Although easy clean-up, economy, and a soft walking surface have made sheet vinyl a popular flooring for kitchen and utility areas, vinyl flooring is associated with health hazards. The vinyl chloride fumes it emits are a known carcinogen. In addition, in hot or humid climates requiring air conditioning the vinyl will trap moisture, which can promote delamination and mold growth or rot. We do not recommend vinyl in the healthy home.
Natural linoleum, also known as battleship linoleum, is made from linseed oil, pine resins, wood powder, and jute and is free of synthetic chemicals. When newly installed, this flooring does have a noticeable odor that some people do not tolerate. Cork tile is another natural choice for resilient flooring. The natural smell of the cork is also evident at first unless the cork is presealed. Both linoleum and cork are available with factory-applied acrylic finishes. In hot and humid climates these finishes may impede vapor permeability, causing moisture to be trapped under the surface.
Sources for Natural Linoleum and Cork Flooring
Natural linoleum and cork flooring are available from the following sources:
• Armstrong/DLW Linoleums: Natural linoleums in a variety of colors with natural jute backing
• Bangor Cork Company: Cork tiles and sheet flooring and linoleum
• Building for Health: Cork and battleship linoleum flooring products
• Dodge-Regupol, Inc.: Cork tile available unfinished, waxed, or with polyurethane matt or gloss finishes
• Duro Design: Cork flooring supplier
• Eco Design/Natural Choice: Cork floor tiles and adhesives
• Forbo Industries: Natural linoleum flooring products
• Hendricksen Naturlich: Cork, natural linoleum, and other natural floor coverings and adhesives
• Jelenik Cork available through Sustainable Flooring: A variety of patterns and colors, planks or tiles, and acoustical un — derlayment
• Natural Cork Co. Ltd.: Cork in a variety of colors, patterns, and finishes
Adhesives for Natural Linoleum and Cork Flooring These adhesives are acceptable for natural linoleum and cork flooring:
• AFM Safecoat 3 in 1 Adhesive
• Auro No. 383 Natural Linoleum Glue
• BioShield Natural Cork Adhesive
• Envirotec Health Guard Adhesive #2027
• Forbo L910 Linoleum Sheet Adhesive and T940 Linoleum Tile Adhesive
• Sinan Company No. 380 and No. 390 for cork flooring
• Taylor Meta-Tec 2084 Tuff Lok X Link
for cork flooring
Carpeting has been associated with a growing number of health problems. In a typical
carpet, toxic chemicals may be found in the fiber bonding material, dyes, backing glues, fire retardant, latex binder, fungicide, and antistatic and stain-resistant treatments. During a 1992 congressional hearing on the potential risk of carpets, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that a typical carpet sample contains at least 120 chemicals, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. Outgas — sing from new carpeting can persist at significantly high levels for up to three years after installation. Once discarded, carpet is neither renewable nor biodegradable. In major cities, discarded carpeting accounts for 7 percent of the landfill mass.
Synthetic latex, the most common carpet backing, contains approximately 100 different gases, which contribute to the unpleasant and harmful “new carpet smell.” Most underpads are made of foamed plastic or synthetic rubber and contain petroleum products that cause pollution at every stage of production and continue to pollute once installed. Felt backings are generally less polluting. We have specified safer carpet backings below. Typically, brands labeled hypoallergenic will be odorless.
Carpet Installation
There are two ways to install wall-to-wall carpeting: tack-down or glue-down. Tack-down installations are preferable because they do not destroy the floor surface and because the carpet is easier to remove and can thus be partially recycled. Tacking strips are nailed, screwed, or glued down around the perimeter of the room. If the strips are glued, it is important to use a low-toxic glue. The carpet and underpad are then stretched and the edges are folded with the underside tacked down.
