Do you suffer from allergies or other health problems? Do you have carpet in your home? Have you ever considered that carpet might be the cause to those pesky allergies? Many carpet options, especially with a high pile, can trap dust and dirt which are known to wreak havoc on allergy sufferers. You can get a lot of stuff out of a carpet with routine cleaning. But if you’ve ever seen the foam mat under your carpet after 5, 10 or 20 years of use, you know that there are some things that no amount of cleaning can remove.
We’ve been in our new condo for about 6 weeks and I have to admit that something has been making my allergies crazy. I’ve been wondering if maybe it is the air conditioner or just adjusting to a new climate. And somewhere in between I caught a cold (which I managed to pass to everyone else.) But I’ve barely even given any consideration to the fact that it could be the carpet in our bedroom that is the real culprit.
I’ve always preferred wood or tile floors (especially nice, big tiles). What I never really thought about is that these types of floorings not only look nice, but can also be a lot better for your health. Especially if you have a big hairy dog at home or kids who tend to spill things. So what do you do? Thankfully, hypo allergenic flooring options exist in many forms from eco-friendly carpet to hardwood flooring.
photo credit: Timber Floors Pty Ltd via photopin cc
Hardwood flooring is great and one of the most popular types of flooring for many reasons. It is widely known for its ability to add elegance and timeless style to a home, but it is also one of the best flooring choices for allergy sufferers. I’ve always liked it because it’s easy to maintain (when properly sealed) and adds tremendous value and timelessness to your home. Plus there is just something special about a hardwood floor that can almost instantly make a room feel more welcoming and warm. And since it now comes in tons of different styles, cuts, colors and more, you can always find something perfect to fit your existing décor.
Hardwoods would be our first option for the future. But we’re also trying to educate ourselves about all the different options now out there. If you are considering investing in it, make sure that you get something thick enough that it can be sanded and refinished several times. A fully hardwood floor is typically 3/4″ thick, giving you the ability to get about 10 refinishes out of the floor before you start to expose the tung-and-groove. And you usually want to refinish your floors every 10 years, with average wear and tear. A less expensive option would be hardwood with a plywood core. The hardwood layer or veneer may be anywhere from 0.5mm to 4.5mm thick (or more), which will determine the durability and if you would be able to refinish it if needed down the road.
Laminate flooring is another good option to the hardwoods which also offer great durability and reliability. Plus you get an even wider assortment of colors and styles and it’s easy to clean and maintain. And if you want the look of tile with the quick and easy installation qualities of laminate, they’ve got that out there too. If you’re looking for hypo allergenic flooring options for your home, or just want the added class of hardwood flooring, consider visiting your local Flooring America to find out more!
What type of flooring do you prefer?
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