Guest guest Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Consider checking into bamboo flooring. Bamboo grows very rapidly and is generally grown in environmentally friendly ways. I don't know how prices compare to other flooring. S S Does anybody know what type of wood is best? I guess what I mean is <BR> any method on how to install these floors to avoid the most <BR> chemicals? We had hardwoods replaced after some flooding a few <BR> years back and the chemical stench was unbearable (the finish). I <BR> assume there are glues involved, too.<BR> <BR> P<BR> _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Bamboo flooring is much more expensive. I would bet floors like Pergo emit chemicals but there are kinds that just snap together, no glue. I wonder is a flooring like tile would be better chemically?? I am getting rid of all my carpet when we remodel, I hear it emits fumes for years. Shepard <_Shepard@...> wrote: Consider checking into bamboo flooring. Bamboo grows very rapidly and is generally grown in environmentally friendly ways. I don't know how prices compare to other flooring. S S Does anybody know what type of wood is best? I guess what I mean is any method on how to install these floors to avoid the most chemicals? We had hardwoods replaced after some flooding a few years back and the chemical stench was unbearable (the finish). I assume there are glues involved, too. P _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ======================================================= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 Someone mentioned hardwood floors. That reminds me do you all think I should vacumm hardwood floors if I have dust mite allergy and cat allergies, (with cats in the house)? I have been dusting them and damp mopping them because I figure vacuum will just aerosolize 'small particles' as has been discussed here. Hardwood floors are not finished with polyurethane or similar coating so have the wood grain tiny cracks. I cannot coat them right now as they need to be sanded first and stained and all that. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 That is exactly what I do, In fact I am about to do it now. How about that... From: barb1283 <barb1283@...> Subject: [] Re: hardwood floors Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 4:29 PM Should I dust and damp mop, and THEN vaccumm you think, so that I've picked up most everything I can first?? > > From: barb1283 <barb1283@.. .> > Subject: [] hardwood floors > > Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 3:34 PM > > > > > > > Someone mentioned hardwood floors. That reminds me do you all think I > should vacumm hardwood floors if I have dust mite allergy and cat > allergies, (with cats in the house)? I have been dusting them and damp > mopping them because I figure vacuum will just aerosolize 'small > particles' as has been discussed here. Hardwood floors are not > finished with polyurethane or similar coating so have the wood grain > tiny cracks. I cannot coat them right now as they need to be sanded > first and stained and all that. Thanks > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 Sweeping up dust with a broom and hand sweeper works well and doesn't stir up a lot of dust. Damp mopping with a very slightly wet mop also doesn't stir up dust or make the floor that wet. People who live in older homes with lead paint should seal the paint using a sealant and then damp mop, not vacuum. Consumer HEPA vacuum cleaners vary quite a bit and also the filters vary in quality and ability through their lifetime. Many aren't so good, they can sometimes leak a lot of dust and non-HEPA consumer vacuums are much worse. In an older house it isn't just mold, if there is lead in the dust from lead paint, even if it is below the official " dangerous " level it still can make people, even adults, sick, over time. Low level lead exposure causes endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress which leads to lots of health issues. It seems to me that a very good option for people like us is a central vacuum unit that exhausts outside.. (away from windows, hopefully!) or a commercial quality dust control system... Then the filter type doesn't matter. They are expensive but it would seem to me to perhaps be a good investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Barb, I have not vacummed for a couple of years because it used to make me so sick-I vacummed 2 day ago-a small building I am cleaning with the hopes to do a small bit of work-it only took 2 min, but I am still suffering-ears ringing-when that had gone away-deep lung pain-illness. Vacumming is definitly out-even with a hepa filter-it throws too much stuff in the air-and it takes days to settle-don't do it. > > Someone mentioned hardwood floors. That reminds me do you all think I > should vacumm hardwood floors if I have dust mite allergy and cat > allergies, (with cats in the house)? I have been dusting them and damp > mopping them because I figure vacuum will just aerosolize 'small > particles' as has been discussed here. Hardwood floors are not > finished with polyurethane or similar coating so have the wood grain > tiny cracks. I cannot coat them right now as they need to be sanded > first and stained and all that. Thanks > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 I stopped vacuuming awhile ago but then my cat drug in some fleas and so it looked like I would have to vacuum daily, I instead pulled up the 40 year old carpet and padding and FINALLY after years of debating about it, threw it away. After I vaccumed there would be smell in air that would stay around for a long time. I thought it was vacuum cleaner motor or something but got down and put my nose to carpet and even though it LOOKED perfectly clean, it had an odor to it, probably because it was wool and 40 years old with 40 year old horse hair padding underneath, both a good organic breeding ground. Since the odor was the same as after I vacuumed, I figured the source of odor was tiny particles from carpet STAYING suspended in air. They just aren't heavy enough to settle out. However with dust allergies and cat dander allergies I wondered if I should vacuum to pick up as much of that as possible so dust mites don't live on it. It's hard to know which is worse, but if I wet clean well, it should be tons better than when I had a 40 year old carpet and had to vacuum it. --- In , " " <kdeanstudios@...> wrote: > > Barb, I have not vacummed for a couple of years because it used to make me so sick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Sorry you have those problems. i have had much luck, granted I have a decent hepa filter vacume but I have had less problems and after the mopping is done little is left and the vacume gets missed things out of the corners and stuff. Bottom line is anything that goes through a good heppa is not going to go through the heppa and it does leave my area much cleaner. This I have proven by the filters on me room hepa filters because they stay clean much longer, MUCH longer. That pretty good proof to me.. From: <kdeanstudios@...> Subject: [] Re: hardwood floors Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 11:13 AM Barb, I have not vacummed for a couple of years because it used to make me so sick-I vacummed 2 day ago-a small building I am cleaning with the hopes to do a small bit of work-it only took 2 min, but I am still suffering-ears ringing-when that had gone away-deep lung pain-illness. Vacumming is definitly out-even with a hepa filter-it throws too much stuff in the air-and it takes days to settle-don't do it. > > Someone mentioned hardwood floors. That reminds me do you all think I > should vacumm hardwood floors if I have dust mite allergy and cat > allergies, (with cats in the house)? I have been dusting them and damp > mopping them because I figure vacuum will just aerosolize 'small > particles' as has been discussed here. Hardwood floors are not > finished with polyurethane or similar coating so have the wood grain > tiny cracks. I cannot coat them right now as they need to be sanded > first and stained and all that. Thanks > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Hey Barb, Let me correct myself. I thought we were talking about wood or tile floors. I forgot carpet exsisted anymore. Ya, vacuming carpet will indeed put things in the air just from the movement of the vacume whether its on or off. I apologize for any confusion is the post I put up to the other lady. I have tile floors and vacuming is a godsend after all else is done as a a final measure but she is right on the carpet. (the thought of carpet makes me ill) From: barb1283 <barb1283@...> Subject: [] Re: hardwood floors Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 2:32 PM I stopped vacuuming awhile ago but then my cat drug in some fleas and so it looked like I would have to vacuum daily, I instead pulled up the 40 year old carpet and padding and FINALLY after years of debating about it, threw it away. After I vaccumed there would be smell in air that would stay around for a long time. I thought it was vacuum cleaner motor or something but got down and put my nose to carpet and even though it LOOKED perfectly clean, it had an odor to it, probably because it was wool and 40 years old with 40 year old horse hair padding underneath, both a good organic breeding ground. Since the odor was the same as after I vacuumed, I figured the source of odor was tiny particles from carpet STAYING suspended in air. They just aren't heavy enough to settle out. However with dust allergies and cat dander allergies I wondered if I should vacuum to pick up as much of that as possible so dust mites don't live on it. It's hard to know which is worse, but if I wet clean well, it should be tons better than when I had a 40 year old carpet and had to vacuum it. --- In , " " <kdeanstudios@ ...> wrote: > > Barb, I have not vacummed for a couple of years because it used to make me so sick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 I did get rid of the carpet Chris. The only thing I wonder about with the hardwood floors is if dust and dander stay in the cracks, if then DUST MITES live on that and affect the air. I'm allergic to dust mites. If I vacuum I probably get more dust and dust mites up out of the cracks in wood, BUT I also aerosolize tiny particles that might have mycotoxins, etc on them. I'm thinking perhaps it is better to have a few more dust mites around but not put tiny particles up into the air regularly. Finishing the floor to be a complete flat surface would be ideal but the floor is not even enough to just be finished, it may need to have a new floor or new wood on it, so I'll probably leave it as is and if I go to sell house use throw rugs and someeone with a bigger pocketbook than me have the floors redone. > > Sorry you have those problems. i have had much luck, granted I have a decent hepa filter vacume but I have had less problems and after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Ya, that might work best. Like I said though, if you did have a good vacume you could use the skinny tool to vacume the cracks out. Another thing I did with wood floors was to mop on new polyurathane although now that I am MCS I dont know how that would go over. But that filled in all the cracks. I dont suggest that foer any of us though. But ya, you probobly are doing the best thing for now unless you do have a good vacume. Good luck... From: barb1283 <barb1283@...> I did get rid of the carpet Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Barb, You could do a laminate floor.. They are very nice looking and fairly cheap..and obviously, pre-finished. Not very expensive at all, we did a huge space - almost 700 sf for around $1500 Avoid the ones with the built-in underlayment.. They smell. There are brands that have very low formaldehyde.. You would need to do the sawing outside.. (it creates a lot of dust.) Use a carbide tipped blade. (>50 teeth for the laminate) Put the laminate on top of a thin layer of polyurethane foam underlayment. This will give you a highly cleanable, smooth surface that requires next to zero work to maintain.If you get the kind that just click together, if there is any damage, its relatively easy to remove and replace. As far as vacuming.. Many people find that *once they have eliminated all carpets*, they can damp mop or sweep instead of vacuuming. I could not go without dust control. Its absolutely essential. Barb, you may want to look into waxing your floors.. that would fill in the cracks - although was does have some vocs in it I dont think they are as nasty as the ones in the urethane finishes.. What was originally on your floors? Is any of it still there? On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 4:17 PM, barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: > I did get rid of the carpet Chris. The only thing I wonder about with > the hardwood floors is if dust and dander stay in the cracks, if then > DUST MITES live on that and affect the air. I'm allergic to dust > mites. If I vacuum I probably get more dust and dust mites up out of > the cracks in wood, BUT I also aerosolize tiny particles that might > have mycotoxins, etc on them. I'm thinking perhaps it is better to > have a few more dust mites around but not put tiny particles up into > the air regularly. Finishing the floor to be a complete flat surface > would be ideal but the floor is not even enough to just be finished, it > may need to have a new floor or new wood on it, so I'll probably leave > it as is and if I go to sell house use throw rugs and someeone with a > bigger pocketbook than me have the floors redone. > > >> >> Sorry you have those problems. i have had much luck, granted I have a > decent hepa filter vacume but I have had less problems and after > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Some of these suggestions are good and sound pretty simple to do. Yes, I could wax the wood floors, too. That is also a good idea. As for laminate. Problem is floor is not level. The old wood floor that was revealed by removing carpet is not level, with some broken boards so not attractive. Good in some areas and not in other. I probably should get advise first as poly coating or waxing them may prevent stain from ever going on them without first being totally sanded off, so I will get advise. Perhaps I can get them stained in areas where they are not stained and that improve looks a little, and then wax or poly coat them myself, and that may make them easily to keep clean, even though still revealing broken boards in some areas which have been glued together in highly visible areas and then some 'patched' areas that used a different kind of wood, so I real 'hodge podge' of looks on the wood floors, not worthy of the $5k price I got for a professional sanding down and poly coating it, but I guess with bucket and sponge I could lay down a light layer myself. All good ideas I will have to look into. Thanks again. --- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...> wrote: > > Barb, You could do a laminate floor.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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