Laminate Flooring and Your Health

There has been some recent controversy regarding the emission of formaldehyde gas from laminate flooring. Fortunately, Consumer Reports has provided some insight into the matter, having recently completed a small-scale study comparing pre-finished wood flooring to laminates and engineered wood products. The study found that the less expensive pre-finished alternative did indeed consistently emit less of the carcinogenic gas.

This is not to say that the emissions from laminate flooring are necessarily dangerous to your health. Although Consumer Reports found that those emissions generally exceeded the limits defined by the state of California, it is also the case that the emissions varied widely from one product to the next. Meanwhile, there are no federal regulations regarding formaldehyde, so it is generally up to the individual to determine where the line is for acceptable risk.

Formaldehyde is emitted from a wide range of products, so its presence in laminate flooring is no reason to push the panic button. And if you had laminates installed years ago, the gas has likely dissipated completely. Still, if you’re planning on installing brand new engineered wood flooring, the differing emission rates may be another factor to consider alongside price and appearance.

If you have young children or elderly relatives who will be in frequent contact with that floor, it may be wise to pay a little more for pre-finished wood flooring, since the very young and very old are more sensitive to the potential health hazards of formaldehyde. Additionally, you may want to exhibit similar precautions if you are just the type of person who is hyper-vigilant about the health of their home.

On the other hand, if you’re otherwise healthy and saving money on your flooring project is of particular importance to you, laminates and engineered products definitely remain a viable option. And Consumer Reports outlines some additional precautions you can take if you go that route.

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