19 May A Well-Dwelling Expert’s Top Flooring Picks
Generally, flooring salespeople don’t push “natural” or “healthful” products on customers as they walk into the store. But when it comes to hard-surface flooring from most U.S. manufacturers, that’s okay.
Most hardwood, tile and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) brands sold in America have at least achieved some form of third-party indoor-air quality certification. These products meet federally-set emission limits for formaldehyde, as well as a host of other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Yet, it has become evident over the past decade that both increased awareness and heightened concern are the reality for consumers, many of whom now scrutinize a product’s contents regarding their effects on personal health and wellness.
“There are a lot of questions people raise about the ingredients used in their floors, like whether they leach out of the flooring over time, or if they stand to weaken a person’s immune system,” says Ian Warner, design consultant at and member of the Well-Dwelling Experts Network. “Fortunately, we have access to many brands, including the latest versions of the original leading ‘green’ products. So when a customer tells me they are focused on indoor-air quality, I help them narrow their choices.”
More consumers know history
About 11 years ago, a 60 Minutes investigation put toxic flooring in the national spotlight. The report revealed that some Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring products were making people sick, having been made with high-formaldehyde adhesives. Another controversy erupted shortly thereafter over the use of plasticizers known as phthalates in vinyl flooring. These chemicals, which migrate from the products they’re used in, were linked with developmental delays in young children.
The U.S. flooring industry paid attention. Flooring products as a category were the first to undergo testing and achieve third-party certifications indoor-air quality – though some were more stringent than others.
Equally notable is that consumers have become much more knowledgeable about what flooring contains, with one of the most recent concerns being antimicrobials, Warner says. Case in point is one of his customers who found her perfect aesthetic in a luxury vinyl tile (LVT) floor at the JP Flooring Design Center in West Chester, Ohio. But, Warner says, she pivoted to a different product after noticing on the label that the flooring came treated with a popular antimicrobial that contains “proprietary” ingredients.
“Because it contained Microban, my customer reselected a different manufacturer’s product,” Warner says. “Microban no longer contains Triclosan, which is a controversial substance; but understanding what it has been replaced with isn’t straightforward, so some people just skip it altogether.”
However, Warner says, some products that contain Microban stand out as leaders.
Laminate flooring
While laminate as a category has been clawing back its image over the past few years, Warner points to some recent
Laminate flooring from Mannington.
technological developments which are quickly making it stand out as an option that indoor atmosphere-conscious buyers ought to consider.
Mannington’s Restoration Collection is one example: laminate planks with excellent visuals that can be steam-mopped, which, coupled with a surface infusion of Microban, reduces dependency on harsh floor-cleaners and disinfectants for eliminating stains and pathogens. Beyond hygiene, the haptic superiority of laminate over LVP has an impact on how the air gets conditioned in rooms where the floor is installed. When our feet are touching warmer surfaces, the effect on the perceived air temperature is significant.
“Not only will our interiors lose less heat with greater insulation, but we will find ourselves less inclined to bump up the thermostat on cold days,” Warner says. A floor that feels better keeps heating bills down.
Some of Warner’s go-to recommendations for customers concerned about chemicals include:
Engineered hardwood
Today, all products containing composite wood products are required to meet federal TSCA Title VI emission limits that
Engineered hardwood from Preverco.
started being enforced after the 2015 Lumber Liquidators controversy. Beyond that, virtually all U.S. manufacturers have achieved either GREENGUARD Gold or FloorScore certification, both of which attest high emissions standards for formaldehyde and an array of other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
For versatility and ease of selection, one of Warner’s go-to products is Preverco, which has GREENGUARD Gold certification. Preverco’s versatility and ease of selection make it one of Warner’s top brands: “They make each of their looks in multiple platforms, which allows us to adapt to site conditions as needed, and gives us consistency in both above- and below-grade installations.”
The unseen effect of this versatility lies in the preference for engineered hardwood over LVT in basement areas, where the latter can trap moisture and potentially conceal mold-growth.
LVP/LVT
CALI was the first LVP manufacturer to emerge with a deep-rooted commitment to environmental issues, and they are the first
Classic Acacia from CALI Flooring
brand that Warner goes to when indoor-air quality is a concern. While other providers include sustainability in their mission statements, CALI’s identity is defined by its dedication to making healthy and eco-friendly products. Also GREENGUARD Gold rated, they have a growing product line with all the accessories needed for handling tricky installations.
Tile
For most applications, glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are the best from an indoor-air quality perspective, Warner says. This is primarily because these materials do not need to be sealed. Solid stone, by comparison, typically needs to be treated with a caustic penetrating sealer to prevent future staining, corrosion and bacterial growth.
Porcelain is cleanable, versatile and easy to install.
“I tend to start with Florida Tile in the selection process for tile. As they are part of the Pannaria Group, with access to an
Florida Tile, “Lotus.”
expansive network of manufacturing partners, they can provide just the right price-point for excellent porcelain-rendered visuals.”
All Florida Tile products have Environmental Product Declarations available. ©
— Ian Warner is a design consultant at JP Flooring Design Center in West Chester. Reach him at (513) 346-4300.
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