Hallo,

As this forum has proved really helpful so far, and there is a real bottleneck of issues in my current renovation job, I'm posting another issue in case anyone has helpful feedback. No worries if not poss as I fear I may be "over-using" the forum at the moment!

Basically, I need to put down a new floor that is resistant, super low maintenance, insulating vs cold, resilient against humidity and fits budget. Going through all the options, the only solutions seem a synthetic parquet (laminate or vinyl). This breaks my heart a bit as obviously not great to be bringing more plastic into the world, but more eco options like wood or lino don't fit the criteria.

Plus there are obvous concerns about the off-gassing: formaldehyde with laminates; phthalates, lead and cadmium with vinyl. Especially as have small child.

The parquet guy showed me:

A laminate which meets the European E1 standard for formaldehyde.

A vinyl which rates A+ with this label: https://www.moso.eu/sites/default/files/label/icon/Icon_A%2B_Emissions%20dans%20l%20Air%20Interieur_FR.svg
WHich I think is this : http://www.eurofins.com/consumer-product-testing/information/compliance-with-law/european-national-legislation/french-regulation-on-voc-emissions/french-voc-classes/

I still feel uneasy about using plastics, but then I just realised we are installing a new kitchen and I haven't even begun to check into the components of that (MDF, glue, finishes etc).

Anyone know these rating systems and have a view on it?

I don't understand why you've rejected linoleum, it's a good product.

Lino: people in shop advised against because glue not suitable for humid conditions and because not good with stains from kitchen. Also reading online it seems material can scuff and needs certain maintenance (eg using certain cleaning products) - since I'm not always here I can't have a flooring that needs to be treated with care.

Rubber: been advised its not tough enough for this kind of area. It's a ground floor directly off street so it's a combined entrance hall, kitchen, dining, sitting and passage way. It gets a lot of wear and tear. Also been advised its expensive.

Thanks!

What's wrong with stone flooring combined with an insulated backer board and rugs.

Btw underlying prob here is that brexit has pushed down pound and reduced budget so I've already had to cancel some parts of job and I can't cancel anymore. So it's also not a goer to cancel more of job in order to do underfloor heating let's say and put in more eco floor // or solid sustainable wood not treated with toxics.

Cleaning with bleach is OK

It won't stand up to stubbing fag butts out on it - most floors don't

Memsahib doesn't wear particularly pointy heels but ours stands up fine to those she does wear

For chairs without obvious buttons or points under the legs, again it's generally fine

From the sound of it you need a heavy duty industrial floor with epoxy resin coating if you want it to stand up to serious abuse

Regards

Barney

LoL - sure - I use a big flowerpot with some sand for those standing around the kitchen sort of parties

I've dropped the occasional fag on it without too much drama

And you're worried about VOCs !!

Barney

I sense an understandable general hostility to the Laminate and vinyl options but they may well still end up being my only two options so:
(A) I want to reassure u all that it's only an area of about 14sqm so u are not sanctioning some massive plastics investment. Despite time pressure on several levels, I'm also delaying end date by taking this time to do a final assessment for more eco solution so the good will is there.
(B) my question still remains about the emissions certificate for the vinyl - is it a good'un ? Are phthalates included? Typically my little boy has been off sick last couple of days so haven't been able to call the certification office yet.
(C) how can I assess if vinyl option more/less damaging to environment than laminate? They seem to be different materials so they don't carry same certification for comparison (as far as I can tell).

Cheers

Have you considered a resin screed?

Altro do a Polyurethane/Epoxy product that would be fairly robust. From experience it can scuff up from the initial shiny 'wet look' finish, particularly with metal legged furniture, but is then a very tough floor surface.

http://www.altro.co.uk/Resin-flooring

You might look at bamboo as an alternative to wood flooring. It's cheaper, harder and deals with humidity better (can be used in bathrooms, for example). Stranded is hardest.

Surely your ventilation system will play a significant part in maintaining IAQ to the extent that VOCs shouldn't be an overbearing ongoing concern?

Low VOC polyflor/karndean/amtico ? Vinyl flooring is predominantly oil and salt, recyclable and very long lasting - dont forget to factor the usable life time of the material into any environmental impact assessment

Thanks for feedback!

Vinyl has now been ordered as deadline came. I couldn't find "safety flooring" concept in Spain but the parquet we ordered is often used in medical spaces and checked out for vocs and phthalates so maybe it is a "safety floor"?

Anyway yes I'm hoping the hard wearingness of vinyl will count in environmental impact.

Will add insulatory layer underneath (anti humidity fibre sheets over plastic sheet) so hoping that will make a difference.

Re ventilation, yes. I guess that's another point towards extracting air as opposed to bringing air in.

Re bamboo. I've had that before and it gets dented too easily.

Re wood, as I mention, I checked with someone who used wood in their ground floor nearby ish (in a less humid area even) and it was already separating after a year or so despite the fact the owner is a builder himself and got good wood.

Hey, Did consider cork, but as wood considered a no-no for this humid area by the sea, it got discounted.
Cheers :)

Cork can be used as a shower floor covering, and even for boat decking, so certainly shouldn't be discounted - though too late in this case, it seems...

https://seacorkfloor.com/cork-flooring-for-homes/cork-for-showers-and-tubs/
https://seacorkfloor.com/cork-decking-for-boats/

Hi djh and Mike1,

Thanks for your messages.

> Cork does have quite long history of use in humid areas in the necks of bottles and suchlike!

Haha i see your point! Although I've seen some pretty battered looking cork ends come out of bottles!

> Cork can be used as a shower floor covering, and even for boat decking

That's very interesting. Will check it out for future reference. If it doesn't need to be treated with something toxic to make it waterproof that's a very interesting option.

The other reason I discounted it is that a friend of mine has cork floors and he has to do ongoing maintenance on the floor. Couldn't deal with that level of maintenance in this case.

But i love cork, especially as locally produced in catalunya.

Best