| Is your carpet worn and dated? If it is time for you | | | | by certain synthetic materials. These toxins are |
| to replace old carpet you should seriously consider | | | | known to cause chronic illness to those living within |
| installing hardwood flooring instead of replacing old | | | | the home. Carpets soak up and retain these toxins |
| carpet with new. | | | | whereas wood floors do not. |
| There are many advantages to hardwood flooring. | | | | Cleaning and maintaining wood floors is much simpler |
| Consider the environment for instance; hardwood | | | | today than it was in the past. Modern wood floors |
| flooring is made from all natural timber which is a | | | | only require simple sweeping and an occasional |
| renewable resource. Today's hardwood is harvested | | | | vacuuming. It is essential that your floor be protected |
| from managed forests. USFS (United States Forest | | | | against constant moisture and scratches due to |
| Service) reports show currently twice as many | | | | heavy wear. It is recommended that your wood |
| hardwood trees are planted than harvested to | | | | floor be cleaned routinely with proper hardwood floor |
| ensure that hardwood is a continually renewed | | | | products. In heavy traffic areas, simple preventative |
| resource. 50 years ago there was only half the | | | | measures in the form of rugs will protect the surface |
| hardwood standing compared to today. The | | | | from scratching and wear. |
| hardwood industry has proven itself environmentally | | | | One of the truly outstanding features of hardwood |
| responsible. Consider synthetic fiber; it can last in a | | | | flooring is the rug decorating possibilities it presents. |
| landfill for 200-500 years. | | | | You will want to choose rugs that magnify the |
| We hear on the news repeatedly, and the EPA | | | | natural beauty of the wood. Keep in mind that the |
| confirms that one of the top threats to our health is | | | | floor will change color over time and with light |
| poor quality indoor air supply. Wood flooring helps | | | | exposure, select rugs that you can easily move |
| create a much healthier living and working | | | | around the room. Think of the freedom your |
| environment with its hard surface preventing dust | | | | hardwood floor affords you; no longer are your rug |
| mites and molds from proliferating as in a carpet. It | | | | choices limited to only those that would look good |
| has been estimated that 35 million Americans suffer | | | | with your carpet. Natural wood looks good with any |
| from allergies, many of which are mold and dust mite | | | | colors and patterns you wish to choose. If you find |
| related. Wood flooring is a blessing for these allergy | | | | the perfect Persian rug, go for it since it will be |
| sufferers. | | | | outstanding on your wood floor. With wood you are |
| The EPA further reports that chemicals such as | | | | free to buy rugs for all corners of the room, under |
| garden pesticides can accumulate on floors, especially | | | | the table and the hallway if you want! Hardwood |
| on absorbable carpet fibers. The hard surface of | | | | flooring sets your inner rug shopper free. |
| wood flooring significantly reduces these chemical | | | | Your hardwood floor will give you a lifetime of health |
| accumulations. The home environment is also subject | | | | and pleasure if you maintain it properly and protect it |
| to what is termed "off-gassing", the release of toxins | | | | with area rugs. |