Laminate Flooring: The healthy Flooring Choice?
Can laminate flooring really make a difference to your health? Read on to learn more.
Laminate flooring has become increasingly popular as a choice of flooring. Not only does it look stylish and provide a hard wearing surface but it has some health benefits compared to carpets, especially for allergy sufferers.
Carpet can give off up to 40 volatile organic compounds into the air after fitting. Due to the nature of carpet it can take over a year for these gasses to stop being released. Although laminate flooring can give off some of these compounds it does so for a far shorter period of time as there is nowhere for the gasses to be stored. This is obviously better for your health as some of the compounds given off can cause health issues such as headaches.
Carpet (especially thick, long pile carpet) can harbour dust, dirt, bacteria and mold. Even if the carpet is hoovered regularly these things can become embedded deep down in the pile where the hoover doesn’t reach. Pet hair is another problem if it becomes embedded in the carpet as it is especially hard to remove even with specialist pet hair hoovers. These items can all cause health problems (especially in those who suffer from allergies) as air quality is diminished. In contrast laminate flooring does not harbour items or substances. A quick hoover or brush will remove dust and items such a hairs meaning the environment is cleaner and less likely to cause health issues.
Sanitation is another drawback to carpet. Although you can buy carpet cleaner to do spot cleaning these often do not remove the problem fully as things go right into the carpet pile or even into the underlay. This can cause unpleasant smells to be released into the air and stains to the carpet. If you have ever used an industrial carpet cleaner you were probably horrified at the colour of the liquid after the cleaning process. Dust and dirt gets trodden in so it cannot be seen and can only really get released through this type of cleaning. However, you’re then left with damp carpets that if they don’t dry quickly may create a secondary problem by developing mildew which has further negative health implications.
Laminate flooring really does win in the sanitation stakes. It is waterproof resistant so anything nasty will sit on the surface and can be fully cleaned up (Water that penetrates the joint can be an issue). It can then be disinfected so any bacteria and germs are fully eradicated. It takes minutes to mop the full floor and once mopped it dries quickly as the water does not permeate the laminate. This makes laminate flooring an ideal choice for people with pets or with a high foot fall in the house.
If you are interested in using laminate flooring in your home to increase air quality and cleanliness then contact the Flooring Village. They have a wide choice of laminate so you will find a colour and style to suit your home.