From the Floors Up

Question 8 In the Series Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring

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Today we are answering the eighth question in the 1o part series: Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring.

Question: Is carpet a bad choice if I have allergies?

Answer: NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

The folks at the Carpet and Rug Institute say it best on their site so I will give you the highlights from them. (for the full page of information with links and other useful info, click here.)

Things you should know:

  • Carpet actually  helps keep the air free of allergens and pollutants when properly vacuumed and maintained.
  • It’s what falls to the carpet – such as allergens, common dust, pet dander and other pollutants – that tends to stay on the carpet until it is vacuumed, unlike smooth surfaces that allow these particles to re-circulate.
  • Properly maintained carpet leads to improved air quality and a healthier indoor environment because regular vacuuming with a Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval -certified vacuum cleaner locks pollutants in the machine and removes them from the air you breathe.

Need more?

  • There is no scientific study linking the rise of allergy and asthma to the use of carpet. Indeed, several studies actually disprove any correlation.
  • Carpet may even be helpful to people with asthma: http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/medline/record/MDLN.12170270
  • A 2003 study of more than 4,600 school children in New Jersey found that having carpet in a child’s bedroom was associated with fewer missed school days and less need for asthma medication.  http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v13/n3/full/7500266a.html
  • Studies have compared the distribution of airborne dust associated with normal activities on hard and soft flooring surfaces. Findings show that walking on hard surfaces disturbed more particles. These particles became airborne and entered the breathing zone. In contrast, carpeted surfaces trapped more particles so that walking disturbed fewer particles. The result was less dust in the breathing zone over carpeted floors.  http://www.carpet-health.org/pdf/AllergenPaper.pdf PDF

Hope this information helps!

10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring

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I began writing today’s post to talk about dark floors and whether or not they make a room feel smaller and I began by saying that I get this question almost  as often as I get the question “What type of floors should I use?”. So, I thought it would be fun to do a series on the top 10 most frequently asked flooring questions. Below is a list of questions that we will be posting answers to over the next 2 weeks. Your job is to tell me if you’ve had this same question or if I didn’t include a question that you would like the answer to!

10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring and Design

1. Will dark floors make my room look smaller?

2. What type of floors should I use?

3. Is laminate a good choice for homes with kids and pets?

4. Will small tiles help a small room appear larger?

5. Can I pick out the pieces of travertine or slate that I want to use so that they all look like the sample?

6. Does carpet cushion really matter?

7.  How can I tell what my flooring will look like when it’s installed in my home?

8. Is carpet a bad choice if I have allergies?

9. Should I use the same floor that my mother/neighbor/best friend used because it sure looks good in her house?

10. Won’t it be cheaper if I buy my floors and install them myself?

There are dozens more questions out there and we will address those in future posts, but for now, enjoy learning the answers to those questions that you and many others have had!

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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