Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Ceramic Tile Flooring Choices

Believe it or not, carpeting is one of the most important contributors to indoor air pollution. One of the most common health issues in a home is allergies, and carpets are practically an ideal environment for dust mites, molds and mildew.

Not just that, but the modern wall-to wall carpeting in today's homes are made of manmade fibers dyed and treated with chemicals ( anti-fungal agents, soil repellants and insecticides, anyone? ) and bonded to manmade backing with chemical glues. All of these materials release lots of Fluctuating Organic Compounds as they age, in a technique called outgassing. Uncertain Organic Compounds ( VOCs ) can be mutagens, irritants and cancer inducing agents. Not the best thing to have in your house, to say the least. Carpet also draws and keeps all that you and your relatives track in to the house from the ground outside- dust, lead dust found in flaking house exterior paint, insects, bacteria, lawn and garden chemicals and other unhealthy waste. Not to mention food crumbs, hair and dead skin particles.

Getting a wall to wall carpet one hundred percent clean is virtually impossible ( ever leased one of those steam-cleaners to wash your carpet and cleaned the same area repeatedly, everytime seeing more mud come out? ) and making an attempt to clean causes its own issues. Vacuuming stirs up airborne dust and mildew spores. At the other end of the floor covering health range is ceramic tile. It is made of natural clay materials fired in a kiln. Ceramic tile is bonded to the base flooring using low-toxicity thin set mortar, and can be grouted with handmade, additive-free grout. 2 parts dry, clean sand mixed with one part Portland cement can be prepared and added to water to form a slow, damp curing grout.

Though a ceramic tile floor can be dear up front, because of the labor-intensive installation, they are awfully sturdy and enduring if correctly maintained, and can be thought about as relatively affordable in the future.

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