Better Air Quality with Wood Floors

Overview: Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from allergy related health problems. People with allergies account for 12 million missed workdays each year. Air quality is one of the top environmental issues. Pollutants such as chemicals, mold, dust, dander, and pollen contribute toward many allergy ailments. Obtaining a better air quality with wood floors is well worth the investment to avoid health risks.

To help cut down on allergies caused by poor indoor air quality, experts suggest installing wood flooring to new or existing homes. Wood floors contribute to better air quality because they don't collect the dust and dirt that are often embedded in carpets. In addition, new wood floor can last three to six times longer than carpeted floors. Carpets can also hide harmful bacteria, mold spores and pet dander that could be responsible for the increase in asthma cases.

The EPA has found that wood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of toxins in the home. Wood floors are not only beautiful they're also renewable and extremely durable. When consumers install wood floors in their homes they send a signal to the industry to plant more trees, resulting in more forestland.

Wood floors are usually made of hardwood. Hardwood comes in many different types of hardwood although oak is the most common. Cherry, maple, and butternut has become the popular hardwood floor of choices in recent years although it is more expensive than oak. Hardwood floors do not harbor harmful bacteria, mold spores, or pet dander as carpeted floors do.

Wood flooring can be purchased as pre-finished or in unfinished. Pre-finished flooring comes in either solid or veneer finish. The veneer finish flooring is a laminate wood flooring and the cheapest wood flooring. It is usually made from a wood composite material with a thin layer of hardwood glued to the top surface. Solid pre-finished hardwood flooring is the most popular because the builder or DIY homeowner does not have to go through the additional work of finishing the floor after it is installed.

Home designers have come up with different patterns for laying hardwood floors which give the floor an elegant design. They often use different types of hard wood such as cherry and maple to create integrated and graceful patterns to compliment hallways and family rooms.

Hardwood floors last for decades without needing replacement although depending the how the homeowner lives in the house they may need refinishing from time to time. Refinishing involves sanding the floor to remove the finish and reapplying the finish. After a hardwood floor is refinished it looks just like a brand new floor. In addition, hard wood flooring goes with just about any style of furniture in any room. Wood flooring costs are more than carpeting. To protect your family from allergies and having better air quality in your home I recommend wood floors.

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