Flooring

(MS) - Whether you're in your home, in the yard or in the air at 35,000 feet, it's getting harder and harder to get a breath of fresh air.

That's why homeowners, many of them longtime allergy sufferers, are rethinking their internal environments and investing in remedies that will help them and their families breathe easier. It's no easy task, since practically every item in the home has the potential to harbor allergens, particularly "soft" furnishings like sofas, chairs, mattresses and bed linens. But experts agree that there are options, ranging from installing sophisticated air purifiers to using high-tech vacuums to something as basic as purchasing hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers.

One product that can impact air quality is the floor. It's no wonder. Next to the walls, the floor is the largest continuous surface in the home and - considering its location - the largest collector of indoor airborne matter. Therefore, your flooring choice should be the foundation of any long-term plan to improve the air in your home.

That's why more and more homeowners are selecting a natural remedy - hardwood floors. They are installing hardwood floors throughout new and existing homes, replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood, even in bedrooms, according to Bill Clossin, vice president of marketing at Harris Tarkett, a manufacturer of hardwood flooring.

"There are lots of reasons why homeowners are choosing hardwood floors over other options," says Clossin. "But there's no doubt that the search for indoor air quality is at the top of the list."

Whether in planks, strips or parquets, hardwood flooring is naturally hypoallergenic. It has no fibers, grout lines or embossing that can trap dust, dirt and other allergens. Regular vacuuming helps eliminate the daily collection of particles that might settle on the floor, says Clossin. The tough, durable no-wax finishes, like Harris Tarkett's Alumide enhanced urethane wearlayer, make daily maintenance easy.

New factory finishes also eliminate the need for the attendant mess and fumes associated with the on-site sanding and finishing of an unfinished floor. "Depending upon the situation, the airborne sawdust and fumes from the finishing products can be aggravating to an allergy sufferer," says Clossin. The sanding and finishing process can require residents to leave the house for several days, he adds.

Installation options also enhance the health advantages of hardwood flooring, particularly the options provided by pre-finished engineered floors. This new generation of hardwood flooring is inherently dimensionally stable. This means it does not expand and contract with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity and, in turn, can be installed using various options.

Depending upon the situation and the type of engineered product, these floors can be glued, stapled or nailed down, eliminating the need for full-spread adhesive. For instance, one type, called Longstrip, can be "floated," or permanently installed, over most existing sub-floors without nails or adhesives.

"Longstrip might be the most healthy option of all," says Clossin. "The floating method eliminates the need to rip up an old floor, which in and of itself can release a variety of allergens into the air."

There's also a healthy financial reason to choose a hardwood floor over other options, he adds. "When the life-cycle costs are considered in comparison to the initial installation cost, hardwood floors represent one of the best flooring values around, and they enhance resale appeal."

For more information on Harris Tarkett's pre-finished hardwood flooring products, call (800) 842-7816 or visit www.harristarkett.com.

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PRE-FINISHED HARDWOOD FLOORS, like Harris Tarkett's Grand Vistas II in Pine Natural with the Alumide enhanced urethane finish, can help improve indoor air quality. They do not trap dust and other allergens, making them ideal for family rooms and bedrooms.

Local Resources

Arthur Whitcomb

Carbone's Window & Awning