ᐅ Floor coverings free of harmful substances

Dear Forum,

We are considering which types of flooring to choose for our new prefabricated house. It is very important to me that no harmful substances are present (formaldehyde, VOCs, permethrin, etc.).

We plan to install tiles in the bathroom, kitchen, and hallway. For the living area, bedroom, and children’s rooms, we prefer a warmer floor covering, ideally with a wood appearance. I do not want carpet, and cork is probably out since it is too sensitive to light and pressure for us.

I have read a lot online, and cork, linoleum, natural flooring, and parquet or wood planks are often mentioned as particularly low in harmful substances. However, it is also pointed out that details matter a lot—for example, whether the floorboards are click-fit or glued (risk of formaldehyde), whether the top layer has a lacquer that contains pollutants, or whether the substrate board contains toxins… all of which makes sense.

It is also mentioned that certifications, like the Blue Angel, do not guarantee the absence of harmful substances but only that the levels are below legal limits. Some posts even suggest that the pollutant levels of materials used in the room add up—for example, if the wall paint is just below the limit. This is frustrating to me. What can I really rely on if even certifications are questioned?

I am now wondering how to find a floor that contains NO harmful substances. Of course, price is a factor. Our prefab house supplier offers parquet flooring including installation for €140 (about $150), which is our budget limit. We could install a click-system ourselves to save money. Is this possible with underfloor heating?

Does anyone know of a brand (e.g., for laminate, engineered wood, parquet, natural flooring, linoleum…) or have tips for reliable certifications? How do you assess “natural flooring” referred to as low in harmful substances? The polyurethane it contains is said to be critical as well.

Kind regards,

Catibu74

I admit it is extremely difficult for me to answer these questions objectively.
FEAR is never a good advisor.
Take screed as just one example of flooring; it contains cement, which can release dust when used.
Harmful substances are often treated as a bogeyman, closely linked to terms like "asbestos" and "mold growth."
Anyone who is primarily driven by fear and concern will struggle to find their way in this world.
Every type of flooring material releases some form of emissions. The only question is to what extent these affect health.
All those "green" or "eco" certifications should not be taken too seriously; there is no need to rely on them solely to ease one’s conscience.
Even wood, a natural material, can release a compound called formaldehyde.
However, this does not mean that the levels in indoor air cause any harm.
The only material that comes to mind which is based on natural mineral raw materials and produced as a sintered product, thus tending to very low emissions, is glass.
Keep in mind: every material emits substances at temperatures above 1 Kelvin.
Therefore, your concerns about "harmful substances in flooring" seem unfounded to me!
All materials must meet requirements to ensure that no excessive VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are produced in standard chamber tests.
This does not mean that the emissions pose any health risk!
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Hoping I have answered as objectively as possible nonetheless:
KlaRa

How do you expect to live in a pollutant-free environment, in a pollutant-free house?
Have you thoroughly considered all the building materials and checked the relevant certifications and proofs for each one?
I assume that’s not the case. So why put so much (unnecessary) thought into just one specific building material?

EVERYTHING in your house, furniture, clothing, etc. (unless directly imported from China like Ali) is tested and at least low enough in pollutants that no health risks are apparent. Of course, all materials contain some pollutants, but you already inhale those through the air in our generally clean atmosphere.

Choose a nice flooring that you like (personally, I always go for oiled/waxed hardwood). Plastics like laminate or vinyl belong in affordable rental apartments, but not in your own home.

P.S. Hardwood flooring should always be glued down over underfloor heating. This is also possible with click-lock hardwood. There are plenty of extremely low-emission adhesives available for this. Doing this yourself is not rocket science and can save you a lot of money.

I am also quite surprised by the question about pollutant-free flooring.

Personally, I would be put off by the term _low-emission_, but not by the label _low-pollutant_.

Industrially produced items such as furniture, magazines, clothing, and interior finishing products hardly ever come without pollutants. So unless you choose a very cheap product from China, you are probably introducing fewer pollutants into your home than with an IKEA piece of furniture or a baby cream that is applied directly to infants' skin.

Catibu74 schrieb:

Of course, price plays a role. Our prefab house supplier offers parquet flooring including installation for €140 (about $150), which is the upper limit.

At that price, you can certainly hire a parquet installer yourself and have high-quality parquet laid. That way, you’re not bound to accept the supplier’s material cost.

The idea is not entirely unreasonable. Especially in new construction, many different materials are combined, which off-gas. Taken together, the VOC levels can be high during the first few years. Alternatives could be solid wood planks treated with linseed oil or genuine linoleum, although neither is completely free of VOCs, or carpets such as those from Tretford.