My son works in the construction department for a chain-type hospital.
They just let out a contract to replace all the vinyl tile flooring in all the waiting rooms and certain other rooms of all their hospitals, with carpet. However, they had a hard time finding carpet without vinyl in the backing. They are doing it because they found the vinyl flooring was "out gassing" and making asthma patients worse.
I tried to think of a way homeowners and renters could accomplish that without tearing up their house. The best I came up with was putting something over the vinyl to block the outgassing and then something like sisal over that.
I have no idea if this is new or old info, but I thought I'd write about it in case it was new.
bev
Hi Bev! 
Thanks for sharing that idea! 
Do you know if your remedy has ever been tried before and with what type of results?
Do you know if your remedy has ever been tried before and with what type of results?I know a lot of people have trouble with this, so this serves as reminder to anyone installing new flooring that has allergies!
Thanks again!
Hugs, Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
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I have no idea what people do or may have tried, nor do I know if what I dreamed up would work. I just know I couldn't afford to tear up a floor, so I tried to think of alternatives.
I was curious and looked up "vinyl outgassing" on Google after I posted. It outgasses formaldehyde. Yuck!
It said some only lasts a few days, some lasts a few months, and some goes on for years and years. They said never clean vinyl with a petroleum based product; that makes it worse. They recommended opening new houses for several days before moving in. I still do the old school thing of opening windows without regard for the temperature fairly regularly.
One place talked about the particle board cupboards outgassing--today they use a slightly different material and clad them, inside and out, with materials to prevent the out gassing. So sealing might work.
I don't know the answer, but after reading the websites, it's definitely something to consider and to watch for as a cause of differing behavior in different places.
bev
I was curious and looked up "vinyl outgassing" on Google after I posted. It outgasses formaldehyde. Yuck!
It said some only lasts a few days, some lasts a few months, and some goes on for years and years. They said never clean vinyl with a petroleum based product; that makes it worse. They recommended opening new houses for several days before moving in. I still do the old school thing of opening windows without regard for the temperature fairly regularly.
One place talked about the particle board cupboards outgassing--today they use a slightly different material and clad them, inside and out, with materials to prevent the out gassing. So sealing might work.
I don't know the answer, but after reading the websites, it's definitely something to consider and to watch for as a cause of differing behavior in different places.
bev
Thanks Bev!!
I really do appreciate your thoughts! I love to open my windows, too and air out the house - frequently! :)
Hugs, Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating: