Question

Can we avoid formaldehyde in adhesives by choosing hardwood flooring that is nailed into place?

Asked by Herbert Lichtman, Chicago, IL

If we use engineered hardwood flooring, we know that we should look for formaldehyde-free adhesives. If we choose solid hardwood instead, is it true that the flooring would be nailed or screwed in place, and that there would therefore be no formaldehyde issue?

Answer

Martine Paquin

Answered by Martine Paquin

San Francisco, CA

Martine Paquin Design and Consulting

September 11, 2008

The answer depends on your subfloor material and the product you’re installing.

If you have a plywood subfloor, solid hardwood flooring is typically fastened by nailing or stapling. (It’s less common nowadays to use screws.) A small number of flooring products are both nailed and glued to a plywood subfloor. It's best for indoor air quality to avoid using adhesive, but if you need to, you can use an option such as EcoTimber Healthy Bond, a resin-based product that has only 7 g/L of VOC. If possible, you can go the extra distance and choose a formaldehyde-free 3/4" plywood substrate.

If your subfloor is concrete, you may want to use a glueless engineered hardwood system instead of solid hardwood. These systems are fastened from the baseboards—a technique called "floating"—and no nails or adhesives are necessary.

Tagged In: home air quality, wood flooring

Do you have a question about greening your home? GreenHomeGuide invites you to Ask A Pro. Let our network of experienced green building professionals – architects, designers, contractors, electricians, energy experts, landscapers, tile & stone specialists, and more – help you find the right solution.
 

Have a Question?

Ask our knowledgable panel of professionals

Ask A Question