Out With the Old…Carpet!
We recently bought a “new to us” house in the North Dallas area within the last couple of months. Walking through the home during that first visit we began taking mental and verbal notes of the items that might be “deal breakers”. One of the first things we noticed was carpet in multiple rooms throughout. We immediately marked that as an item that needed to be addressed but one that could be included with larger renovations in the next few months.
Short-term, carpet was not a deal breaker. But we do have a plan to address it. Here are some items to consider if you have carpet in your home or are considering buying a home with carpet already installed. Carpet may trap pollutants and allergens like dust mites, pet dander, particle pollution, lead, mold spores, pesticides, dirt and dust. These pollutants may become airborne during renovations, vacuuming or even walking on the carpet. When a liquid is spilled, no matter how quickly it is dried, the foam underpadding will also become wet leading to a greater risk for mold and mildew to grow. Children are more likely to be exposed to pollutants in carpets. They spend time playing on the floor and regularly place their hands in their mouths. When removing carpet, consider safety equipment to limit exposure to allergens, mold, and mildew, which may be released when you pull up the carpet.