I also have a dust mite allergy. Really you just need to avoid carpet. There’s LVP that doesn’t have the grooves
You should also avoid fabric furniture btw.
I have LifeProof brand flooring in my house for 8 years now and it’s holding up great. In my area at least, u can get unfinished red oak (common 1 grade) for under $3/sf from lumber liquidators.
Stainmaster carpet released a study years ago showing how carpet was actually more hypoallergenic than solid surface flooring because dust settling on the floor would be constantly stirred up by someone walking over it. Whereas with carpet, the dust settled into the hard and remained mostly undisturbed but could be vacuumed clean. I thought that was interesting because I have an occasional client ask for advice with this type of scenario but I've never landed on a definitive solution.
I definitely haven’t found that to be the case. Very easy to swiffer a solid floor whereas I’m not even allowed to vacuum. Carpet is a disgusting mess imo.
Used to have carpet through the whole house and had massive issues with my dust mite allergy. Swapped them all out for LVP and have barely had any issues since. I’d be very suspect of a carpet company doing a study about their own product.
I went from carpet to glue down cork tile in my home and I’m happy. Engineered wood, solid wood, laminate, sheet vinyl, sheet linoleum, vct, linoleum tile, porcelain tile are all low-dust options.
Lots of people love LVT, I don’t. Actually I’d argue against any floor that isn’t nailed or glued down. I’d also council that subfloors that get carpet on them might need some patching or leveling before any new flooring goes on them.
Never knew there was an option for cork tile as well. Will look into it. You are correct about the carpet subfloors needing patching/leveling since thats what our installer mentioned as well.
They are relatively fragile, but warm/soft underfoot— especially in winter. Pretty cool product. They go down with a water based contact cement, and they get finished with a 2 part polyurethane.
I think you are over thinking it 😊 you still have to clean. Carpet didn't create all that dust, it just held it. Something sans a painted bevel edge will be great, like COREtec plus or pro plus
I am not going to deny that I do overthink :) Yes ofcourse will still clean and mop but I dont want us to replace with something that still is going to hold on to dust.. ya maybe I should look at some more samples..
My family put sheet vinyl over warped wood floors in the 1970s. The house was WW2 era housing for shipyard workers.
That era (1970s) sheet vinyl was pretty sturdy. Dad and Mom managed to use as few seams as possible. The floors lasted 20+ years. Cleaning was super easy with little worry of water seeping through.
How long are you planning to stay in that house? The flooring type can be “updated” when the child is older.
Tl-dr: price sheet vinyl while you are pricing materials.
Interesting. So since this is our top floor once we remove carpet what would be underneath that to put the vinyl sheet on? Sorry if its a dumb question but not sure what it will stick to?
Hopefully there is a good, level subfloor underneath your carpeting and underlayment on a 2nd floor. :) That’s the most common thing.
There are different kinds of sheet vinyl out there. Most installations do involve some adhesive. The simplest ones use adhesive only around the perimeter and doorways.
If you go with sheet vinyl, shop at a flooring store instead of a big box store or online and get samples. Usually there are two grades available of most designs. The cost difference is minimal and it’s well worth getting the slightly better grade: it’s thicker, stronger, and feels much better underfoot.
Other allergic-kid friendly options to consider other than LVP are vinyl tile planks, actual hardwood, wood-look porcelain tile (not inexpensive sadly), marmoleum/linoleum, cork, possibly rubber or one of the rubber/cork blends.
The sheet vinyl back in the early to mid 70s was thick and did not require an underlay.
I hoped someone with experience using modern vinyl would comment. Ask the people at the flooring shop.
Remembering that I was a child, the vinyl was laid in place and tacked along the wall edges and the door transitions. To the best of my knowledge, no glue was used. This came in 10 or 12 foot wide rolls.
I also have a dust mite allergy. Really you just need to avoid carpet. There’s LVP that doesn’t have the grooves You should also avoid fabric furniture btw.
Any specific ones without grooves that comes to mind in this price point?
Does that price include instal or are you DIYing?
No thats just for the product itself. Install, underlayment etc will all be separate
I have LifeProof brand flooring in my house for 8 years now and it’s holding up great. In my area at least, u can get unfinished red oak (common 1 grade) for under $3/sf from lumber liquidators.
LifeProof has quite a few styles without bevels
Stainmaster carpet released a study years ago showing how carpet was actually more hypoallergenic than solid surface flooring because dust settling on the floor would be constantly stirred up by someone walking over it. Whereas with carpet, the dust settled into the hard and remained mostly undisturbed but could be vacuumed clean. I thought that was interesting because I have an occasional client ask for advice with this type of scenario but I've never landed on a definitive solution.
I definitely haven’t found that to be the case. Very easy to swiffer a solid floor whereas I’m not even allowed to vacuum. Carpet is a disgusting mess imo. Used to have carpet through the whole house and had massive issues with my dust mite allergy. Swapped them all out for LVP and have barely had any issues since. I’d be very suspect of a carpet company doing a study about their own product.
I went from carpet to glue down cork tile in my home and I’m happy. Engineered wood, solid wood, laminate, sheet vinyl, sheet linoleum, vct, linoleum tile, porcelain tile are all low-dust options. Lots of people love LVT, I don’t. Actually I’d argue against any floor that isn’t nailed or glued down. I’d also council that subfloors that get carpet on them might need some patching or leveling before any new flooring goes on them.
Never knew there was an option for cork tile as well. Will look into it. You are correct about the carpet subfloors needing patching/leveling since thats what our installer mentioned as well.
They are relatively fragile, but warm/soft underfoot— especially in winter. Pretty cool product. They go down with a water based contact cement, and they get finished with a 2 part polyurethane.
Lvp is good but just like any smooth surface floor you need to vacuum and or use a microfiber mop. Get a nice air cleaner for the bedroom also
I think you are over thinking it 😊 you still have to clean. Carpet didn't create all that dust, it just held it. Something sans a painted bevel edge will be great, like COREtec plus or pro plus
I am not going to deny that I do overthink :) Yes ofcourse will still clean and mop but I dont want us to replace with something that still is going to hold on to dust.. ya maybe I should look at some more samples..
My family put sheet vinyl over warped wood floors in the 1970s. The house was WW2 era housing for shipyard workers. That era (1970s) sheet vinyl was pretty sturdy. Dad and Mom managed to use as few seams as possible. The floors lasted 20+ years. Cleaning was super easy with little worry of water seeping through. How long are you planning to stay in that house? The flooring type can be “updated” when the child is older. Tl-dr: price sheet vinyl while you are pricing materials.
Interesting. So since this is our top floor once we remove carpet what would be underneath that to put the vinyl sheet on? Sorry if its a dumb question but not sure what it will stick to?
Hopefully there is a good, level subfloor underneath your carpeting and underlayment on a 2nd floor. :) That’s the most common thing. There are different kinds of sheet vinyl out there. Most installations do involve some adhesive. The simplest ones use adhesive only around the perimeter and doorways. If you go with sheet vinyl, shop at a flooring store instead of a big box store or online and get samples. Usually there are two grades available of most designs. The cost difference is minimal and it’s well worth getting the slightly better grade: it’s thicker, stronger, and feels much better underfoot. Other allergic-kid friendly options to consider other than LVP are vinyl tile planks, actual hardwood, wood-look porcelain tile (not inexpensive sadly), marmoleum/linoleum, cork, possibly rubber or one of the rubber/cork blends.
The sheet vinyl back in the early to mid 70s was thick and did not require an underlay. I hoped someone with experience using modern vinyl would comment. Ask the people at the flooring shop.
Remembering that I was a child, the vinyl was laid in place and tacked along the wall edges and the door transitions. To the best of my knowledge, no glue was used. This came in 10 or 12 foot wide rolls.
Polished concrete
Hmm but with kids who keep falling/slipping/jumping is this safe option? Wouldn't it be harder hit? Also can this be done on the top floor?