Knight
Well-known Member
I think you are right about the carpet deteriorating, looks like fiber in that dust. Dust isn't the only problem. Read this
https://www.americasfloorsource.com/tips-and-trends/can-old-carpet-make-you-sick/
Is it too late to get new carpeting?
- Thread starter debodun
- Start date
https://www.americasfloorsource.com/tips-and-trends/can-old-carpet-make-you-sick/
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
I'd faint if I had to dust around all those knickknacks. You're a better woman than I am, Deb!
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
My wall to wall carpeting is professionally cleaned every autumn. We debate about whether to redo the floors but nothing is a great answer.
Ceramic tile? Slip and fall on that and you're talking serious injury.
Hardwood floors: Expensive (2500 SF house) and at 70 who knows how much longer we'll be in this house.
Laminate wood floors: In broad expanses they tend to separate (as I learned with my kitchen).
What really appeals to me is the commercial grade plank flooring I've noticed over the past ten years or so. No idea what it costs or where to even begin learning about it.
Knight
Well-known Member
About 18 years ago my wife wanted hardwood floors. Home depot clerk pointed me to interlocking 4" staggered length hardwood floor planking.
Started in the living room. Removed carpet, painted while the carpet was removed. I did the work & ended up doing the whole house minus the kitchen & bathroom. Those are in tile.
Pic is of hallway going into bedroom not used as bedroom. Wife's one computer for her games on the right, my puter is on the left.
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Lilac
Well-known Member
- Location
- Flyover Country
That's a good article you posted. Nice short read that gets to the point. Makes me want to replace the last of my carpet even faster.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Beautiful job!
Yes, Knight, that's beautiful.
The article makes good points, but it was written by a flooring company that would love to put down hardwood for StarSong LIlac and me.
I just remember that carpet isn't the only source of dust and the man who sold us our furnace raved about how clean our (carpeted) house was, because; no clutter, a few knick knacks but large ones that were easily windexed once a week, blinds or sheer white curtains, no heavy drapes, no excess furniture, very little upholstered furniture, mainly leather that can be cleaned with leather cleaner, open spaces, easy air flow, high ceilings, low humidity.
One thing I read this morning was that dust loves moisture, which explains why my son's room is always the dustiest. I thought it was just because he has more, clothes, books and magazines than we do, but it might also because he puts his dirty clothes in a basket on his closet floor every day for me to collect for the laundry. On top of this is usually a damp washcloth he has used in his morning shower. I can tell if that wash cloth is there or not as soon as I open his door from the moisture in the air. Hmmmm.
I also read that 85% of the dirt in a house is tracked in on shoes. We leave our shoes in the garage.
The article makes good points, but it was written by a flooring company that would love to put down hardwood for StarSong LIlac and me.
I just remember that carpet isn't the only source of dust and the man who sold us our furnace raved about how clean our (carpeted) house was, because; no clutter, a few knick knacks but large ones that were easily windexed once a week, blinds or sheer white curtains, no heavy drapes, no excess furniture, very little upholstered furniture, mainly leather that can be cleaned with leather cleaner, open spaces, easy air flow, high ceilings, low humidity.
One thing I read this morning was that dust loves moisture, which explains why my son's room is always the dustiest. I thought it was just because he has more, clothes, books and magazines than we do, but it might also because he puts his dirty clothes in a basket on his closet floor every day for me to collect for the laundry. On top of this is usually a damp washcloth he has used in his morning shower. I can tell if that wash cloth is there or not as soon as I open his door from the moisture in the air. Hmmmm.
I also read that 85% of the dirt in a house is tracked in on shoes. We leave our shoes in the garage.
Lilac
Well-known Member
- Location
- Flyover Country
I've never tried this, but one time there was a show that said to take a piece of carpet you wanted to put in your house & place it in a sealed jar. The jar was supposed to be left in direct sunlight all day for a few days to a week. The idea behind this was to see what chemical odors & smell would be released from the strong sun when the jar was opened. It was supposed to replicate what would be released in your house over a period of time. I wonder if this would really work?
PeppermintPatty
š¢. š³. š¢
- Location
- Canada
Iām being lazy today.
What she said.
Carpets are dust, dirt and bacteria magnets though. If Deb is having any type of allergic reaction, for whatever reason, putting carpet down would probably make it worse in the long run.( in my opinion )
packleader
Member
- Location
- Southern California
There are many considerations. For example, in colder climates carpet might be better, while in warmer climates tiles are more appropriate. For pets, tiles are easier to clean. Wood flooring has a more rustic appeal. What is more suitable? And then there are personal likes and dislikes. And shall the whole house have the same floors, or be for different for every room? So many choices, considerations (and prices, LOL) BTW, tiles are easier to clean than carpet, and tiles last much longer.
In Southern California with temperature often 100+ tiles are more suitable. And then there are so many different kind of tiles, some are glazed, slippery, and dangerous for seniors. And tiles available in our area come either from Italy or China. OK, for our living room, hallways, and kitchen we decided on flat red-brownish tiles from Italy that harmonize with the interior of the house, and that don't show dirt so easily. For the bathroom we tested raised white tiles, but eventually decided for the bedrooms on ivory flat ones with an internal pattern.
Already 45 years ago, I cemented small red tiles in our breeze walk between the house and the garage, while the patio has simple bricks. Did we do it right when we remodeled the house? Well, we never had regrets and have been living here happily ever after. One advice for soemone who builds a house on freshly graded ground: use carpet first. When we eventually replace carpet with tiles, then the concrete floor showed big cracks. If we immediately had used tiles, then many tiles would have been broken before the ground settled after a few years.
In Southern California with temperature often 100+ tiles are more suitable. And then there are so many different kind of tiles, some are glazed, slippery, and dangerous for seniors. And tiles available in our area come either from Italy or China. OK, for our living room, hallways, and kitchen we decided on flat red-brownish tiles from Italy that harmonize with the interior of the house, and that don't show dirt so easily. For the bathroom we tested raised white tiles, but eventually decided for the bedrooms on ivory flat ones with an internal pattern.
Already 45 years ago, I cemented small red tiles in our breeze walk between the house and the garage, while the patio has simple bricks. Did we do it right when we remodeled the house? Well, we never had regrets and have been living here happily ever after. One advice for soemone who builds a house on freshly graded ground: use carpet first. When we eventually replace carpet with tiles, then the concrete floor showed big cracks. If we immediately had used tiles, then many tiles would have been broken before the ground settled after a few years.
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Knight
Well-known Member
At 82 now the project of installing hardwood floors is out.
Moisture is not a problem for us. Typically 10% humidity or less. What I had to overcome was the potential for expansion.
I was advised to leave 1/2 inch space side to side. That and to make sure the poured concrete slab that is the floor base was level with no depressions.
Floor 1st. Used 12ft. 2x4 to assure no depressions. Found some, used top & bond to level the depressions.
Since starting in the center of each room was how to balance the plank placement, custom cutting the edge & covering the 1/4 inch gap with shoe molding was my solution.
Our 4 ton HVAC unit keeps our home @78 Degrees year round so "cold" is not a concern.
I think Deb has plenty of input but I still want to apologize for high jacking Deb's thread.
Well the NIH isn't selling anything and they are definitely against carpets for people with allergies or breathing problems.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5858259/#:~:text=Several earlier studies have shown,asthma and allergies were reported.
It looks like it will cost between 10,000 and 20,000 to replace the carpeting in my house with hardwood and that doesn't include and area rugs.
My sister-in-law just moved to a new condo and had new wood flooring put down. She told me it looked too bare without area rugs, so she bought some nice rugs, and now when she cleans she says she has, "the worst of both worlds."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5858259/#:~:text=Several earlier studies have shown,asthma and allergies were reported.
It looks like it will cost between 10,000 and 20,000 to replace the carpeting in my house with hardwood and that doesn't include and area rugs.
My sister-in-law just moved to a new condo and had new wood flooring put down. She told me it looked too bare without area rugs, so she bought some nice rugs, and now when she cleans she says she has, "the worst of both worlds."
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
yes and how many warning have to be given out to seniors about the dangers of area rugs..?
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
In the UK Carpet is way more popular than Hardwood floors.. altho' the latter has gained popularity in recent years much to the Chagrin of Apartment dwellers...
In Spain my whole House is Granite tiles, with Spanish Porcelain Ceramic tiles on both sets of stairs ...because it's so hot
In Spain my whole House is Granite tiles, with Spanish Porcelain Ceramic tiles on both sets of stairs ...because it's so hot