A Healthy Home | Sustainable Flooring
We’re all stuck at home right now. We’re eating, sleeping, working, even homeschooling… and quite frankly, most of us are going crazy!
Since we’re stuck here it’s a great to time re-think how we can make those updates to our space. But I’m not just talking about a lick of paint or swapping out an area rug - NO, I’m talking about how you can ensure you’re home is promoting health and wellness. Now, more than ever, it’s important to understand the effect our homes have on our health. If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we take our health for granted and some of us have overlooked the importance of our home as a sanctuary. But with all this time inside, do you know if your home is a healthy place to be?
MY PLAN:
I plan to spend the next 10 days, in the countdown to Earth Day, sharing how your can make your home (this place where you are LITERALLY spending 24 hours a day!!) a sanctuary that’s mindful of the planet and mindful of your health.
Each day, for the next 10 days, leading up to Earth day I will be sharing one area of sustainable design across all our channels.
THE BACK STORY:
“The more we researched, the more we learned that there was far more to it than meets the eye. And it seems that almost NO ONE is talking about this!”
Let’s rewind for a moment. It’s no surprise that I am passionate about the environment. I wrote all about my passion one year ago in a blog post, click here to read it. Since then, my design team has been researching all the materials and products we typically source and specify for our projects. We’ve been trying to better understand where these products come from (ie. what’s their carbon footprint) and what impact they might have on the planet. The more we researched, the more we learned that there was far more to it than meets the eye. And it seems that almost NO ONE is talking about this!
“When we talk about health we are most often referencing the air quality in your home”
It may come as a surprise (or not) that many interior design products (hardwood, tile, wallpaper, furniture, fabrics etc) are not sustainably sourced and can also have negative effects on our health. I’m still learning but feel very strongly that this information needs to become a part of the design dialogue. When we talk about health we are most often referencing the air quality in your home and how the products we put into our homes affects the air we breath. A lot of interior decor products contain glues and resins that are made with formaldehyde, one of the most common VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). This produces an off-gass which can go into the air during production but also in your home. In fact some studies show that the indoor air is far worse than the “polluted air” we breathe outside. It’s been shown that formaldehyde levels in homes and offices can be 20 to 200 times higher than outdoor air. This is scary given we already spend ⅓ of our lives sleeping and now we’re also working, eating and teaching our kids in our home 24 hours a day! This is not meant to scare you… well maybe it is a little. But only for the purpose to get your attention to show you that there are better ways. It’s not expensive or difficult to make changes towards a healthier home. But it does require a little bit of interest and knowledge…. so here we go.
Today I’m going to start by talking about Flooring.
DAY 1 - FLOORING
“Sustainable flooring is any flooring that has little or no impact on the environment during production, use, and end of life-cycle”
Flooring is often a big ticket item and important purchases for your home. I like to call flooring the “canvas to your design”. Flooring encompasses: hardwood, carpet, tile, you name it. The list I am going to share is not an exhaustive list of flooring materials. Today I want to touch on the flooring materials that I encounter the most as a designer and the ones that myself and other designers are most likely to specify.
Sustainable flooring is any flooring that has little or no impact on the environment during production, use, and end of life-cycle (disposal). Below I’m going to share with you the top flooring choices and how they fair when it comes to environmental impact and the air quality in our homes.
Look for these factors when choosing a sustainable floor: Sustainable harvesting practices. Made from natural or renewable materials. Manufacturing has little to no waste.
Linoleum
Believe it or not, one of the most sustainable options for flooring is Linoleum! Linoleum is made from natural and renewable materials including linseed oil, cork and wood. It's very durable, with warranties that range up to 25 years. With proper care, a linoleum floor can last 40 years or more. It’s also biodegradable! Once your linoleum floor has come to the end of its life, you can compost it because it naturally decomposes. The only problem - finding a linoleum that’s stylish!
Image courtesy of Pinterest
Hardwood
“Do you research: labels can be deceiving. Sometimes a “Canadian” product is actually just a Canadian company that buys wood in China that is then processed in USA and shipped for packaging on Canada”
Always look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood. The FSC certification is considered the "gold standard" designation for wood harvested from forests that are responsibly managed, socially beneficial, environmentally conscious, and economically viable. This is a popular choice because it can be refinished over the years. However, the refinishing process of sanding and staining can be VERY toxic. Make sure you specify stains with low VOCs, as this is not standard. If you can’t do this you should ideally stay out of your home for one week after the floors have been refinished. Most contractors will tell you to stay out until the stain drys 24-48 hours but the toxic air will last several weeks if not properly vented. Do you research: labels can be deceiving and sometimes a “Canadian” product is actually just a Canadian company that buys wood in China that is then processed in USA and shipped for packaging on Canada. …. TRUE STORY!
Engineered Hardwood
“Look for engineered woods that have eco-friendly glues and stains with low VOCs.”
This is by far the most popular choice for homes these days. You can get practically any length, width and stain. They respond better to changes in humidity (they expand and contract less than solid wood) and the installation process is far simpler and more cost effective. It’s similar to hardwood in that in order to be sustainable you will want to look for FSC certified wood. Many European companies have great engineered hardwoods that are environmentally conscious. And of course IF you can find a North American company (assuming your live in N. America!) and the product is actually grown and processed in N.America - that’s even better!
The downside to engineered hardwood is that many products come from the far east and often contain formaldehyde binders. Look for engineered woods that have eco-friendly glues and stains with low VOCs.
Carpet
“Synthetic carpets are more toxic to produce and have the potential to off-gas into your home.”
Carpet can be a great choice if you look for all natural fiber for your carpets. Synthetic carpets are more toxic to produce and have the potential to off-gas into your home. My favourite options for carpet are are wool, sisal, jute rugs and seagrass area rugs. Look for area rugs that have natural jute or latex backing.
KEEP IN MIND, carpets may trap pollutants like dust mites, dirt and dust, also, toxic gases in the air can stick to small particles that settle into carpets. Conventional carpeting is often made with synthetic petroleum-derived fibers that come treated with so-called stain resistant chemicals. These fibers and the stain resistant treatments have a tendency to “off-gas” into the surrounding air after they’re installed. Slowly but steadily, the chemicals in the carpeting and stain treatment product evaporate into the air you breathe, becoming a significant source of indoor air pollution. As a result, you could suffer from nose and throat discomfort, headaches, an allergic skin reaction, difficulty breathing, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.
Laminate and Vinyl
“The majority of all LVT is made in Asia. LVT is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is hazardous from production to disposal as it cannot be recycled.”
My least favourite, least sustainable and least healthy choice. This has become VERY popular in recent years. Consumers like LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) for the same reasons they liked laminate flooring back in the 90’s: low prices, exceptional photo-realistic 3-D graphics that simulate natural wood or stone, durability and the promise of no maintenance. The majority of all LVT is made in Asia. LVT is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is hazardous from production to disposal as it cannot be recycled and usually ends up in landfills. PVC has been classified as a human carcinogen and is on the Living Building Challenge Red List of toxic chemicals to avoid. The emissions from PVC create health hazards, such as dioxins and furans, two of the most toxic chemicals on the planet. Small amounts may also be emitted from exposure to the sun and proximity to heat coming from a furnace or fireplace in your home. Until further strides are made in the manufacturing and disposal of these products we are no longer suggesting them to our clients.
One of our trusted flooring vendors that offered a variety of sustainable flooring option is STUDIO 321B Flooring
& If you’re curious about the difference between flooring types, watch our What’s The Difference videos:
That just about sums up FLOORING! Tell us below if you learned anything new? What did I miss?
For more information on sustainable building materials go to: Canada Green Building Council