition to ruining the environment as a whole. If you have any doubt, ask one of your friends who suffers from migraines, allergies, or asthma. Children, as well as ill or elderly individuals’ lungs can be compromised by poor indoor air quality. Additionally, significantly contributing to the environment’s air quality are VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
So, what does all of these have to do with eco-friendly wood flooring? The answer should be relatively obvious. Here is a breakdown:
Indoor Air Quality
The following components can affect our indoor air quality:
- Allergens
- Poor ventilation
- Humidity and/or moisture
In your home, any of these (or a combination) elements can create less than desirable breathing and living conditions. Noxious circumstances take everything a step further through “off-gassing”. Your health and environment can be adversely affected by off-gassing.
Off-Gassing and VOCs
When VOCs or chemical particles (volatile organic compounds) are released into the air you breathe, off-gassing occurs. They can be released through electronic devices, paint, countertops, mattresses, drapes, cabinetry, furniture, etc. The reason that flooring is one of your home’s major contributors to off-gassing is its sheer square footage. Adding to the problem are certain hardwoods, ceramic tiles, vinyls, laminates, and carpets that include grout, plastics, finishes, sealers, and/or glue.
In your home, formaldehyde is one of the most common VOCs found in the environment. It occurs naturally everywhere around us in non-toxic levels – even in our bodies! However, even with an organic product like hardwood, when formaldehyde levels are compounded by chemical additives, higher levels of VOCs can be produced by one’s flooring.
Toxic Flooring
Off-gassing adversely affects both the ecosystem and our personal well-being. Many people today are examining their carbon footprint with concerns for the environment. When choosing a floor, there are a number of factors to consider.
Contributing to ground level ozone formation are VOC emissions. Poor air quality and smog are created by ground-level ozone. This, in turn, can impact our agriculture, nutrient cycles, water, crops, and more.
Will choosing the right eco-friendly flooring really make that big of a difference? You have to start somewhere. Each and every choice you make can help transform the environment, yourself, and one’s house, into a happier, healthier existence.
Turn To Eko Flooring and Woodwork For Eco-Friendly Flooring
Eko Flooring and Woodwork takes pride in doing things differently than the way everybody else does it. We use eco-friendly, non-toxic finishes that are healthy for our customers’ families and the environment. With years of experience, our technicians are certified under numerous classifications and extensively educated. Our floors are Green building certified. To see our certifications, click here.
Naturally, customer satisfaction is guaranteed for every job we do.
At Eko Flooring and Woodwork, we carry wall and ceiling coverings, wide plank flooring, design flooring, and much more. We offer light wood tones, grays, naturals, and darks. Whatever your decor, whichever room you want to floor, and whatever affect you wish to achieve, we’ve got you covered – and your floor, too! Contact us today to find out more.
