When building a home, one doesn’t necessarily think about ways to avoid respiratory disease. Studies have shown however, that the very building materials used to build homes could significant increase ones chances or getting respiratory disease.  Listed below are 12 healthy building materials that will not affect indoor air quality.  Will you choose to buy these building materials?

  • Solid wood cabinets and doors.  Products that are made to look like wood often have higher levels of formaldehyde.  To avoid respiratory disease and have better air quality in your home, choose to use solid wood.
  • Epoxy adhesives.  Caulk may seem like a small part of the project but can actually make a big impact on air quality.  Solvent based adhesive such as caulk have high VOC levels.  It is recommended that you use epoxy adhesive instead of caulk.  There are non toxic after drying.
  • Butcher block for countertops.  If you are searching for a healthier alternatives to countertops such as plastic laminates that require adhesive, opt for butcher block countertops. These are often more expensive but will ensure the quality of the air in your home is high.
  • Concrete, ceramic tile, and stones.  When looking for healthy building materials, these materials have been deemed safe.  The more natural the product, the better it will be for air quality inside your home.
  • Paperless Dry wall.  Homes built with drywall are subject to mold which can lead to respiratory disease. Exposure to mold and often occurs when sheet rock becomes wet or soiled. There is a new and improved drywall material that will help reduce the chances that your home will be affected by mold.
  • Factory finished flooring.  Flooring choices are usually healthy for the air.  Toxicity arrives when you use products to finish the floors.  Choose a factory finished flooring that doesn’t need to be finished. Avoid using vinyl flooring as they contain known carcinogens. Bamboo and cork flooring are two example of high quality products that you can use in your home.
  • Rubber flooring. A newer flooring product that can be healthy for the home environment is rubber flooring.
  • Low voc paint.  Ensure that the paint you use for the walls in your home is healthy by using paint with low vocs. Also known as green paint, it will cost you more to paint your home but will be worth it.  The fumes from paint are very dangers and an lead to respiratory disease in the future.
  •  Fiberglass insulation. There are many types of insulation to choose from. Avoid using batt insulation and choose to go with fiberglass instead. Make sure that it is formaldehyde free.
  • Cellulose insulation.  This is another good choice for information that will help you ward respiratory disease.
  • Stainless steel.  Finishing your home with touches of stainless will also help the quality of your air.  Choose to add stainless steel in through fixtures and appliances and other unique areas of your home.
  • Eco-products. Building materials that claim to be eco friendly are often good for air quality too.  Search for building products that have the eco friendly symbol. Choose an eco friendly builder who will ensure that the building products used in your home are good for the environment and for your family.

As you can see, there are many building materials that you can use to ensure that you aren’t putting toxins into the air where you live. When building your home, use some of the materials listed above to fight respiratory disease.

Stacy works for PSAL. Contact them now if you’re looking for equipment handling crane services in Mali, Burkina Faso and in other parts of West Africa.