The average person spends 12-15 hours in their home every day. If you're an allergy sufferer, it's important that your home be as contaminant-free as possible to reduce the amount of time you spend sneezing and sniffling.
The type of flooring installed has a huge effect on the air quality in your home. Studies show that 90% of the people who have allergies and/or asthma are very sensitive to dust mites - tiny insects who like to dwell in carpet and on cloth surfaces. While you can get some temporary relief by using hypoallergenic pillowcases and air purifiers, installing hardwood flooring will greatly reduce the overall impurities in your home's air.
The natural hypoallergenic features of most hardwood species have made it popular with allergy sufferers. The surface of hardwood flooring is free from fibers and grout lines, eliminating the favorite hiding places of mites and other dust particles. You can also buy hardwood flooring that is free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are believed to aggravate existing allergies, cause new symptoms to develop, and even increase your risk of cancer.
Practical Hardwood Floor Options for Allergy Sufferers
More manufacturers nowadays make pre-finished hardwood planks and strips, eliminating the need for messy onsite finishing and installation. Prior to the creation of these finished hardwood pieces, sanding and finishing were typically carried out on location, resulting in the release of sawdust and chemical fumes into the air in your home. With pre-finished hardwood you don't have to worry about aggravating your allergy conditions with last-minute sanding and product fumes, and you also have the option of installing the flooring yourself.
Types of Hardwood Floors for Varying Climates
Allergy sufferers who live in wet, dry or hot climates can now enjoy stable hardwood flooring in their home. These floors are virtually gap resistant and can be stapled or nailed to the subfloor (the base floor used to strengthen the finished surface), unlike other hardwood surfaces which must be fixed to the subfloor with adhesive.
Treat Hardwood Floors with Allergy-Friendly Products
Your floor is only as allergy-friendly as you allow it to be. Make sure that all wood finishes, waxes and cleaners that you use on your hardwood floor are VOC-free. Many flooring finishes and products tend to emit harmful gases into the air that can lead to allergy symptoms and increase the risk of cancer in more extreme cases. Take all proper precautions to make sure the products you're using on your floor are safe and allergy-friendly.
In addition to allergy-friendly flooring you may also want to consider purchasing an allergy-friendly vacuum with a High Energy Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that can better remove surface and airborne allergens. HEPA filters are designed to absorb 99.97% of all airborne pollutants. Of course, vacuums are not recommended for most hardwood types as it may cause irreparable damage. When buying a vacuum for hardwood flooring, make sure that it does not have a beater bar.
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