Safe Flooring?

[engy]

I need new flooring in my whole house. Currently I have 11 year old carpet (that's not too bad), linoleum, & hardwood entry.

Since we do not have the $ to do whole house we would like to do our bedrooms first.

When I research flooring I cannot believe the chemicals in them!!

I will not go back to carpet once it is gone. Any other suggestions? I'd like to do our bedroom & my daughter's in the spring so no hurry but so confused!

We have bad allergies & an indoor/outdoor Great Dane pooch who is very well behaved but has big everything, including nails! lol

I have some ideas from my doctors (hard wood low odor stain & tile) & flooring places just want a sale so haven't been helpful.

Anyways if anyone has had any experience or just input I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks a bunch 

Carie

[Joe S.]

Allergies can be a problem. When we looked to purchase our current home, it was a sea of old carpet. We pulled a corner of the carpet up and found hardwood floors. Some carpet had been glued down...work, work, work! All the floors needed sanding and finishing. It took a week for sanding and removing glue. It took a week for us to finish the floor. The bath and kitchen floors need to be redone yet. We have some area rugs over parts of the wood floor.

Good luck with your project.

[Meld256]

engy,

I know it can be hard to balance new flooring costs vs. allergy-free options.  If you want a hardfloor choice, one might be bamboo.  It's a beautiful manufactured flooring usually made with no chemicals.

It's also very strong, so might be "doggy-proof."

One of my former jobs was as manager of a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  They bring in building/household materials to sell to the public at a much lower cost.  Profits go toward new Habitat homes projects.

Many times a large company will make a big donation of new flooring, which Habitat can sell for a huge discount. Just a thought...

It can be confusing with all the options out there.  Hope this helps just a bit!

[Pisces24]

We have a place called ReStore here that anyone remodeling can take good materials in to get rid of them. They sell things cheaply from vanities, light fixtures, flooring, tile, paint, grout, etc etc.  I would be exactly sure what quantity of materials you need prior to buying though.

Yes - very good idea to stay away from carpet. It traps all the "gunk" and even the greatest cleaners, etc will not get it all out. I have one room carpeted - the living room. Guess where a cat will hack up at furball??  So far I have not found a good spot cleaner and I can't afford the carpet cleaning co that much.

I am leary of all the cleaners out there to do floors, etc - all the chemicals in them. Wonder if there is a good cleaner out there for allergy sensitive people.

[Joe S.]

At one house that we had, we ripped up the carpet. Painted a layer of Kiltz on the floor and then a layer of deck paint on top of that. We were strapped for cash at the time. When we could afford it we put laminate down.

[newhorizons]

Just be aware that tile is cold to your tootsies!!!

[Carebear]

Hi Carie,

I would highly recommend Marmoleum.  It's made with linseed oil and is very eco-friendly.  Lots of colours and stlyes to chose from.  And it is surprising warm on your feet.

[engy]

Thanks everyone  .  Carie

[Still in the hunt]

the kind that dont hurt when you fall on them

[engy]

Ya maybe I'll get padded walls too, lol!

[Meld256]

engy,

Sounds as if you've gotten a few suggestions.  Hope it's helps your choices.

Pisces,
Yes, the ReStores are usually found in every state.  Some real gems can be found.  Our store took in all the items you mentioned, plus appliances like "gently-used" washers and dryers. 

We had a small crew who would remove all the items from a remodel project, and if someone was gutting the kitchen, for example, we'd take all the kitchen cabinets in a set. They didn't need to find a place to throw it out and we benefited by being able to resell them at a low cost.  A huge benefit for those looking for remodeling themselves by finding things cheaply, and they were still very nice cabinets.

We got a huge amount of pergo and hardwood flooring while I was there. I called Lumbar Liquidators to ask if they had a few extras, and I got an email from the president asking when we could receive the shipment. To my shock, they sent a donation a semi-truck full!
We sold some and were able to use it for 2 Habitat homes being built for a family members in wheelchairs. The profits helped the next 6 homes, too.  What a win-win!