Protect Your Health with These Tips for Choosing Healthy Wood Flooring

Wood flooring is a beautiful and sustainable choice for your home, but not all wood floors are created equal. In this post, we will share three key considerations to help you choose a wood floor that is healthy for you and your family.

1. Choose CARB-compliant products.

Wood is a natural product, but most engineered wood floors are made by gluing the top layer of solid wood to a bottom structural layer. Not all adhesives are created equally, and some may contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde that can off-gas into your home. To protect your health, look for wood flooring products that are labeled as CARB-compliant.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) established strict emission standards for hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard in 2007. These standards require that all composite wood manufacturers, importers, fabricators, distributors, and retailers selling in the state use third-party certified mills and document their efforts to ensure compliance. By choosing CARB-compliant wood flooring, you can breathe easy knowing that you are not exposing yourself or your loved ones to harmful chemicals

2. Beware of wood dust.

If you are installing unfinished wood flooring or refinishing an existing floor, be aware that sanding can create a lot of fine dust. Breathing in wood dust and formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and even cancer. To protect your health, it is important to use dust collection equipment with HEPA filtration. Alternatively, you can choose pre-finished wood flooring that is sanded and finished offsite to minimize the amount of dust created in your home.

At Castle Bespoke, we specialize in custom sanding and finishing with full disclosure and data sheets available on all products used. Whether you choose to have your flooring sanded and finished in-place or offsite, make sure you are working with a reputable contractor who prioritizes your health and safety.

3. Choose low-VOC finishes.

The finish applied to your wood flooring is also an important consideration. Conventional floor sealers, finishes, and stains can contain elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde and toluene, which can be harmful to your health. VOCs can cause headaches, flu-like symptoms, trigger asthma and other respiratory ailments, and even increase your risk of cancer.

Thankfully, there are many low-VOC options available on the market. Natural penetrating oils from companies like Rubio Monocoat, OSMO, LOBA, Ciranova, or Bona Craft Oil offer low-zero VOC products. These finishes form a molecular bond with the cell structure of the wood, reducing or eliminating the risk of off-gassing VOCs. Choosing a low-VOC finish for your wood flooring can help you breathe easy and stay healthy.

In summary, by making well-informed healthy choices, you can enjoy the beauty and sustainability of wood flooring while protecting your health. Remember to choose CARB-compliant products, use dust collection equipment, and choose low-VOC finishes to ensure that your wood flooring is healthy for you and your family. If you have any questions or concerns, our dedicated team at Castle Bespoke is here to help.