3 Tips To Avoid Harmful Toxins When Removing Old Flooring In An Old Home

If you live in an older home, you might be thinking about removing the existing flooring. It might be outdated and you could be looking to replace it, or you might even be thinking about removing the carpet or other existing flooring and sanding down the wood floors that are underneath. Either option can be a great way to fix up your old home, but you do have to be concerned about toxins when doing so. Below are a few ways that you can help prevent harming yourself and your family members with potential toxins.

1. Have the Floor Tested for Asbestos

First of all, if your home is older, there is a chance that there are asbestos somewhere in the flooring. Even though asbestos often aren't considered to be harmful when they are covered up, they can become an issue when building materials are removed. This is why it's smart to have an asbestos abatement company like Mac-Bestos Inc come out and check for this harmful substance. If it is present, you can have it professionally removed to keep yourself and your family safe.

2. Cover Your Face

You have to worry about dust, lead, mold and more when removing flooring in an older home, and breathing these things in can make you sick. This is why it's smart to wear a mask when removing old building materials or sanding down your flooring. You can purchase a mask that will protect your mouth and nose at a home improvement store or a mass market retail store.

3. Open the Windows

Since you might be exposed to potentially harmful toxins, you should consider opening the windows and airing the home out while you are working and after the materials have been removed. This can help reduce your exposure to these toxins. Along with opening up the windows and doors, you can also use fans to help the air circulate.

As you can see, you should not avoid removing the old flooring in your home to protect yourself from toxins. However, you do have to keep yourself and the others in your household as safe as possible while tackling this type of project. If you follow these three tips, however, you should not have much to worry about while doing your project. This means that you can focus more on enjoying your project -- and the results -- and less on worrying about you and your family potentially being harmed.

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