There are so many things to take into consideration when remodeling that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, it doesn?t have to be. The first you need to do is decide what is most important to you. It may be the functionality of the space or the ability to entertain. Determining what the space will be used for is essential, and it is important to look towards the future. Is there a chance the space will be used for something else in the near future. Will a den be turned into a nursery or a child?s bedroom turned into a craft room? Thinking about these things will eliminate the need to remodel every couple years.
You also want to determine the importance of using materials that are low in or free of chemicals and environmentally friendly. There are many people that have chemical sensitivities, and many chemicals have been proven potentially unsafe for children. According to one report, anything with VOC levels over 5500 ppd could be harmful for people with sensitivities to chemicals.
VOCs do dissipate over time, so if flooring is a year or more old, most of the VOCs are probably already dissipated. Putting in new flooring can introduce a high level of VOCs into the space. Fortunately, there are several organic options and VOC-free painting materials that you can choose to avoid the new introduction of chemicals.
According to some studies, high concentrations of PGE in children?s bedrooms have been linked to increased risk of developing asthma, eczema, and rhinitis. Another study showed that people in an environmentally-controlled pace where VOC levels were reduced to approximately 50 micrograms per cubic meter, had significantly higher test scores than those in a traditional work space. While not everyone will have physical reactions to chemicals, this research suggest that most people have unknown reactions to the chemicals.
With the rapid growth of child allergies, it is also important to note that PGE-exposure has been linked to nearly doubling the chances of a child developing allergic sensitivities to other allergens. There is a growing trend of choosing organic foods to avoid the introduction of unneeded chemicals into the body, but people don?t realize they are breathing in chemicals every day that are being emitted from the paint on the walls and the carpet or tile they are walking on.
There are many low chemical or chemical free options to choose from when remodeling. You can choose from baby safe paint for cribs, anti slip paint, clear coat for wood, as well as spray paint, gloss varnish, and eco friendly primer. The list goes on and on. While they may not be as popular as chemical laden options, they do exist and can be made available to you.
Choosing an environmentally anti slip paint can offer a high level of protection for floors while still decreasing or eliminating the harmful chemicals. This is especially helpful with children who may be crawling or spending a lot of time at floor level playing.
You may not be able to find anti slip paint at small local hardware stores, however they are widely available, so you may want to check your larger hardware stores or check online.