Healthy Homes
Dos and Don'ts to Creating a Happy and Healthy Home for 2007

Before you start coating your dining room with that new shade of paprika red paint or begin installing that plush carpet in your bedroom, be sure you're aware of what toxins are hidden in your home improvement materials. That wonderful new paint or carpet smell may be harmful to your health.

Finishing materials, like carpet and paint, contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are not only harmful to the environment, but also to a homeowner's health. Because of the demand for healthy home materials grow, manufacturers have eliminated toxins such as chromium and mercury from all consumer paints, and they now offer non-toxic, low-VOC alternatives.

By investing in low VOC paints and natural flooring materials, such as ceramic tile, marble and hardwood flooring, homeowners can reduce the toxic chemicals and their associated VOCs which can cause respiratory, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea and other serious ailments.

Using healthy home renovation materials encourages healthy and happy living. Consider the following home materials while shopping for your next renovation project:

Flooring

• Don't purchase carpet.
  It's tough to give up that cozy feeling between your toes, but if you are concerned about your home's indoor air quality, avoid carpets and look into hard surface alternatives like bamboo, cork and tile. Carpet tends to hold and trap airborne VOCs within its fibers, sometimes for up to seven years. If you can't give up carpet, seek out carpet made from natural fibers like wool, or look for some that has not been subjected to chemical treatments. Another way to reduce VOCs in your carpet is to install carpet with felt padding opposed to styrene-butadiene rubber or foamed plastic pads. Visit www.westcoastflooring.com to find more environmentally friendly flooring options for your home.
• Do consider purchasing bamboo flooring.
  Bamboo has proven to be a more durable and eco-friendly alternative than oak or laminate flooring. Bamboo accepts a large variety of stains, making it a versatile flooring option that can be blended to match almost any interior color palette. Though all wood flooring will eventually scratch, bamboo can easily be refinished, unlike laminate flooring.
• Do consider purchasing cork flooring.
  Cork flooring, like bamboo, is both environmentally friendly and durable. Cork flooring is made of ground tree bark and sealed with a non-toxic resin. Bark harvesting does not harm the tree because the bark grows back and is ready to be harvested again within nine years.
• Do consider purchasing ceramic tile.
  Unlike carpet, hardwood or vinyl, tile endures the test of time. Made of clay and other minerals, ceramic tile is built to withstand high-foot traffic areas of a home and is especially suited for entryways, where water and dirt enter the house. The versatility and durability of ceramic tile makes it the perfect flooring cover for all homes. Visit www.westcoastflooring.com to learn more about West Coast Flooring Center's wide selection of ceramic tile.

Paint

• Do stick to light colored paints.
  White and pastel paints often times contain fewer VOCs, while darker shades generally contain more VOCs.
• Do read the fine print.
  Before purchasing paint, read the fine print. Although it may be hard to find, paint manufacturers include warnings, instructions and the VOC for a specific volume of paint on all paint labels.
• Don't purchase alkyd oil based paints.
  Instead, seek out water-based, latex or paints that specifically say they contain low or zero VOCs. Most major paint manufacturers now offer a line of low-VOC or zero-VOC paints and primer sealers that do not contain ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone or other harmful chemicals.
• Do give natural paints a try.
  Natural paints, often consisting of lime, clay, milk protein and earth pigments, also serve as a healthy home improvement alternative. Though slightly more expensive than synthetic paints, natural paint is long lasting and VOC free. Natural paints do not contain harmful solvents, making it an ideal paint option for pregnant women, young children and individuals sensitive to paint fumes.
• Do open a window.
  When painting, or installing new carpet, it is important to open doors, windows and use fans in order to reduce VOC exposure within the home. Proper air circulation will cause the paint toxins to gas-off VOCs more quickly.

While shopping for your next home improvement project, consider some aesthetically pleasing alternatives such as zero-VOC paint and bamboo flooring. By making these smart home improvement choices, you can ensure your home truly is a safe haven.

This article is provided by West Coast Flooring Center, one of the largest flooring stores in Southern California, offering flooring services with a wide variety of quality flooring options and other home improvement services. Take the West Coast Flooring Center New Years' Resolution survey now to receive a gift certificate for $50!

For more home improvement tips and services, visit the West Coast Flooring Center online at www.westcoastflooring.com.