Chemicals From Hardwood Flooring

Middle tennessee lumber sells unfinished hardwood flooring and its website includes a helpful slideshow of its production process.

Chemicals from hardwood flooring.

The first slide shows the lumber in a chemical bath with the caption. For anyone with allergies hardwood flooring is typically a good option. Some vocs in hardwood floor refinishing products include benzene formaldehyde toulen xylene and arsenic. Although plywood used in engineered hardwood floors are commonly manufactured using a phenol formaldehyde resins these days phenol formaldehyde resins still contains formaldehyde and emits formaldehyde ten times more than solid hardwood.

All of these materials off gas at normal room temperature leading to dizziness eye. Environmental protection agency says that formaldehyde may cause cancer after years of exposure and one of the most common ways that this chemical is released into a home is through wood flooring products. Formaldehyde is an ever present colorless gas that can give off a pickle like smell. Adhesives for wood floor planks often release formaldehyde as they dry.

It s important to choose a non toxic finish when installing new flooring. Engineered hardwood with phenol formaldehyde resins can still emit some level of formaldehyde. The wood surface allows for dust and other allergens to be removed easily.