Is laminate flooring safe?

Is laminate flooring safe?

Interior Decorator · Member since 2008 · 24 posts · 0 votes

Many people like laminate flooring due to its features. But they have a doubt: Is it safe? Unlike marble, granite, ceramic tile and concrete, this product doesn�t contain radioactive substance. The key factor is its content of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is contained in not only laminate flooring but also furniture, paint, glue and other interior decorative materials.

Formaldehyde is a kind of chemic gas. If formaldehyde release exceeds some extent in the air, it will harm people�s nose, eye, respiratory system, etc. and conduce to dermatosis, rhinopharyngocele, leukaemia, etc.

The formaldehyde for laminate flooring is contained in its support material. It is used to make aniline-formaldehyde resin which has strong capacity of agglutination. This kind of resin acts as mucilage glue for the support material. It is cheap. And it can add to the antisepsis, hardness and insect resistance. So it is the first choice of agglutination materials for veneer.

The formaldehyde in the support material will not come out at once. The release period is up to different conditions of temperature, humidity and the quality of the surface. The period will last at least 12 years. So many countries have relevant regulations for formaldehyde release of veneer. For example, EU set us 3 grades for formaldehyde release: E1 ((≦10mg/1 00g),E2 (≦40mg/100g) and E3 (≦100mg/100g). E1 rating products can be used for interior purpose directly. E2 rating products can be used after the treatment of surface. In fact, minim formaldehyde release can�t do harm to people�s body. So you can feel free to use eligible laminate flooring.

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  • Real Estate Investor · Mesa, AZ · Member since 2008 · 33 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    What exactly are you worried about?

    Getting sued, or the actual harm it may cause?

    I have 2 kinds of this flooring in 50% of my house. The first was put in almost 8 years ago.

  • Glendale, CT · Member since 2008 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    i never herd of anyone getting sick from laminate at least not the home owners.

  • General Contractor · Midland, TX · Member since 2008 · 160 posts · 24 votes
    18y

    I thought the purpose of forums was to get others view on things, not to ask a question and answer your own post.

  • Tucson, AZ · Member since 2008 · 945 posts · 45 votes
    18y

    I'm chemically sensitive. I live as fume free as I can. I would not be able to live in a house that had more than a very small area of older laminate flooring.
    It’s usually not just one product that injures people, but more and more people are realizing they ARE injured by just one product. Usually, people have a symptom or two, and if not knocked off their feet by it, don’t even register it as more than a minor annoyance, blaming “something they ate,†“didn’t get enough sleep,†“must caught a bug,†“something in the air,†“pollen, molds, pet dander,†or whatever else.
    Symptoms are not just respiratory, but involve the entire body system, causing minor and major illnesses, minor to major damage to one, several, or all parts of a body, including mental/emotional/social and financial. These range from watering eyes or runny nose to birth defects, cancers, central nervous system dysfunctions. They include learning and memory/focus/comprehension problems, brain fog, rage reactions, etc.

    Still, (even today) MOST people do not realize the symptom(s) they suffer is the result of exposure --even minimal--to toxic fumes. That ONE chemical, (whatever it is) added to the chemical soup we live in, may be the tipping point at which your body descends into disabling conditions, probably temporary at first and if not stopped, can become permanent disability.

    Information re formaldehyde can be found through the links at http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnlinx/f.htm#Formaldehyde

    Okay, off my fragrance free soap box for now!
    ofgift

  • Tucson, AZ · Member since 2008 · 945 posts · 45 votes
    18y
    Originally posted by Robert Vanarsdale:
    i never herd of anyone getting sick from laminate at least not the home owners.


    The fact that you have not heard of it does not mean it does not happen. If that sounds harsh, let me tell you my boss said to me, when I told him of MY problem, "My wife does not get sick when SHE smells people's perfumes." edited to add, Since his WIFE did not get sick, I couldn't possibly ge getting sick from it either.

    People may not know it is the flooring making them sick: FIrst if it caused illness, our government would not allow it to be sold, right? (WRONG!)
    and second,
    It's so expensive, and you've just put it down, you can't afford to replace it, so you CAN'T even consider it IS that causing your sudden watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic reactions.
    ofgift
    adding an edit to say I am totally, permanently disabled by chemicals, formaldehyde being a major contributor to that, in the forms of new building and decorating products where I worked.
  • Residential Real Estate Agent · Hartsville, SC · Member since 2008 · 20 posts · 0 votes
    18y

    I have it in the formal dining, foyer, and great room in my house for 4 years with no noticeable problems for myself, my wife, or 4 children. A couple of the kids have allergy problems, but no problems in the house that I've noticed.

  • Tucson, AZ · Member since 2008 · 945 posts · 45 votes
    18y

    What are the allergy symptoms?
    What are the ages/sizes of the kids?
    Do any of them exhibit fewer allergy symptoms after being out of the house for a while? For instance, if they are gone for the weekend do the symptoms decrease, only to increase after returning home?
    and conversely, become symptomatic after returning home?

    OR
    Do any of them exhibit more allergy symptoms after being exposed to your personal care fragrances (or your wifes? (Or their siblings? or other peoples?)
    and conversely, become less symptomatic after being removed from those chemicals?
    Those same questions should be asked regarding not only personal care products but also cleaning (and other chemical) products--automotive, yard, hobby, school items including crayons, boxes, markers, backpacks, etc, etc...
    ofgift

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