If you haven’t ventured into the racks of luxury vinyl flooring samples at the flooring centre, you may be in for a surprise. This kind of flooring is is becoming widely popular due to its inherent benefits. New printing technology and finishing materials make it almost indistinguishable from a real stone or wood floor.

Why Use Vinyl?

Vinyl floors were once second best after the real deal, but that’s no longer the case. Instead, people use vinyl now because it’s:

Vinyl also comes in a wide variety of designs. It’s available as continuous sheets and as individual tiles.

Downsides of Vinyl Flooring

There are few downsides to using vinyl in the wet areas of a custom built home, but it’s possible to buy a brand or type that can counter any flaw. It is essential to take care in choosing flooring because it directly affects your indoor air quality (IAQ) .

Some vinyl flooring products, along with thousands of other consumer products, emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that raise health risks. VOCs are gases from hydrocarbons used to produce synthetic products. Besides some vinyl flooring products, you’ll find VOCs in household cleaning products, furniture, laundry soaps and dryer sheets, carpets, adhesives, and many other common items. Anything from shower curtains to paraffin-based candles are a risk.

VOCs off-gas from the products that use oil-based chemicals. The rate of release is in direct proportion to the temperature in the home. When it’s warmer, products off-gas more VOCs. Over time, the products will stop emitting VOCs, but that varies depending on the amount of petroleum-based chemicals used inside them.

Solutions

Fortunately, manufacturers have started to offer low VOC and VOC-free products, especially those used for home improvements that are also available for a custom built home. It’s easy to find VOC-free paints and even vinyl flooring products that offer the same high quality and performance as their VOC-laden counterparts. You can also improve IAQ by letting the product air out indoors with adequate fresh air ventilation, or just placing it outside for a while.

Manufacturers are making serious efforts to eliminate VOCs from products because of the health risks they pose. Some people have no reactions to them, while others may experience high risk health symptoms. Avoid all reactions, mild or not, by taking care in choosing the appropriate vinyl flooring.

Managing VOCs

The best ways to manage or avoid VOCs is to eliminate them from your home. When that’s not possible, ample fresh air ventilation will dilute their concentrations. Another way is to install UV (ultraviolet) lights in the HVAC system’s ductwork. The UV rays alter the chemical makeup of the VOCs, rendering them less toxic.

Clients of Alair Homes have experts on their sides who help them find alternatives to VOCs in the construction process. They have the knowledge and resources to look at the product’s labeling and specifications to learn whether it’s clean air complaint.

Bottom Line

living room with brown sofa with yellow pops of color against dark luxury floor vinyl

As you plan your custom built home, rely on the team at Alair Homes to steer you clear of products that could cause short- and long-term damage to your health. There are many vinyl flooring products that have no VOCs that will bring you years of performance and enjoyment, as well as other products used in your custom built home.