Tiling entire home

cleveman · 03-09-2013, 12:36 AM

Not sure I would trust any carpet study from North Carolina.

Safer to trust a tile study from Italy.

sam floor · 03-09-2013, 12:56 AM

The University of Minnesota got the same results as North Carolina.

ddawg16 · 03-09-2013, 01:03 AM

What did they say about the size of the tin hats?

JazMan · 03-09-2013, 01:15 AM

I think that study is probably a bunch of nonsense. I'd have to see how the study done, but I can imagine how it was done.

Maybe they took a given amount of dirt, spread it on both floors and then did an air study. The carpet held the dirt but the tiles didn't and so carpet won. Nonsense.

Carpeting is very unsanitary and is the cause of many allergies and especially a source of dust mites. Today every other kid has allergies, ridiculous and unnecessary.

Jaz

paintdrying · 03-09-2013, 07:39 AM

You have to be very careful when looking at the results of studies. I should not condemn all carpet. Wool carpet is very nice. New carpet has this unhealthy smell to it,then throw that scooth brite on top of that and you have a recipe for allergies. Air born allergies are one aspect, but voc off gassing is more what bothers me. There are very reputable cancer treatment centers that tell people first thing, you want to beat cancer, your carpets have to come out.

Kansas Girl · 03-09-2013, 07:55 AM

I'm assuming you don't want carpet because of the occasional pee accident that is part of loving dogs. We have gradually removed all carpet from our home and everything is now hard surface flooring of some kind because we have dogs and cats.

Have you looked at Allure Trafficmaster flooring? I used the dark cork in a basement bedroom during our basement remodel and love it.

dixongal · 03-09-2013, 09:47 AM

when it comes to tiles and rug preference, its apple and oranges as they are advantages to each. I personally, like tiles in the kitchen and the living room with a nice rug. Since I live in GA, the weather doesn't get that cold so it's not a problem waking up with feet on a tile floor.

my only issue with a tile floor is when you have kids that are rowdy as I had to replace a few of my spanish tiles in the living room thanks to my kids.

As to increasing home value, it really depends on the market your area when it comes to tiles. Rugs on the other end doesn't do a thing

TarheelTerp · 03-09-2013, 10:27 AM

Go with an epoxy flooring.
Do the slurry underlay to deal with all the existing imperfections.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GLxXmnbzf0

ddawg16 · 03-09-2013, 10:32 AM

Nice thing about studies....you can find any # you want to support your view. You just leave out a few other #'s.

Case in point.....breathing air causes death. It has been found that in 99.5% of deaths, the person was breathing air before they died.

DrHicks · 03-09-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddawg16

Nice thing about studies....you can find any # you want to support your view. You just leave out a few other #'s.

Case in point.....breathing air causes death. It has been found that in 99.5% of deaths, the person was breathing air before they died.

After extensive research and studies, I have determined that I am awesome.

And now it has been said on the internet, so it's fact.

sam floor · 03-09-2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazMan

I think that study is probably a bunch of nonsense. I'd have to see how the study done, but I can imagine how it was done.

Maybe they took a given amount of dirt, spread it on both floors and then did an air study. The carpet held the dirt but the tiles didn't and so carpet won. Nonsense.

Carpeting is very unsanitary and is the cause of many allergies and especially a source of dust mites. Today every other kid has allergies, ridiculous and unnecessary.

Jaz

And you are unbiased because you are a tile rep. Gimme a break.

JazMan · 03-09-2013, 11:55 AM

What part don't you agree with? We all know carpeting is unsanitary. We use carpeting because it's warmer and soft. We also know about off-gassing and allergies and dust mites.

Does it mean I have no carpeting in my house? No, I'm guilty too. I've got about 180 yds of the stuff, soon to become about 130. What can I say, it's warmer, soft and cheaper than high quality alternatives. But no more little kids, pets and never did have dogs.

Jaz

DrHicks · 03-09-2013, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazMan

I think that study is probably a bunch of nonsense. I'd have to see how the study done, but I can imagine how it was done.

Maybe they took a given amount of dirt, spread it on both floors and then did an air study. The carpet held the dirt but the tiles didn't and so carpet won. Nonsense.

Carpeting is very unsanitary and is the cause of many allergies and especially a source of dust mites. Today every other kid has allergies, ridiculous and unnecessary.

Jaz

The truth of the matter is that there is a certain amount of dirt (aka, dust, allergens, etc.) in any home - and it's there due to many varying factors, none of which are the floor covering.

Airborne micro-dust will settle in carpet, and will not fly into the air every time a door is opened, or a person walks by. In that regard, carpet is helpful.

But the crap is still in the room, and it's harder to get it out of carpet, as opposed to getting it off a tile floor. In that regard, carpet is not helpful.

Regardless of floor covering, a clean house is a clean house, and a dirty house is a dirty house.

sam floor · 03-09-2013, 02:22 PM

There have been many tests and it only makes common sense. There are more airborne allergens in rooms with hard surface flooring.

ddawg16 · 03-09-2013, 02:49 PM

I think I found the study paper.....

http://shawfloors.com/adx/aspx/adxGe...spx?DocID=1635

And.....yes I did read it......I found this part of to be of particular interest...

Quote:

As noted, not all studies indicate that airborne dust concentrations are lower over carpet.
Researchers at Clarkson and Stanford Universities report on elevated personal exposure
to particulate matter from activities in a residence.Ref. 23 The study authors have
characterized a set of human activities that result in resuspension of airborne particulates.
Specifically, the authors investigate whether flooring type and vigor of human activity
influence particulate matter resuspension. Of the many combinations (flooring types and
different human activities) of variables investigated, dancing on a rug resulted in PM2.5
concentrations (particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller) over carpet 6-times those produced
when dancing on a wood floor.

A study conducted in Norway measured dust content from samples collected in 12
schools with fitted-carpet and linoleum floors.Ref. 24 The presence of antigens and
allergens was compared using sophisticated analytical techniques. No qualitative
differences in allergen contents of dust from both floor types were noted. Similarly, no
relationship could be demonstrated between floor-type and allergen concentration under
experimental conditions. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that dust from smooth
floors and fitted-carpet was relatively free of mite and pollen.

And his conclusion....

Quote:

In conclusion, a weight of evidence approach to evaluating existing medical and
scientific studies is quite clear. Carpet does not cause asthma. VOC emissions from
new carpet do not act as triggers for asthma or allergies. Carpet does not increase
the incidence or severity of asthma or allergies in children and adults. From the
standpoint of asthma and allergies, well maintained carpet is safe.

What is even more important is what he does not say....he does not come out and claim that carpet is better than hard floors.

Additionally, there are several references to 'how clean' the carpet needs to be.

As with so many of these types of studies, they are usually funded by a group that wants to prove a point....hence, I suspect that many of these studies are funded by the carpet industry.

The simple fact is....tile and wood floors are easier to keep clean.....if your depending on carpet to 'capture' your allergens...then maybe you need to improve on your cleaning habits.