Your home is supposed to be your castle. It’s the one place where you want to feel safe and secure. But some homes can literally make us sick. If you’re breathing air that is full of contaminants, it’s not good for your health.
There are chemicals and toxins that exist in many items within our home. Materials used in furniture, electronics, toys, and other things in the home can be harmful. Older appliances can emit allergens into the air that you breathe. Chemicals used in cleaning can be detrimental. Dust and pollen can seep inside.
While RT Construction can’t dictate what furnishings or items you put in your home, or what cleaning products you use, we can help you in a big way to keep your home healthier with better building materials and techniques. If you hire us to build a new home for you, do any type of home addition or renovation, or insulate your home, you can count on us to use the healthiest alternatives available.
Healthy Building Options
If you’re having a new home built from scratch, it’s easy to choose alternatives that make the building healthy and safer. But even if you live in an older home, you can make improvements that can enhance the quality of the air you breathe indoors.
Don’t mistake “green building” for healthy. Green usually refers to energy-efficient appliances and materials. While these will save you money on your utilities, they won’t necessarily improve the home’s environment health-wise.
The primary goal of a healthy home is to improve the air that you’re breathing. Some things you should avoid in your home if you’re striving for a healthier environment include:
- Vinyl. There are many items in a home that can be made of vinyl, including flooring, window treatments, and wall coverings. Vinyl contains chemicals that can be harmful and impact normal bodily functions. If a pregnant woman is exposed to these chemicals, they can harm the fetus, as well as the mother’s reproductive system.
- VOCs. Paints, adhesives, and other coatings used should contain low (or even no) volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that permeate the air we breathe. They can cause allergic reactions, including headaches and ear, nose, and throat irritation. Even serious diseases like cancer and organ damage can result from chronic exposure.
- Engineered Wood. Furnishings, flooring, cabinets, or other items that are made from engineered wood can contain formaldehyde or other materials that can emit harmful gases. Avoid items like particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard, which are likely to contain these chemicals. Formaldehyde can cause upper respiratory problems and may even lead to cancer.
Spray Foam Insulation
Keeping the home sealed from the outside elements is the goal of a healthy home. A properly insulated house not only helps reduce energy bills but protects you from exposure to outdoor pollen and other allergens by keeping them from entering the house.
The most effective type of insulation is spray foam. Its superior air sealing techniques create a building envelope that is more comfortable, healthier, and more energy efficient. It creates a tighter barrier than standard insulation cannot match. It also protects against moisture, which, unattended, can lead to mold growth.
Live Healthy with a Home Constructed by RT Construction
RT Construction strives to make every home we build or renovate healthier than before. We can make recommendations to improve your environment so that your home is more comfortable and safer to live in.
Give us a call today to learn how we can make your home the healthy castle of your dreams!
