Re: Need help-husband doesn't believe me about offgassing

[Guest guest]

Take a look at the Smart Shopper's Bible. They have it in Health

Food Stores. Do some on-line searches--I bet you'll come up

with plenty. You're right about the less toxic stuff being way more

expensive.

Good luck,

> We are probably going to move next summer. But my husband

wants to

> buy a lot and build a new house again. I don't because of all

the

> offgassing that occurs.

[Guest guest]

Here are some things to consider: When we built our house in Missouri

over 10 years ago (don't live there now), we were able to do several

things that we were not able to do having bought a house already

built. Such as treat the soil and foundation in a way to inhibit

pests (less need to use indoor pest control measures afterwards);

We could ensure the flooring was swept free of dust before they laid

the carpet and linoleum (less dust fuming up in the house for years

afterwards which happens if they just lay carpet on uncleaned floor).

We could ensure the pipes were cleaned out before they were sealed

off (much less dust circulating around in the ventilation system).

We could choose the quality and treatment on the carpets, paints,

wood, baseboards, and other things all through the house. We didn't

buy fancy at all, but picking the coatings and finishes can minimize

what chemicals get 'sealed' in your home. Even if you buy a used

house, those things can be there. With a used home, you don't know

what chemicals the previous owners used throughout their house.

We had very little problem at all with the house we built. There

wasn't much if any outgassing because we lived fairly close and kept

the place cleaned out as it was being built (this was a tip by our

builder who would point out such pitfalls).

I don't think there is a right or wrong way here...just trade-offs.

If you know which chemicals you want to avoid, look for or ask about

those.

.

[Guest guest]

We are in process of building a house (in Arkansas) and we were also concerned

about it

being a clean house. We've discovered a few things that you might be interested

in:

We will use the spray-on foam on the inside of the exterior walls. I know some

have

concerns about the fumes, but the foam hardening is a chemical polymerization

process

that has a defined endpoint of a couple of hours, if that. As long as the

reaction is

complete, there are no volatiles coming off the foam. Of course, you can also

use

traditional insulation, but the fiberglass gets dirty, is a nesting place for

bugs and

varmints, and is a pain to install.

We will have no carpeting in the house. Carpeting is a major source of

allergens, not from

the material its made of, but it and the pad traps dirt and mold. We will have

a " slab on

grade " concrete floor, and will have the floors acid-stained, which provides

almost a

marbled look to the floors. Do a search on the net, and you can see some pics.

Much less

expensive than hardwood floors.

Radiant heating set in the floors will provide a much cleaner heat than

forced-air furnace,

though we still need A/C for the summer humidity.

There have been many improvements in house designs, so take a look, and talk to

some

contractors who specialize in ecological houses.

devin

> We are probably going to move next summer. But my husband wants to

> buy a lot and build a new house again. I don't because of all the

> offgassing that occurs. I would rather buy a house that is maybe 5

> yrs. old. I don't want my boys to have more toxic exposures if I

> can minimize it.

>

> I know we could buy less toxic materials, carpet etc... but I am

> sure that is very expensive and I don't want to have to go that

> route at this point. We are pretty broke right now as it is.

>

> When I explain to him about everything off-gassing, he thinks I have

> flipped out. Can anyone back me up here, so that he won't think I

> am nuts?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

That's interesting about the hybrid cars... I hadn't thought of

that. I found this link:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/honda_insight.html

We had been thinking of a highlander hybrid but now, I'm thinking

that might not be so good.

W

> > Before using radiant heat or buying an hybrid

> electrical car one might consider trhe problems with

> electromagnetic fields. These are a significant

> source of problems as far as breaking down cell

> membranes.