posted
I have 29 year old wall to wall carpet in my home and it needs to come out. Since obviously I don't have too much experience in the "buying" carpet dept. ...I need help. What is the best ( I know none are great) material to purchase as far as chemical sensitivities?
Is Polyester better than Nylon? Is wool the only choice?
Anyone with experiences with either specific brands or certain materials, please let me know.
We will be ripping it out ourselves and hubby will have me OUT OF THE HOUSE for that!!!! The dust and everything will be too much for me to handle, unfortunately.
Thanks all!!
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I have wood underneath the carpet (house is 75 yrs old)but would be massive undertaking to refinish them.
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Condor
Its good that you pulled the carpet out- I did it also-- it helped with my illness
Make Sure to wear a dust mask when doing it-
get a 3M N92 or N95 --cost $5 for 2 worth every penny -
I did not put carpet back - I painted the floors with outdoor wall paint Purple and Blue -- its Trippy --Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
YEs you either refinish it or put the fake wood floor.I removed that entirely in my house.JUST forget about puting carpet on it anymore.Rugs are Ok .I washed all the RUGS with NON CHEMICHALS solution this year.
Boy I can tell the diference in the air of the room.Now that is hot summer time the second floor does not smell carpet anymore.It is SOOO diferent.
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I would go to a very reputable dealer and ask if there are "chemical-free" or "low-chemical" options. Good luck.
Another thing you could maybe do is go to a showroom and have your husband (or you if you think you can do it) "sniff" the carpet samples just to see which produce the fewest fumes (brands, types, etc). (don't sniff too much though.....just take a short wiff from as far away as possible)
If something smells bad in the store, I usually don't buy it.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
I had new carpet pu in my room upstairs a couple of years ago and I was very chemically sensitive, still am.
I didnt really bother me.
I would sniff it too.
What did bother me is memory foam and mold!
In fact Im out in Colorado now and when I get back to the East coast I am going to shampoo the carpets with borax and a carpet shampoo machine.
This will at the very least get some of the smell and spores out where they belong.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
I had new carpet pu in my room upstairs a couple of years ago and I was very chemically sensitive, still am.
I didnt really bother me.
I would sniff it too.
What did bother me is memory foam and mold!
In fact Im out in Colorado now and when I get back to the East coast I am going to shampoo the carpets with borax and a carpet shampoo machine.
This will at the very least get some of the smell and spores out where they belong.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
from my newbie package links below....
CARPETING WET CAUSES ``MOLD'' - DRY remediation methods were preferred over wet ones The below info, page 5 of their brochure, is from:
posted
If you do settle on any carpet, make sure you use foam underneath that doesn't smell. There is a kind that was developed by NASA with no smell.
Posts: 13117 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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troutscout
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3121
posted
If yo are chemically sensitive...carpet is out of the question.
There is no known carpet for MCS people. None are safe.
Sorry.
Trout
Been there done....it.
-------------------- Now is the time in your life to find the "tiger" within. Let the claws be bared, and Lyme BEWARE!!! www.iowalymedisease.com [/URL] Posts: 5262 | From North East Iowa | Registered: Sep 2002
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
There are lots of chemical free options these days, since carpet glue is very toxic.
Check out jute and other natural floor coverings. Google around on carpets and environmental terms and you will find lots of information.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
Hardwood is sooooo much easier to keep clean. After awhile, carpet just gets an odor in it. Not to mention dust mites, molds, etc.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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NanaDubo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14794
posted
Maybe painting your floor like someone suggested would be a good idea. You can get good non-toxic of low VOC paints. Might be less expensive than new carpet too.
I don't have an inch of carpet in my entire home. One small rug that is made out of recycled sweaters and that's it!
I believe I've read that the fake type wood has plenty of chemicals.
Posts: 1129 | From Maine | Registered: Feb 2008
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quote:Originally posted by cordor: I have wood underneath the carpet (house is 75 yrs old)but would be massive undertaking to refinish them.
It's worth it. We were going to refinish the floors in our 92 year old house, but they were too far gone ... they did not have the benefit of being protected by carpet, so we replaced them.
My husband's office (an old victorian house) had wood floors covered with carpet. We had them refinished and they look great. We did not do them ourselves, but it was worth it to have them done.
If you can do it, I would.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
I'd be curious to know about the advantages/drawbacks of using one type of carpet over another and different padding types too.
For some reason, my home has hardwoods in the formal areas but plywood under the carpet in the family room.
We REALLY need do replace the decrepit original carpeting that's been in there, I believe, since the house was built. I think laying hardwood would just be too cost prohibitive at this point.
I was really hoping to see some tolerable alternatives posted here.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
If you can't afford to refinish them, why do it?
Rip out the carpet and have the wood floors simply cleaned by a professional...not refinished, just cleaned.
Chances are the floors will look very "authentic" in your "older" home.
Many people consider any "wear" CHARMING and MORE valuable.
Posts: 9426 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
AND be clear that you have what they would term "multiple chemical sensitivites" and don't simply what want is so conveniently termed "green" - you may need to go a step ahead.
Still, whatever it's made of, I think carpet should be outlawed. It's just a bacteria and mold factory.
It's far better to have flat floor that you can dust and clean and wool area rugs that don't have the rubber/synthetic oil-based padding and glues.
I would bet my entire tiny income on how much better people would feel without wall to wall carpet.
AND the planet would be far better off, too. Manufacturing of carpet is one of the most polluting things around. And, it's so unnecessary in the scope of human need.
If you do opt for a flat floor - whether wood or painted concrete (which can be very nice) - and if you get area rugs, you need to be sure they have not been moth-balled or otherwise exposed to chemicals.
I hope you find a solution that is good for your lungs and also pleases your artistic side.
posted
Thank you for all your replies. Quite a few of you are pretty much against wall to wall carpet....and I DO understand why, but here is my new question: IF I were to refinish the existing wood floors and then just put down nice area rug....what are my options for material to use for the final coat. The fumes from varnish or shellac are awful and when my neighbor did her floors, she could not stay in her house for weeks. Any suggestions on what to use for the finish on the wood floor?
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
polyurethene has never bothered me, but we did stay out of the home for 4 days to allow it to dry.
Marnie had a very good suggestion about leaving the floors natural. I tried to sand my floors one time and could not get the entire 23 yr old stain up. I was left with a very pretty vintage look so I cleaned it up and left it as is. Didn't even put a topcoat on it. We have dogs and at that time teenagers and the floor held up great. It was red oak.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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oxygenbabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5831
posted
Water based polyurethane dries quickly. If you are very sensitive, use AFM Safecoat's polyurethane. It's really neutral, its for MCS people. Area rugs are fine. Don't get old moldy ones and don't get new synthetic ones. Get natural Berber rugs or jute or something like that.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
Heres a couple of questions for everyone: Does anyone have sensitivities to these three things? (Leather chairs) - (breezes, fans or air conditioning) - (cloths like touching your neck)
I am very very sensitivities to all these things and they all make me very cold, shiver, chills, shake etc.
Thanks, Steve
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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troutscout
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3121
posted
Steve...yes.
I was.....got over just about everything after almost 6 years of antibiotics.
Avoidance is key.
Also....constantly detox....constantly.
Trout
-------------------- Now is the time in your life to find the "tiger" within. Let the claws be bared, and Lyme BEWARE!!! www.iowalymedisease.com [/URL] Posts: 5262 | From North East Iowa | Registered: Sep 2002
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