De nadelen van PVC vloeren

Datum: 23 februari 2023
Leestijd: 6 minuten
Auteur: Uipkes Houten Vloeren

PVC (PolyVinylChloride) is a thermoplastic (plastic) that is used in all kinds of products, including PVC floors. Due to the many applications, the use of PVC has increased enormously. However, more and more reports are coming out about the possible disadvantages of PVC. As a wooden floor specialist, we limit ourselves in this article to the disadvantages of PVC floors.

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PVC floors and disadvantages for the environment and health and healthy living

A PVC floor contains vinyl chloride, which is a chemical raw material that is potentially harmful to the environment and health. The concerns appear serious and has also been known for some time. A few years ago, the HCWH (Health Care Without Harm) Europe published a study on why PVC remains a problematic material.

The study stated, among other things, that in every phase of PVC's life cycle (production, use and waste cycle) the product is anything but sustainable. A PVC floor is therefore not a sustainable floor choice.

In addition, there are cheap PVC floors for sale without a quality mark, which may contain harmful substances. The blog of strooming.nl states, among other things, that no joint standard has yet been established in Europe in the field of permissible emissions for PVC floors.

Emissions are volatile substances that are released that can release harmful substances into the air. Greenpeace conducted research in 2000 and discovered dangerous chemical additives in 5 samples of PVC floors. The title of the report 'Hazardous Chemicals in PVC Flooring' says because we care enough not to choose a PVC floor.

If you nevertheless want a PVC floor, it is important to research the quality of the floor you want to buy and not to choose a cheap PVC floor in any case.

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Train derails with Vinyl Chloride on board

Unrest has arisen over the train disaster in Ohio involving a freight train carrying 5 wagons of vinyl chloride and 15 wagons with other chemicals was derailed. The authorities decided to burn the wagons in a controlled manner to stop the chemical leakage, but this resulted in a huge toxic cloud over the city. In the days after the accident, several residents suffered from dizziness and headaches. Dead fish were also found in nearby rivers. As if the residents of East Palestine end up in a scary movie.

It is still unclear what the causes are, but there are rumors that vinyl chloride may play a role in this. Such developments do not portray PVC in a positive light and raise questions about the use of the product.

  • PolyVinylChloride kan veel schade aanrichten aan mens en natuur

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PVC floors and underfloor heating: not always a warm combination

Nowadays, almost all new-build homes are equipped with underfloor heating . In addition, when replacing the floor in an existing home, underfloor heating is increasingly installed first. A good development as far as we are concerned, because underfloor heating offers many advantages.

However, the combination of a PVC floor with underfloor heating can be detrimental. In fact, you heat plastic when you turn on the underfloor heating . This can cause the PVC floor to release volatile organic compounds into the air.

According to the EPA (United States Environment Protection Agency), volatile organic compounds can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, among other things. You may also experience dizziness, headaches and fatigue.

Subfloor must be leveled

A PVC floor is thin and flexible. The disadvantage of this is that it is necessary to level the subfloor before installing the PVC floor. If you don't do this, there is a chance that you will see and feel irregularities in the floor. Leveling the subfloor entails costs, so at the end of the day you come close to a budget-friendly wooden floor.

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Damage to PVC floors is difficult to repair

People live in a house, so it is inevitable that sooner or later damage will occur on the floor. Damage to a PVC floor is difficult to repair. And if wear spots appear over time, there is no other option than to replace the floorboards.

This disadvantage not only applies to PVC floors, but also to laminate floors and tile floors. 

Only wooden floors can be properly maintained. In most cases, damage, signs of use and wear spots can be removed with maintenance oil. 

If you want to give the floor a different color or if the maintenance oil does not produce the desired result, you can sand and oil the wooden floor. Your floor will then look like new again.

PVC floors and appearance

In terms of appearance, a PVC floor has the disadvantage that you always see the same prints in the floorboards. This also applies to laminate floors. Only with wooden floors does each floor part have a unique appearance and wood grain. After all, no tree is the same.

Do the advantages of a PVC floor outweigh the disadvantages?

You have to draw that conclusion yourself. But as far as we are concerned, the advantages of a PVC floor do not outweigh the disadvantages. We believe this, among other things, because of the following  recommendation made by the HCWH:

“Replacing PVC in applications that pose a risk to human health via indoor exposure (such as floors and furniture) by 2030.” (p. 29)

We therefore recommend choosing a different type of floor that does not contain PVC and is made from renewable raw materials. Consider, for example, a wooden floor, cork floor, bamboo floor or carpet. 

Always inquire and/or research the origin of the floor you want to buy. For example, there are low-quality wooden floors where the wood does not come from sustainably managed forests. In our opinion, it is better not to buy such floors.

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Used sources

To write this blog we consulted the sources below. If you have any questions, comments or additions following this blog article, please contact us.

Sources:

1.  https://www.nytimes.com /2023/02/15/climate/ohio-train-fire-toxic-chemicals.html

2. https://edition.cnn .com/2023/02/11/health/ohio-train-derailment-white-noise/index.html

3. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/substances/ToxSubstance.aspx ?toxid=51

4. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cos4FjJAVj5/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY %3D

5. https://www.nrc .nl/nieuws/1975/04/03/chloropreen-en-pvc-zijn-gevaarlijk-kb_000032702-a3104979

6. https://noharm-europe.org/documents /polyvinyl-chloride-debate-why-pvc-remains-problematic-material

7.https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylchloride

8.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinylchloride< /a>

9. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoplast

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Ohio_train_derailment

11.https://strooming.nl/thuis /blog/indoor-environment/PVC-floors-disadvantages-health/

12. https://www.epa .gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality

13. https://www.angi.com/articles/what-pvc -outgassing-my-plumbing.htm

14. https://www.arboPortal.nl/onderwerpen/vluchtige-organische-stoffen

15. https://www.greenpeace.to/publications/pvc_flooring.pdf

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the health risks of PVC floors for people?

PVC floors can contain harmful substances such as phthalates and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can lead to health problems such as respiratory irritation, allergic reactions and hormonal disruptions with prolonged exposure.

Are PVC floors safe for children and pets?

PVC floors can be a concern for children and pets due to the chemicals they contain. Children and pets can come into contact with the floor, increasing the risk of exposure to harmful substances.

How do PVC floors affect the environment?

PVC floors have a significant ecological footprint. During production, harmful chemicals are released and a lot of energy is used. Furthermore, PVC floors are not biodegradable and contribute to plastic pollution when ultimately discarded.

What is the problem with the removal of PVC floors?

Removing PVC floors can be problematic due to the presence of harmful substances and the difficulty of recycling PVC. It can lead to the release of harmful fumes and disposing of PVC in landfills increases the risk of soil and groundwater contamination.

Are there alternatives to PVC floors that are more environmentally friendly?

Yes, there are alternatives to PVC flooring that are considered more environmentally friendly. Examples are floors made from natural materials such as cork, bamboo, wool, linoleum or wood that comes from sustainably managed forests. These materials generally have a lower impact on health and the environment.

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