Knowing the types of products used in the construction of your house is vital. Al the materials used for construction is not safe. Keep reading to have a better understanding of the toxic building materials that should be avoided while constructing a new home or even while remodeling an existing one.
There are plenty of materials that are not healthy for individuals but are found to be commonly used to construct the house. These include:
PVC: Polyvinyl chloride
Some PVC materials have been found to cause breathing problems in some people. A person with breathing problems such as asthma should not use the products made of PVC and could make them worse.
Insulation fibers:
There are some insulation products used in crawl spaces and walls have been shown to cause cancer in some people.
Heavy metals:
Metals used in piping and roofing products are also unsafe. The heavy metals used in building materials are reported to cause damage to the central nervous system.
Paints:
Chemicals used in wall paint and wood paint can cause a variety of health problems.
How to minimize the health issues
Avoid PVC material
PVC is one of the building products used in any modern house and creates a lot of problems. PVC products include
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Piping
- Ceiling tiles
- Carpet backing
- Window treatments
- Wiring
PVC is used as it is flexible and easy to use. The chemicals in the PVS can cause health issues such as cancer. But now the building industry is offering healthier alternatives such as cork and bamboo. These are safe to use, and are environmentally friendly and lessen your impact on the planet.
Opt for Good Ventilation
People suffering from allergies should have clean air in the home. A good ventilation in the house is vital to clear the allergen and make the home safer to stay. Ensure to have a good HVAC system. Regularly change or clean the air filters to ensure clean air inside the house.
It is vital to have a ventilated house to stop the hazardous chemical and allergens from building up inside the house. Portable air cleaners can also be used to make the air cleaner and keep the pollutants out of the air.
Insulation
Insulations such as the fiberglass insulation can cause health issues as it contains formaldehyde and glass wool fibers. When we inhale these chemicals, it results in health problems including lung cancer.
Using alternatives such as cellulose is recommended by the experts as it is a natural insulation material and is environmentally friendly.
Tips on painting your home
The smell of new paint fumes swirls inside a newly plastered home. There are various types of paints used in the home such as latex, acrylic, oil-based, water solved paints. When the paint is applied on the wall, it starts to release the gas chemicals into the air. It is dangerous to breathe paint fumes while sleeping. Keep the windows open for two or three days to allow the paint fumes to exit the room. Avoid using the freshly painted room for some days.