Wood Floors Improve Air Quality
(HIT) - A recent Life Cycle Analysis of wood flooring conducted by the University of Wisconsin supports this belief. The study compared five different floor coverings in regard to four substances considered to be harmful to the atmosphere: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. All these substances contribute to atmospheric warming and human respiratory ailments. The results of the study show that wood flooring had no emissions for methane, nitrogen oxide and other particulates, and minimal emissions for carbon dioxide. Wood floors also have the added benefit of not harboring allergens, micro organisms or harmful pesticides that can be tracked in from outdoors. In addition, dust, mold and animal dander contamination is minimal in homes with wood floors, which can significantly improve indoor air quality.
Wood floors are easy to maintain as well. Simply sweep the floor regularly with a soft-bristle broom or dust mop to remove surface dirt and debris. If your floor contains beveled edges, use a vacuum with a soft bristle brush attachment to remove dirt and debris from between the floorboards. That’s all there is to it.
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Photo courtesy of the National Wood Flooring Association |
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This office floor features solid White Oak planks, with American Walnut feature strips. The floor is job-site finished, using an oil-based surface finish. Installation by Universal Floors, Washington, DC.
Want to know more about the eco-benefits of wood floors? Visit the National Wood Flooring Association’s web site at nwfa.org, under the “What’s New” link.
About NWFA
The NWFA is a not-for-profit trade organization of more than 4,200 wood flooring professionals working worldwide to educate consumers, architects, designers, and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. The NWFA can be contacted at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63005, or at 800-422-4556 (USA), 800-848-8824 (Canada), or 636-519-9663 (international).
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center
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