LVP, Laminate and Carpet all toxic? Do you consider this at all?

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LVP, Laminate and Carpet all toxic? Do you consider this at all?

Dan Earl
Moody, AL · Member since 2017 · 17 posts · 0 votes

Hello folks!!!

I need to replace the old worn carpet in my home and have been looking at installing new carpet on 2nd floor and also maybe Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) or Laminate for the first floor (living room, bedrooms, bathrooms). 

Just from researching the different types of flooring I inevitably came across their toxicity. 

It seems that Vinyl floors are highly toxic since they are made of PVC, Laminate flooring also toxic since they have formaldehyde and carpets are also toxic since they have fire retardants and stain resistant chemicals. Not to mention the installation of the carpets and Vinyl can also be highly toxic right after installation.

Thing is, it seems everything can be toxic, but if I am at the point in which I can choose then I might as well look into this now and choose what is least toxic based on budget. 

I realize that hard wood floors are the way to go, but it is out of my budget. 

So, do you guys even care about this or just buy whatever for your own homes and look for price and durability OR you also consider the level of cancer causing chemicals these materials expose you and your family to?

If you have looked into this and can suggest maybe a brand or type of flooring that is least toxic and still affordable, please let me know. 

Thanks a lot. 

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Mike McCarthy
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y
Most of the VOCs in carpet, vinyl, and engineered wood is outgassed early after installation. Keeping windows open and letting it all vent is probably a good idea. But after that, I have to say that I don’t worry much about it. Everything is toxic these days. I try to limit where I can, but I’m also not going to spend $10/sq ft for organic wool carpeting.
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  • Kat W.
    Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2014 · 68 posts · 28 votes
    8y

    I'm interested in the responses to your questions, but wanted to throw out utility hardwood, I believe it's called. It's cheaper & requires more filler from what I've read, but is easier on the budget.

    1Reply
  • Roger S.
    Investor · TX · Member since 2015 · 393 posts · 290 votes
    8y

    I don't worry about it all.  How much of your homes plumbing is PVC?

    1Reply
  • Scott Rogers
    Member since 2018 · 88 posts · 72 votes
    8y

    You might be surprised if you have your drinking water tested.  Oh and the air you breath as well. And what about that cell phone you hold up to your face way too often everyday with its radiation output.

    Some things just aint worth worrying about, Besides the average life expectancy is increasing not decreasing and quality of life is supposedly better then ever.  So I seriously thinking you are making a issue where one doesn't exist

    1Reply
  • Dan Earl
    OP
    Moody, AL · Member since 2017 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Kat W.:

    I'm interested in the responses to your questions, but wanted to throw out utility hardwood, I believe it's called. It's cheaper & requires more filler from what I've read, but is easier on the budget.

     Thanks for the suggestion. 

    I get the feeling this topic will not get many replies on this forum for obvious reasons. :) 

    Anyways, I am sure some have given this a thought since from little googling you get a ton of hits.  

    Even Home depot has started requiring the elimination of some toxic chemicals from paints and I think some floors due to their proved and studied negative impact on health, so this is very real. Remember Lead in paint ?

    Anyways, if you have some knowledge on this topic and can suggest a good balance between the inevitable toxic flooring options you get when you have a modest budget, please chip in. I'd greatly appreciate it. 

    0Reply
  • Mike McCarthy
    Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    Most of the VOCs in carpet, vinyl, and engineered wood is outgassed early after installation. Keeping windows open and letting it all vent is probably a good idea. But after that, I have to say that I don’t worry much about it. Everything is toxic these days. I try to limit where I can, but I’m also not going to spend $10/sq ft for organic wool carpeting.
    2Reply
  • Account Closed
    Specialist · Gaithersburg, MD · Member since 2016 · 20 posts · 17 votes
    8y
    California fire retardant rules influence the products brought into their market places but in practically every other US state's marketplace as well due to the size of the California marketplace Unfortunately nearly everything manufactured today now has some type of a hazardous profile, it is just a fact of life Sometimes better living through chemistry isn't always the case Stick with accepted practices and standards for reasonable personal plus professional protections Cheers
    1Reply
  • Scott Weaner
    Rental Property Investor · Yardley, PA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 561 votes
    8y

    Toxic? To which species, as I have never known a normal human to be harmed by these products? I am sure that some have sensitivities, but that still will be very rare.

    0Reply
  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Dan Earl I deal with these issues daily with clients. Not every floor is high VOC. Wood can be high VOC though. IE, Pine is more than oak but the VOC part is going to be the finish. If you are worried about this the only thing to do that is low cost is ceramic tile. 

    Ceramic, porcelain and glass are zero VOC

    Water based thin set is zero VOC

    Some grouts are zero VOC. 

    Dont use mastic.

    I like tile better for a rent house anyway. When they bring that puppy in for little Sarah without you knowing about it it doesnt ruin your floor as bad as other flooring. The smell comes out easier too. 

    2Reply
  • Dan Earl
    OP
    Moody, AL · Member since 2017 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Mike Reynolds:

    @Dan Earl I deal with these issues daily with clients. Not every floor is high VOC. Wood can be high VOC though. IE, Pine is more than oak but the VOC part is going to be the finish. If you are worried about this the only thing to do that is low cost is ceramic tile. 

    Ceramic, porcelain and glass are zero VOC

    Water based thin set is zero VOC

    Some grouts are zero VOC. 

    Dont use mastic.

    I like tile better for a rent house anyway. When they bring that puppy in for little Sarah without you knowing about it it doesnt ruin your floor as bad as other flooring. The smell comes out easier too. 

     Hi Mike thank you for your comment and suggestions. I will look into tile, since it is the only option I never considered due to not being typical in my area. May be too cold in the winter?

    I have hardwood in the kitchen and I will be refinishing it (sanding) and I will have to decide a stain or no stain. I won't do Polyurethane for sure, but I have to choose whether to stain or not and what finish or no finish.  Do you have a suggestion to avoid VOCs.?

    If you had to choose between carpet, laminate and vinyl, which would be the least in VOC or let's say less toxic to live with in the long run. If you have children who will have direct contact with the floors, more than an adult, (crawling, rolling, bare foot), is the contact with PVC vinyl worse than say the stuff they put on the carpets or the formaldehyde in laminate?

    appreciate any suggestions on this. Thanks a lot

    0Reply
  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Dan Earl:
    Originally posted by @Mike Reynolds:

    @Dan Earl I deal with these issues daily with clients. Not every floor is high VOC. Wood can be high VOC though. IE, Pine is more than oak but the VOC part is going to be the finish. If you are worried about this the only thing to do that is low cost is ceramic tile. 

    Ceramic, porcelain and glass are zero VOC

    Water based thin set is zero VOC

    Some grouts are zero VOC. 

    Dont use mastic.

    I like tile better for a rent house anyway. When they bring that puppy in for little Sarah without you knowing about it it doesnt ruin your floor as bad as other flooring. The smell comes out easier too. 

     Hi Mike thank you for your comment and suggestions. I will look into tile, since it is the only option I never considered due to not being typical in my area. May be too cold in the winter?

    I have hardwood in the kitchen and I will be refinishing it (sanding) and I will have to decide a stain or no stain. I won't do Polyurethane for sure, but I have to choose whether to stain or not and what finish or no finish.  Do you have a suggestion to avoid VOCs.?

    If you had to choose between carpet, laminate and vinyl, which would be the least in VOC or let's say less toxic to live with in the long run. If you have children who will have direct contact with the floors, more than an adult, (crawling, rolling, bare foot), is the contact with PVC vinyl worse than say the stuff they put on the carpets or the formaldehyde in laminate?

    appreciate any suggestions on this. Thanks a lot

    You will just have to check with the manufacture for the initial. For the long run carpet around be by far the last choice for VOC. It might initially be low but everything they track in will have something on it that will likely be there forever in some quantity. Asphalt paving, pesticides and herbicides, etc. 

    I think I would go with vinyl. It is probably the worst at install but the best long term. 

    0Reply
  • Thomas S.
    Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    8y

    Too much paranoia in the world today, I ignore it all.

    1Reply
  • Dan Earl
    OP
    Moody, AL · Member since 2017 · 17 posts · 0 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Mike Reynolds:
    Originally posted by @Dan Earl:
    Originally posted by @Mike Reynolds:

    @Dan Earl I deal with these issues daily with clients. Not every floor is high VOC. Wood can be high VOC though. IE, Pine is more than oak but the VOC part is going to be the finish. If you are worried about this the only thing to do that is low cost is ceramic tile. 

    Ceramic, porcelain and glass are zero VOC

    Water based thin set is zero VOC

    Some grouts are zero VOC. 

    Dont use mastic.

    I like tile better for a rent house anyway. When they bring that puppy in for little Sarah without you knowing about it it doesnt ruin your floor as bad as other flooring. The smell comes out easier too. 

     Hi Mike thank you for your comment and suggestions. I will look into tile, since it is the only option I never considered due to not being typical in my area. May be too cold in the winter?

    I have hardwood in the kitchen and I will be refinishing it (sanding) and I will have to decide a stain or no stain. I won't do Polyurethane for sure, but I have to choose whether to stain or not and what finish or no finish.  Do you have a suggestion to avoid VOCs.?

    If you had to choose between carpet, laminate and vinyl, which would be the least in VOC or let's say less toxic to live with in the long run. If you have children who will have direct contact with the floors, more than an adult, (crawling, rolling, bare foot), is the contact with PVC vinyl worse than say the stuff they put on the carpets or the formaldehyde in laminate?

    appreciate any suggestions on this. Thanks a lot

    You will just have to check with the manufacture for the initial. For the long run carpet around be by far the last choice for VOC. It might initially be low but everything they track in will have something on it that will likely be there forever in some quantity. Asphalt paving, pesticides and herbicides, etc. 

    I think I would go with vinyl. It is probably the worst at install but the best long term. 

    Thank you again. Didn't think about carpets accumulating what we bring from outside.. so true and nasty now that I think of it. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. 

    As for the materials themselves... would you say carpet is more toxic than Vinyl Planks? We would be comparing the fire retardants and other chemicals to prevent stains and the pad underneath in carpet flooring, to the PVC in VInyl planks and possibly some amount of Phtalates. Although apparently home depot has managed to remove phtalates from LVP. 

    Decisions....

    0Reply
  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Dan Earl Well here again you would just have to go on a per manufacture basis. This carpet may be less than that vinyl but that carpet may be more than the other vinyl so to speak. It really is brand specific. 

    1Reply
  • Sheri L Mercadante
    Specialist · Bergen County, NJ · Member since 2017 · 2 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    Sherwin Williams Harmony is a paint that actually absorbs and then neutralizes formaldehyde off-gassing. It's a true zero VOC paint (many paints are no VOC in the base but pigments have VOC). It also absorbs other VOC's and cooking, smoking, and pet odors.

    Formaldehyde in particular is in just about everything: plywood, partical board, MDF, which means kitchen/bath cabinets, flooring, sub-flooring, etc. New EPA law strictly limits the amount of formaldehyde being used in manufacturing so look for items marked "CARB2 Certified" or "CARB2 Compliant" which stands for California Air Resources Board, Phase 2 and is now the national standard. Almost no formaldehyde allowed from the mill to the final installation regardless of whether the product is made in the US or imported.

    1Reply
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