Hello,
We need to replace the floor in our bedroom. Both my wife and I have developed issues with our airways, and we have concluded that it is likely due to the floor. We have an old type of laminate flooring that seems to be glued at the seams but not to the subfloor. There's a foam underneath. If you break the floor, it consists of some kind of glued wood, like chipboard. Below that is subfloor chipboard. Under that, there is in turn (I believe) rough-hewn planks. I want to remove everything down to the rough-hewn planks, but what should I lay down instead? Can I lay flooring directly on the rough-hewn planks? Any tips on how to get a "healthy" floor in the bedroom?
Buggaren
We need to replace the floor in our bedroom. Both my wife and I have developed issues with our airways, and we have concluded that it is likely due to the floor. We have an old type of laminate flooring that seems to be glued at the seams but not to the subfloor. There's a foam underneath. If you break the floor, it consists of some kind of glued wood, like chipboard. Below that is subfloor chipboard. Under that, there is in turn (I believe) rough-hewn planks. I want to remove everything down to the rough-hewn planks, but what should I lay down instead? Can I lay flooring directly on the rough-hewn planks? Any tips on how to get a "healthy" floor in the bedroom?
Buggaren
Start by checking how it looks under the floor chipboard. Råspont isn't the most common thing you have under the chipboard...
Remove all material down to the joists... then you build up a new floor.
Are you sure the issues are due to the floor? and not mold or other fun stuff?
Remove all material down to the joists... then you build up a new floor.
Are you sure the issues are due to the floor? and not mold or other fun stuff?
Well, a bedroom floor in the design mentioned should be one of the very last reasons for respiratory issues, but regardless, I sympathize with your desire to remove all kinds of chipboard and synthetic materials.
I assume it's an older house that has been modernized. If the subfloor is nice and in good condition, you can use it as it is. If not, you can lay masonite, rag paper, and new floating floor.
It's good to know that emissions from plastics, glues, lacquers, chipboards, MDF, etc., are the worst during the first years of the materials' life. That is, old materials have usually off-gassed most of it.
Ventilation is indeed an extremely important factor if you have respiratory issues.
After we installed mechanical supply and exhaust air, the indoor air became even drier in the winters. When the humidity dropped below 32%, I woke up with a scratchy throat. I bought a substantial humidifier and placed it in the bedroom. It only increased the humidity by 2%, but that was enough to avoid waking up with a scratchy throat.
I assume it's an older house that has been modernized. If the subfloor is nice and in good condition, you can use it as it is. If not, you can lay masonite, rag paper, and new floating floor.
It's good to know that emissions from plastics, glues, lacquers, chipboards, MDF, etc., are the worst during the first years of the materials' life. That is, old materials have usually off-gassed most of it.
Ventilation is indeed an extremely important factor if you have respiratory issues.
After we installed mechanical supply and exhaust air, the indoor air became even drier in the winters. When the humidity dropped below 32%, I woke up with a scratchy throat. I bought a substantial humidifier and placed it in the bedroom. It only increased the humidity by 2%, but that was enough to avoid waking up with a scratchy throat.