How to make your home healthier

Owners of newer buildings should be wary about toxins

Most people are aware of the health hazards associated with older homes. But owners of newer homes also should take precautions against potential toxins associated with paint, flooring, carpeting and furnishings.

According to the WELL Building Standard, 90 per cent of people’s time is spent inside a building.

Yet building design often revolves around the function, performance and outcome of specific tasks, sometimes completely exclusive of the physical needs of the inhabitants. And often it’s to their detriment.

In residential design, often little attention is paid to details that, with long exposure, are not beneficial to the well-being of homeowners. In fact, they could be harming your health — which is the opposite of the safe, secure shelter your home should be providing you and your family. Homes built before 1978 stand the risk of bearing lead-based paint, which can lead to lead poisoning if it is disturbed or accidentally ingested by children.

Renovating an older home — especially with the dust that comes with any kind of demolition — can be a serious health hazard.

If you are hiring others to do work, be sure to discuss lead concerns with them before the start of any deconstruction.

You will need to hire contractors who follow the healthiest procedures for removing lead materials. Lead-test kits are easily purchased online and important to use before disturbing walls built before 1978.

Asbestos was also used in building materials in the early 20th century. While highly toxic, it is not necessarily dangerous if it is found in good condition in your home: Experts usually recommend leaving it untouched and undisturbed.

With new home construction, there are still important material decisions you and your architect make, influencing how healthy your home really is.

These choices are not exclusive to new construction, though: Many of them are easily relatable to additions, kitchen remodels or even a new paint job.

One of the most important points is to select materials as free from toxins as possible.

Paint is one of the easiest starting points: Insist on zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint.

Benjamin Moore’s Natura is one of the most popular on the market with zero-VOCs, zero emissions and certification as asthma and allergy friendly.

Using it, or a similar product, in residential applications is an easy start to the path of a healthy home. If you are unable to find zero-VOC paint, low-VOC is the next best alternative.

Formaldehyde — found in cabinetry, adhesives, carpets and padding — is a carcinogen often and abundantly found in homes and construction materials.

Be sure any furniture, including kitchen cabinetry, is constructed of plywood or particleboard that complies with formaldehyde emissions standards. Similarly, it is important to select materials that have low off-gassing rates.

Often referred to as the “new car smell” (or new carpet, couch, etc. smell), off-gassing is the release of VOCs into the air from a particular product and is commonly an issue with household items — everything from mattresses to computer keyboards to dryer sheets.

Buying solid wood furniture, circulating fresh air into your home and purchasing items second hand can help reduce your exposure.

Keeping you and your family healthy and well goes beyond exercise and a conscientious diet.

There are many choices you can make toward the goal of a healthy, organic home.