If you have a child or family member who has allergies to dust, pollen, and other common allergens, you are probably wondering how you can make your home more allergy-free. Some homeowners consider a whole-house air purifier, others choose certain kinds of bedding, and still other homeowners choose to battle allergies with sprays and spritzers.

But you may be overlooking one of the sneakiest causes of indoor allergies: your flooring!

That’s right. Many homeowners choose carpeting and fancy rugs to brighten up a room and create a warm environment underfoot, all the while sneezing and wheezing. All carpets and rugs are safe havens for allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust. Even if you take your shoes off at the door to avoid letting plant pollen in, pet dander from beloved pets and every day dust can settle in the fibers of carpet and rugs; when stepped on, these allergens erupt from below right up to our noses. Those with allergies may also experience watery eyes and hives – in addition to sneezing and congestion.

Vinyl flooring can also be a culprit when it comes to irritating your body’s defensive systems. Vinyl can be created using dangerous and noxious chemicals, which can put out irritating fumes. These fumes can tickle the nose and set of a storm of sneezing. Dangerous chemicals in carpet and vinyl tiling can also exacerbate asthma symptoms. In addition to the creation process, certain adhesives that are used to glue carpet and vinyl flooring in place can cause irritation as well.

A few great alternatives to carpet, rugs, and vinyl flooring are stone tiles, bamboo flooring, and ceramic tile. All three of these flooring options can be seen in high-end homes all across the United States – and you certainly cannot beat the durability of stone or ceramic tile.

Both of these flooring options are strong and hold up in many different home environments. If you’re looking for an earthy alternative in areas that see a lot of foot traffic (the entryway, the kitchen, the bathroom, or in a finished basement are all great examples), ceramic or stone tile are wonderful and allergy-free choices.

For areas like a living room, bedroom, or other area where you prefer the look of wood, go with bamboo flooring. This option is sustainable, renewable, and durable. Not to mention allergy-free! The allure of bamboo flooring is sure to draw admirable looks through clear and non-watery eyes.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.

While there are plenty of projects you can tackle yourself, if you are a little less than mechanically inclined, you may want to hire a contractor to do the job for you. When interviewing contractors, you will want to question them thoroughly, ask for references, and compare estimates. If you work with a professional that guarantees his work, it will save you a lot of time and stress. Talk with a contractor who is familiar with the local building codes to make sure your home remodeling is done correctly. You will also want to work with a contractor who can provide you with a well-written contract, which will prevent mistakes or additions to your project.

Prior to starting your remodeling, you may save yourself some money by finding products that you like that are less expensive. When shopping for products, make your decisions based on the total value of the item and the quality of the item, not just the price.

Besides putting your own personal stamp on your home, remodeling can also increase the value of the home. For instance: if you own an older home and only have one bathroom in it, it can make your house a little more attractive if you were to put in another bathroom. . . not to mention make your time in your home a little more comfortable!  Additionally, if you were to turn your basement space or attic space into actual living spaces by remodeling them, you can help to increase the value of your home.

Another way to increase the value of your home is to put in some high end appliances. If you opt to include some stainless steel appliances, dual-flush toilets, whirlpool tubs, and heated floors, you will attract more buyers. . . and buyers who are apt to spend more.

To speak with one of our design consultants, please call us at 1-800-764-1633.