Laminate flooring is a click-together wood-look plank floor made of a fiberboard base and a melamine top layer with a printed image.
My top picks: My top pick for the most non-toxic laminate flooring is Mohawk. Their lines are formaldehyde-free and ultra-low-VOC. After that I would consider other no-added formaldehyde brands, however we don’t know what glues they are using, and if they don’t declare their VOCs we don’t know for sure that they are better. Next up, consider GreenGuard Gold certified brands because we know they are low in formaldehyde (and low in total VOCs).
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Chemical Composition of Laminate Floors
HDF (High Density Fibreboard) Core:
- Softwood and hardwood fibers – around 75-85%
- Urea-formaldehyde, or melamine urea-formaldehyde is the binder in most laminate – around 11-13% (there are formaldehyde-free binders now)
- Paraffin – is added as water repellant – around 4% or less
- Ammonia – sometimes added as a formaldehyde scavenger (to reduce formaldehyde levels)
- Polystyrene or other plastics can be added to the core for waterproofing.
- I have also seen PFAS added for waterproofing but we are moving away from PFAS now.
(There can be brands using medium-density fiberboard – MDF as the core, but now I generally see HDF versions. These fiberboards are both very similar in composition).
Top layer:
- Printed image that usually looks like wood.
- A top coat is typically made up of several coats of melamine-urethane-impregnated paper with aluminum oxide, though some have a lacquer finish. (The risk of the aluminum content exposure is here).
Backing:
- Sometimes there is another melamine thin layer as the backing (and the sides, in one brand)
- An integrated foam underlayment made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
- Or a polystyrene foam underlayment
- (I don’t find that there is any off-gassing in those underlayments)
Non-Toxic Laminate Brands: Formaldehyde-Free Laminate Flooring
I have only seen a few brands of laminate flooring that are formaldehyde-free (or more accurately, “no added formaldehyde” since wood naturally contains formaldehyde).
These are the least toxic types of laminate flooring and certainly are my top picks.
I don’t know what glue they are using.
1. Mohawk
The first is Mohawk, including the RevWood line from Mohawk.
They have stated in an email and in an official letter to me that there is no added formaldehyde. It does not say this on the website.
But there is no formaldehyde on the SDS sheet (where it would have to be listed) and no Prop 65 warning for formaldehyde (only one for wood dust).
They do not say which glue is used, only that it’s water-based.
The VOCs are listed on the SDS they sent me in 2023 as <9 ng/m3, which is extremely extremely low. (This is nanograms, when we usually see the level in micrograms. I’ve never even seen a company list VOC levels this low before).
They no longer give out the SDS sheet to the public.
The Pergo line by Mohawk and all other lines made by or owned by Mohawk are formaldehyde-free.
Mohawk Hybrid Resilient Flooring also looks like a laminate to me, though the wood fiber core does have other additives to it (which make it dark grey).
Although we don’t know what the glue is in any of these formaldehyde-free brands, all Mohawk lines are my top pick because this is ultra-ultra-low VOC. (And it’s the only brand we have VOC levels for).
2. Kahrs
Kahrs laminate flooring with an HDF core is formaldehyde-free.
3. NexxaCore
States that their laminate is formaldehyde-free.
4. Tarkett
The Invitation Collection and possibly other lines are a laminate with an HDF core which they say has no added formaldehyde.
Level of Formaldehyde Off-gassing From Most Laminate
Most brands of laminate flooring use formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde levels in laminate flooring are very low now.
Melamine-formaldehyde off-gasses less formaldehyde than urea-formaldehyde (Source).
Many laminate brands are GreenGuard Gold certified. This means they off-gas no more than 0.0073 ppm formaldehyde.
(Note: The outdoor level of formaldehyde in urban areas is 0.0015 – 0.047 ppm (source). CARB 2 and TSCA Title VI are legal limits (they are both the same) – 0.11 ppm is allowed in MDF.)
Laminate Flooring Brands that are Certified GreenGuard Gold Include:
- Duravana from LL Floors looks like your typical laminate but the core seemed a little different to me so I asked the company about it. The core has polystyrene added to it (it also contains the usual wood fiber and melamine-urea-formaldehyde) which makes it more inherently waterproof than other brands. It does not seem to have more off-gassing than other brands.
- Swiss Krono USA
- AquaGuard Laminate from Floor and Decor
- Traffic Master from Home Depot
- A&A from Home Depot
- MSI laminate from Home Depot
- Evoke Surge
- Optimax from Floor and Decor
- Shaw Laminate is GreenGuard (not Greenguard Gold)
(If it meets GreenGuard Gold then it certainly exceeds E-0 limits of 0.07 ppm formaldehyde and E-1 limits, which are even higher).
A Toxicity Review of Waterproof Laminate Brands
Some laminate lines are “waterproof” because they have an extra component of wax on the tongue and groove parts.
This was the first generation of waterproof laminate. This does not increase the toxicity or off-gasssing from what I have seen.
Sometimes the bottom is coated in melamine plastic, and sometimes the sides are too. This also does not increase off-gassing.
Since then there have been new developments like adding plastic into the wood core (which can be non-toxic, depending on the plastic), or in some cases adding PFAS into the core.
PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” and I suggest avoiding them, even though they don’t usually off-gas.
(Some of these brands refer to their products as “hybrid flooring” which could be considered accurate if they have plastic in the core).
1. One brand, Duravana from LL Floors, has polystyrene mixed into the HDF core, this provides a greater level of waterproofing compared to wax on the tongue and groove.
(This is a big innovation and improvement in the laminate industry).
It also has the usual formaldehyde resin in the core.
2. AquaGuard from Floor and Decor coats the sides and back with melamine to protect the fiberboard from water.
Neither type of waterproofing adds more off-gassing.
3. Evoke Surge claims to be waterproof but they don’t disclose how this is accomplished.
They say the binder in the fiber core is organic (so not plastic), and they did confirm it’s formaldehyde just like most laminate, but I don’t know what’s added to make it more waterproof.
4. Mohawk also has a new waterproof line called PureTech.
They say it’s made of minerals (including corundum) and plant fibers and is completely free of PVC.
The core looks like a fiberboard which puts it in the laminate category. It’s not clear if the top layer is melamine.
Mohawk Hybrid Resilient Flooring also has something added to the wood fiber core making it dark grey, though I have not been able to find what it is.
Like all Mohawk floors, there is no added formaldehyde.
5. Vert Haus from Home Depot, which is also made by Mohawk, claims to be a hybrid or “resilient flooring”but it looks like a waterproof laminate to me (the core still looks like a fiberboard primarily).
The 80% plant fiber core is referring to wood fiber it looks like (especially since there is a Prop 65 warning for wood dust) and this is a typical amount of wood fiber in laminate.
Though it’s possible there are are plant fibers present apart from wood.
Since it’s being called a hybrid there also might be a plastic mixed into the wood fiber core.
Because it’s made by Mohawk, it has no added formaldehyde.
6. Cali Floors laminate Shorbreak is a waterproof laminate.
They claim on the product description that it has “no detectable levels of VOCs”.
However that is not what their Floorscore certificate certifies, nor is that what the SDS sheet supports.
This is made with 12% formaldehyde binder which certainly does off-gas (higher than undetectable levels) unless they have done something like baked the product at the end.
It also has 12% carbamide added.
7. MSI Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core – Smithciffs Collection is advertised as waterproof.
When I asked them what was in the core and if there was any plastic in the core (that is what the word hybrid should mean) they just said wood.
A sample of the product clearly has an HDF core, I don’t know what is added to make it waterproof.
8. Optimax by Floor & Decor is only 50% wood fiber in its core (as opposed to 75-85% like the standard laminate).
They don’t say what the other 50% is other than an “amino resin” (which means urea- or melamine-formaldehyde), it might also contain a plastic resin but the company will not say that (though it’s definitely not PVC, so it’s not a LVP flooring).
In my testing of it, the core is more waterproof than the usual laminate and it did not swell up.
The other reason for suspecting a plastic resin in there is that they call it a hybrid, which insinuates wood + plastic.
Unfortunately, they used a fiberboard underlayment which does make it more prone to water damage at that layer (if water makes it past the locking mechanism or comes up from below).
FAQs
Is Aluminum Oxide Toxic?
The finish on laminate (which usually includes aluminum oxide) is very durable and this is not a floor that you will be re-sanding (you can’t re-sand laminate).
How much aluminum likely is released overtime, how this compares to our total aluminum consumption and the risk is outlined here.
How Long Does it Take Laminate Flooring to Fully Off-gas
Lynn Baker, an air pollution specialist with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) says: “you’ll get a fairly large amount that off-gasses early on, and then it starts to become less over a period ranging from months to a couple of years depending on the amounts contained in the product.” (Source).
One study for a high-emitting laminate floor product sample tested in small environmental chambers found that the time needed for formaldehyde emission to reduce to 50% of the initial level was 216 days, and the worst case was 371 days (depending on the conditions).
Years ago, high formaldehyde products like MDF made with urea-formaldehyde could take 7+ years to off-gas, but products with lower levels of formaldehyde, and products made from phenol or melamine-formaldehyde off-gas less and take much less time.
What Other Chemicals are Involved in Installing Laminate Flooring?
Adhesives: While you can glue down laminate flooring, it’s not done that often. There is no situation in which it would be necessary to glue down laminate flooring. I definitely would not glue this down.
Underlayment: I like the brands that include an attached polyethylene foam underlayment. But if you don’t start with one of those brands, you can check out the options in my post on underlayment.
Are Home Depot Brands of Laminate Non-Toxic?
In terms of Home Depot Brands, this was my subjective experience when I tested them a few years back. Glue types could have chnged since.
Home Decorators Collection seemed lower in off-gassing straight out of the box, but Traffic Master off-gassed quicker – to me it seemed to almost fully off-gassed in about a month.
Whereas, HDC did not seem to have made much progress at all in a month.
Brands made by Mohawk like Vert Haus have no added formaldehyde.
How Does Laminate Differ From Other Common Flooring Types?
It is distinct from:
Engineered wood, which has a real solid wood layer on top of a plywood or fiberboard substrate.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP), which is a mix of vinyl/polyvinyl chloride (PVC), limestone and plasticizers with a vinyl top layer. People often mix up laminate flooring and LVP. You will often hear LVP mistakingly referred to as laminate. Laminate flooring does not contain any vinyl or solid wood layers, and LVP does not contain any wood.
Hybrid floors, which have a PVC/limestone base and a real wood top layer. Though some laminate floors are marketed as hybrid because the fiberboard core has some plastic in it. If it still looks like primarily wood-based core, and it has a melamine top layer, I am still putting it in the laminate category.
Resilient flooring – though some laminate is now being marketed as resilient flooring which does not make sense to me. The official definition of resiliant flooring is a sheet or tile flooring that is made of a seamless material of which the surface is non-textile. (source)
If you are interested in those other flooring options see my main flooring post.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Sources:
- Wellmade Floors SDS
- Pharos CP for HDF
- SDS for HDF
- Home Depot
- Swiss Krono
- Science Direct.com
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
Gat
Hello, I hope this is okay to ask here. We are doing renovations to our home and I’d like to get feedback on what is the best non toxic flooring. I have read about LVP and Laminate however they both seem to have trade offs. We all seem to have allergies and I just want us to be breathing the safest air. He has respiratory issues before. I’m just not sure what flooring option is essentially safest. Including hardwood floors. I’m a paranoid person. It seems like you either get formaldehyde or low off gassing?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The main non-toxic flooring post goes through all the best flooring types, starting with the absolute best and the second best and third best categories. Laminate by Mohawk seems to be a very, very reasonable option, but if people have different sensitivities in the house, you’ll have to check it out. LVP is also extremely low off-gassing, but I wouldn’t put it in the top choice category.
John
Is Mohawk laminate flooring made without plasticizers (pthalates etc)?
I’m debating between pre-finished red oak or Mohawk for a bedroom. I have MCAS and CIRS. I thought the laminate would be better to resist mold in humid summers. My hall has pre-finished oak and my living room has regular oak sanded/poly.
Thanks
Thanks
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
As far as I know, laminate does not contain plasticizers. I don’t see why there would be a use for them. I don’t see anything in the composition that would indicate plasticizers could be added.
John
Thank you!
Robert S.
Thank you for your most helpful website. I am extremely sensitive to gases given off by vinyl and other plastic products so I really appreciate this. I like to go on to mention one seldom noted facet about LVP flooring. Floors containing appreciable amounts of PVC, vinyl, and other plastic materials offer to make an additional hazard when subject to fire. The fumes given off when such materials combusted are highly toxic. Products containing significant amounts of PVC and certain other plastics are prohibited on ships (the industry I used to work in.) So, I am personally aghast that building codes allow LVP and the like flooring in residential homes. This is worth considering when selecting a flooring for a home because houses do catch on fire from time to time, and can make a difference between getting out or not.
https://connecticutrealestate.online/what-happens-to-vinyl-flooring-in-a-fire/
Brice
I was not able to independently verify the information you have posted on this website about Mohawk or Pergo and 9ng/m3 VOC levels. Since you did not provide official documentation on this subject I contacted Pergo and Mohawk directly.
They responded that their products are not required to provide an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) as they are exempt from that requirement. The SDS would provide evidence of use or non use of formaldehyde. They provided me with the exemption letter.
I then asked them if they could provide documentation on their VOC levels for Pergo Pro and Mowhawk RevWood products. They emailed me the Floor Score certification letter which states that “The product(s) meet(s) all of the necessary qualifications to be certified for the following claim(s): Floor Score” To meet that requirement a product is tested and found to have a: “Measured Concentration of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC): Less than/equal to 0.5 mg/m3 (in compliance with CDPH/EHLB Standard Method v1.2-2017)” As you know 0.5 mg/m3 is considered “acceptable.” A max of 0.3mg/m3 is considered “low” and anything greater than 0.5 is considered “high”
It would be extremely helpful if you post your official information or documentation that shows your claims to be accurate. I would not worry about “copyright” infringement, as you stated below in another response, as long as you correctly identify the source of the information and do not claim it as your own.
Thank You
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I have the SDS sheet that shows the VOC levels, I am not the copyright owner of that so I cannot publish it on my site. What you are saying is not how copyright works just because you want it to work that way. I can forward it to clients via email.
They also have an official letter on letterhead (which I could forward to interested clients as well) that states:
March 1, 2024
Re: Mohawk Laminate
You have asked about formaldehyde in Mohawk laminate flooring. Mohawk is proud to be the
world’s largest flooring manufacturer and the sustainability leader in our industry. Mohawk’s
laminate flooring does not contain added formaldehyde. As such, we adhere to the very
stringent Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) standard known as FloorScore. The SCS Global’s program is a
third‐party Indoor Air Quality certification that meets, even exceeds, California’s indoor quality
standards for low‐emitting products used in schools and office buildings (CHPS) and CDPH
California Standard Method V1.2‐2017 (California Section 01350 testing protocol). Our wood
flooring products have received certifications in the FloorScore program. In addition, Mohawk’s
laminate and engineered wood flooring meets the (1) California Air Resources Board’s (CARB)
Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) 93120 Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Phase 2
requirements; and (2) Formaldehyde Standards in Composite Wood Products Act of Title VI of
the Toxic Substances Control Act (EPA Formaldehyde Act), 15 U.S.C. § 2697.
Mohawk recognizes some individuals have unique chemical sensitivities. If you feel that your
chemical sensitivities give additional pause to this flooring product, you may want to consider
alternative flooring options.
Necole
How do I find out if Pergo uses non- nano aluminum oxide? I called and the rep didn’t know.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Sometimes it’s on their data sheets. Sometimes it is ruled out due to a certification that a company could have. Sometimes you just have to call and email and call and email until you get an answer that makes sense.
Chance
Hi Corinne! I just picked up ~200 ft² of Mohawk’s PureTech flooring (Avery Grove – Barley Oak, PTL01-428), and on the drive home I started experiencing VOC symptoms—specifically, full-body muscle twitching, which is a common MCS reaction for me. There’s a noticeable smell from the wrapped planks.
My situation is tricky because I’m trying to make a bedroom safe for me by removing 30yo disgusting carpet and replacing it with a floating non-toxic floor of ANY kind (the foundation is a 1970’s slab with vinyl tiles I won’t be removing).
Mohawk told me it’s Greenguard certified, but I can’t find that in writing anywhere.
Would you return a product if you reacted to it like this, or would you try unboxing it to see if it off-gasses quickly? Or would you take some other approach? I’d really appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks so much for all you do.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The only way to know that is to get lots of samples and test them out to see how you do around them and how long they take to off-gas for you (and do you have a place to off-gas them). You could also save one box depending on the cost and try to off-gas one box and see how it goes. You would have to compare this to other reactions you have to know if that is something that can happen at first for you but then gets better etc. I know how I would do with different materials only because I have tested so many and also lived in buildings of various ages.
Chance
Thank you so much for your reply and sharing your insight. And, for such a fast reply!
It’s so rough because I’m so reactive it can be hard to discern which factor/s are even causing a reaction. I’m currently trying to just finish making my single room safe. But I know you’ve been there before too.
Thanks again for the advice. You help so many of us greatly.
Lauren
I’m in a similar situation and just took a sample pack of mowhawks hybrid floor home and had similar issues in the car and now whatever room it’s in. I will have to return. Did you end up finding something that worked that you can recommend? I was going to try PureTech next but not so sure that’s a good idea with your intel.
Chance
Hi Lauren – I’m sorry to hear you’re finding it challenging to locate a safe-for-you flooring as well.
I actually contacted Mohawk themselves, via email, and the representative’s title who answered my questions was “CX Technical Services Coordinator – Mohawk Industries”. I asked her if any of Mohawk’s flooring (ANY of it) is Greenguard certified and her final reply was “Mohawk uses FloorScore certification. We do not use GreenGuard with any hard surface product.”
That was enough for me personally to stay away from trying any of Mohawk’s other flooring options. But that’s just me.
Fortunately, I did find a flooring that works for me! It’s been fantastic, I’ve had zero symptoms from it since installing it. Unfortunately, it was expensive to me, but “expensive” is relative so perhaps it won’t be for you or others. It’s currently $4.19/sq ft ($93.30/carton) and cost me ~$850 for a 12ft x 13ft room including an extra carton to be sure I had enough.
The flooring I ended up using was: “SMARTCORE Naturals Monteagle Maple Prefinished 0.33-in T x 1.77-in W x 94.49-in L Wood veneer with vinyl core”
The Lowes product info is: “Item #4064921, Model #03W8901113”
It is “clickity clackity” when I walk on it, but I installed it over tiles on a concrete slab. If I had known for sure there wasn’t a moisture issue with the concrete slab before beginning my install (which I now know there isn’t), I would have used underlayment for noise muffling. But the nice thing about this flooring is it doesn’t require an underlayment and it’s “water proof” without even using an underlayment.
Whatever you end up using, I wish you the very best! I wish none of us had to deal with this type of situation. I hope we can all find healing.
John
Hi Chance,
I am in the same spot. M***le s***ms. I am about to make a clean room. How did yours work out?
Lid
Corinne,
Thank you for all the info.
We have to install the Pergo laminate floor called New England to match the rest of the house but now we have a baby and I am a bit concerned as the baby room is one of the rooms that needs new flooring. On their website states that they have very low formaldehyde emissions backed by their A+ label but they don’t seem formaldehyde free. When asking this question to AI it comes back that ‘Pergo’s laminate and wooden flooring has low formaldehyde emissions, and some Pergo products are formaldehyde-free’. Only some products so I am confused. I sent an email to the company to ask about this specific floor but they are not responding. Assuming that it has formaldehyde, how long it would take to off-gass? Fow how long I have to keep baby sleeping on a different room? Thanks again for your help
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Pergo under Mohawk is not made with formaldehyde. See that section in the article.
Lid
Corinne,
Great thanks for your reply. I found out the reason for my misunderstanding. In case this helps other people, after some correspondence with the company, it is clear that Pergo US does not use formaldehyde or PFAS and they are very transparent, however Pergo International have confirmed that their laminate contains formaldehyde and they only stopped using PFAS at the beginning of this year. They .don’t want to disclose what water resistance treatmemt they use now for the locking system. They advised that athough they are technically the same company they are not afiliated and their products are not made the same way.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
ah ok, thank you.
Jason S.
Hi Corinne. Your website provides very useful information, thank you for this. Quick question, laminate flooring with 5% urea formaldehyde and 95% melanine formaldehyde. The company advised that the off gassing is 0.013 and it has an UV aluminium oxide finish. Does this seem safe to you for a nursery? Would the coat reduce the off gassing and for how long would the floor off gass? They don’t want to disclose what water resistance technology they use for their locking system. Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
That wouldn’t be my preference. My preferences are in the article. how long it takes to off-gas is a section in the article
david
Your information is misleading. Mohawk Revwood has Formaldehyde at 0.5 milligram per cubic meter. You can just call their technical support to ask about it. 8883879881 8-5 eastern time.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
that is not correct. they are not made with formaldehyde glues and the VOCs are <9ng/m3. the 0.5 level is just the legal limit of formaldehyde that they are quoting.
david
Can you show us the picture of the SDS (0.9ng/m3) you are quoting from? I highly doubt if it exists. Their technical support line does not say this either. They only tell customers that their VOC is <0.5mg/m3, which is just regular FloorScore certified criteria. If they truly have VOC < 0.9ng/m3, why would they have their products 'GreenGuard Gold' certified??
david
Your blog is influencing many people’s buying choice. Please share us the source of the information you are quoting. Especially 0.9ng/m3 VOC number.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
They dont use GGG probably because not all their products meet that level so that would make some of their product look bad, whereas all flooring meets floorscore (it’s also more expensive I believe than floorscore). they are simply citing the legal limit of formaldehyde in that response. I state in the post my sources for my statements and for this one I have multiple sources for that information.
David
I want to be clear about the source of the 0.9ng/m3, which is not shared in this blog. The only source you mentioned was the email from Mohawk. Do you have a pdf version of the SDS sheet you saw the 0.9ng/m3? What people say in Email is not a trustable source of truth.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yes
David
DO you mind sharing the SDS sheet which shows 9 ng/m3 VOC for Mohawk revwood?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I do not have copyright permission to share brands’ SDS sheets on my website and I’m not inclined to go out of my way for someone that has been disrespectful in my comment section. Since I have already verified for you and for others reading this where I got the information from, if you don’t trust my word in saying that I have an official letter and SDS from the company then do not use my website as a source.
Martha
Is Quick Step sold at Lowe’s really non-toxic? I bought StainMaster and will need to rip it up do to off-gassing and respiratory issues.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
They are owned by Mohawk and they are saying it’s no added formaldehyde like all their laminate
LeAnne Gundy
I have been looking at TuffCore flooring. I can find nothing online and the samples at the flooring store are silent on VOC’s, formaldehyde, etc. Does anyone know anything about this flooring brand? Your website has been very helpful in choosing products for remodeling my new home. Thank you!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
You can ask them for a SDS, though if they dont say anything it almost certainly will fall into the classic composition that i mention in this article
Brent
Awesome work you do, and we appreciate it!
Between Mohawk RevWood and Puretech Plus, I’m stuck on which is less toxic and less VOC??
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Id go with revwood
Venesh Seusankar
Hi Corrine, Very useful info on this site. I am planning to replace the carpet in the bedrooms of my house with laminate. Have you had any experience with Toucan (Triforest) laminate and the formaldehyde content? Thank you.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I don’t, you’ll have to ask them what’s in it based on the possibilities in the article
Al
Thank you for all of this! If you had to choose one brand (or two!), which would you choose? Thank you again!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Mohawk brands
Janice
Would you choose Mohawk Puretech Avery Grove which is 70% recycled?
Jordan
Currently living with Evokes “Au Naturel” laminate flooring underfoot. All I can dig up is that it was “Floor Score” Certified.
Floor Score – https://rfci.com/floorscore/
Floor Score seems to mean it just complies with California Section 01350 Program ( California Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, Version 1.2 ).
1. Any idea where “Floor Score” ranks in certs?
2. Is there anyway we who benefit so greatly from your work can support you? Venmo, gofundme, buy-me-a-coffee-button?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
floorscore is not useful for differentiating between laminate brands, see article on certifications. yes thank you there is a buy me a coffee link at end of this article.
Rachel
Hi, have you looked at Nexxacore laminate? Curious about your thought and the testing they posted for each collection. We are considering it.
https://www.nexxacore.com/compliance/
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
It looks like another formaldehyde free laminate. It doesnt mean for sure that it’s better if we dont know the glues and or VOC levels though.
Bonnie Dillon
wondering which floor is least likely to mold? I know after 48 hours of being wet mold can form on anything Just wondered if one was more resistant than another?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
the ones with a good locking mechanism and wax or melamine on the locking mechanism parts wont let water get through the mechanism and wont allow the fiberboard to swell. the water if its minimal will dry back up to above and it wont mold. if the fiberboard core gets wet it swells and it could potentially mold if it doesnt dry out fast enough. also water underneath could be a problem. the good thing about the swelling is its very obvious when it was damanged by water and you could replace those boards
Sophie
Hello!
Since Mohawk doesn’t add formaldehyde to its laminates, why is it only FloorScore certified, instead of GG Gold?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
It could be because they will want to use one certification across all their products. It’s possible that it is a cost savings choice or that some products dont meet GGG (like sheet vinyl).
Sophie
Hi Corinne,
Thank you very much for your blog.
Many laminate flooring advertise that they are “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial”, including Mohawk (RevWood Select and Premier, not Plus) and many Green Guard Gold laminates. What makes it antibacterial/antimicrobial? And, is this stuff toxic?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
It’s probably silver, but I don’t think we actually know.
Sophie
Thanks Corinne.
It sounds like Mohawk is a good choice for low toxicity flooring. Does this extend to all brands under the Mohawk umbrella? In addition to RevWood, I’m also looking at Quick Step. Is Quick Step also formaldehyde-free?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yes
Necole
It is silver per their customer service reps. Do you still recommend it for people with kids? Is silver a concern?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Silver is fine.
Mike R
I have Tackett flooring, Invitation collection with “No added formaldehyde “. It has a floor score certified and “AC3” which I don’t know what that is.
This brand is not on your list. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i’m adding it now
Kylie
Looking to install Mohawk RevWood or Pergo TimberCraft. Since Mohawk has no added formaldehyde, what is the best way to try and prevent off-gassing from the installation process from the naturally occurring formaldehyde? Allowing the flooring to sit in our garage before we install? Purchasing product that is not newly manufactured?
Laminate is really the only product in our budget as we are tearing out carpet from the 80s. But I have a 1 year old and I’m trying to be as low tox as possible. It sounds like of all laminate, Mohawk is the lowest tox option due to no added formaldehyde.
Corinne Segura
Yes im happy with mohawks VOC levels, which are practically 0, it’s also the brand I would go with. there is no need to offgas natural formaldehyde, it’s present in all wood and outside in nature.
Ralph
This Mohawk Laminate floor from Menards has formaldehyde listed in the SDS: https://www.menards.com/main/flooring-rugs/laminate-flooring/laminate-flooring/mohawk-reg-perfectseal-excel-12-7-1-2-x-47-1-4-waterproof-laminate-flooring-19-63-sq-ft-ctn/mhk09-03/p-1642874273679909-c-12442.htm
Corinne Segura
thanks i will call them to see what’s going on there. Maybe this only applies to the direct lines from Mohawk like pergo and revwood
Corinne Segura
Mohawk is saying this is the percent of formaldehyde that is naturally occuring in wood (under 1.5 percent). When formaldehyde is added as the binder in other laminate brands it is around 11-13%.
david
I hope you understand that the 0.1% mean in this SDS sheet. It is 1000ppm!
The phrase “Section 313 Toxic Chemicals (40 CFR 372.65): Formaldehyde – 0.1% de minimis concentration” in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) refers to regulatory reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 and its implementing regulation at 40 CFR 372.65.
Breakdown of the Meaning:
Section 313 Toxic Chemicals:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires certain facilities to report releases of specific toxic chemicals under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program.
Formaldehyde is classified as a Section 313 chemical, meaning its use, release, or waste management must be reported if it exceeds certain thresholds.
40 CFR 372.65:
This refers to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 372.65, which lists toxic chemicals subject to reporting under the TRI program.
Formaldehyde – 0.1% de minimis concentration:
De minimis concentration means the threshold below which a chemical does not need to be counted for TRI reporting purposes.
For formaldehyde, the de minimis level is 0.1% (or 1,000 ppm).
If a mixture or product contains formaldehyde at or above 0.1%, the facility may need to report its use if other TRI reporting criteria are met.
Practical Implications:
If a product contains ≥ 0.1% formaldehyde, businesses should check whether their annual usage or emissions exceed TRI reporting thresholds.
Facilities in covered industry sectors (such as manufacturing) must track and report releases of formaldehyde if their usage exceeds 25,000 pounds (manufactured or processed) or 10,000 pounds (otherwise used) annually.
If formaldehyde is present below 0.1%, it may be exempt from certain TRI reporting requirements.
david
Does it tell how much formaldehyde the flooring offgas?
—-
No, the statement “Section 313 Toxic Chemicals (40 CFR 372.65): Formaldehyde – 0.1% de minimis concentration” in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) does not indicate how much formaldehyde the flooring off-gases.
What This Statement Means:
It only tells you that formaldehyde is present in the material and is regulated under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) if its concentration is ≥ 0.1%.
It does not provide information about actual emissions or the rate of off-gassing.
How to Determine Off-Gassing:
To understand how much formaldehyde a flooring product releases into the air, look for:
Emission Test Reports (e.g., ASTM, CARB, or GREENGUARD Certifications)
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 and TSCA Title VI (EPA Formaldehyde Rule) set limits on formaldehyde emissions for composite wood products.
GREENGUARD Gold Certification or similar labels indicate low emissions.
Formaldehyde Emission Limits for Flooring:
CARB Phase 2 / TSCA Title VI: ≤ 0.05 ppm formaldehyde in air for composite wood.
ANSI/BIFMA Standard for Office Furniture: ≤ 0.043 ppm.
GREENGUARD Gold: ≤ 0.0073 ppm for formaldehyde.
VOC Emission Testing (Chamber Tests like ASTM D6007, EN 717-1, or CA 01350)
These tests measure how much formaldehyde off-gases over time.
Next Steps:
Check the product’s certifications and emission test data.
If the SDS doesn’t provide off-gassing details, contact the manufacturer for VOC emission reports.
If concerned about indoor air quality, consider air testing for formaldehyde in the space where the flooring is installed.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
wood naturally contains formaldehyde
David Rosen
Thanks so much for your work on this. SUPER useful. Best regards.
Eduardo
Thank you for your detailed posting! Silly question… I think the conditions for offgas are simply the material sitting there… But I guess there are other ways for the material to make it to the environment/air in the house like wear (specially being a floor). Of course, that would be only for the outer/protective material. Are regulations covering that?
Thank you again!
Corinne Segura
The wear of a floor is not considered offgassing because it’s not a gas but particles coming loose. Laminate takes a very long time before it shows any wear at all. I have 10 year laminate where Im staying and there is no wear on it. And that is around the time someone might want to replace it anyway. But yes technically the aluminum layer is wearing down really slowly.
Jason Trut
Hi,
First and foremost, thank you for your wonderful website!
We just installed laminate flooring in a basement room (one room) and engineered hardwood flooring on two floors of our house (4 bedrooms, living room, family room). Both types of flooring are FloorScore certified (the engineering hardwood is less than/equal to 0.5 mg/m3, not sure about the laminate flooring). Due to the somewhat uneven flooring in the basement and the quality of the subfloor upstairs, the flooring installer used adhesive.
My question – I was thinking of buying an air purifier that’s meant to reduce VOCs (Austin Air Healthmate) and putting it in the basement room. The cost is around $1,100 since this is a premium air purifier meant to reduce VOCs. Everywhere else in the house, I’d buy Winix 5500-2 air purifiers.
Do you think I need to buy such an expensive air purifier in the basement room to reduce VOCs? Is my concerned overblown?
Thank you!
Corinne Segura
Every brand of laminate except the few that are formaldehyde free will offgas formaldehyde. Whether you should filter that or not I cannot make that call for anyone. Usually i would go based on if you are sensitive to it or not. Austin air is a good choice for filtering formaldehyde as many carbon only or PCO air purifiers are not great against formaldehyde. If you used Mohawk flooring there is not need to filter the air. Though it also depends on if the glue is offgassing or not.
Jason Trut
Thanks!
J Baker
Is it true that some HDF core products like Marmoleum Click do not have added formaldehydes in their HDF? If yes, you might consider amending this article, Corinne, and also the general flooring post? I was confused and had ruled out several products with HDF core because I thought you were saying that all HDF has added formaldehydes and is therefore toxic (even though I’m not sure you actually ever say that. :-))
You have saved me a ton of work and I am very grateful for this website!! Thank you!
J Baker
PS. I discovered this in the questions section of the Marmoleum Click page on the Green Building Supply site (searching for HDF.)
Nancy
Have you seen this page on Pergo’s site? We are considering laminate, but looking for GreenGuard certified. Saw some Pergo at an outlet store and after reading your review that said they used to be certified, I ran across this webpage. Thoughts? https://en.pergo.com/…/sustaina…/laminate-sustainability
Corinne
The A+ European label is lower than the Green Guard Gold Formaldehyde level.
Lisa
My partner and I are having a terrible time in a new apartment. He has leukemia so I am worried. The floor seems to smell and I think it is the problem. It is laminate with gyp Crete, I was told. The building is three years old, affordable housing. My questions: can a wax or some coating block the odor? They sell some non toxic ones. Would Enviroklenz which seems to say on its website that it can be used for this likely work.? Someone also mentioned covering it with foil? Is that worth trying? We are really in a bind at this point and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Corinne
Check out the post on mitigating new house offgassing https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2019/05/mitigating-sealing-remediating.html
Alan
You state that Mohawk’s RevWood has no added formaldehyde. Could you point me to this info? I’m unable to find it.
Also I don’t see anything on Shaw’s website about being certified GreenGuard Gold. Is that somewhere on their site?
Corinne
I mention in the post, official letter and SDS sheet from Mohawk. Shaw used to have Greenguard children and schools for their laminate which is the same as green guard gold, but now they only have green guard so I’ve updated the article, thanks for pointing that out.
Alan
Thank you. So stating that RevWood has no has no added formaldehyde is just trusting the words of whomever wrote that email. I wouldn’t state that info unless it’s printed on their website. Besides, as you state, that doesn’t mean that it’s formaldehyde free. “No added formaldehyde ” could mean anything to them.
Corinne
I mention in the post exactly where I got the info, an SDS sheet, email and official letter. In my experience of 10 years doing this I think it’s unlikely they are lying about that but I also noted it’s strange that it’s not on the website. No added formaldehyde means the glues binding the HDF are not formaldehyde based, nor the glue binding the HDF to the melamine. No company can say “formaldehyde free” when there is wood in the product because wood naturally contains formaldehyde. These terms are legal terms and are actually quite specific.
Corinne
Also I should add formaldehyde is something that would have to be declared on the SDS sheet.
Alan
If I’m looking for the cheapest flooring type that’s still safe, what type would that be? Would it be laminate flooring, LVP, or engineered wood? The article talks about the best brands of laminate, but how safe are the other types? Or is it implying that laminate is the safest?
I’m sure anything that comes on a roll is bad?
Also do you have similar info for carpet? I need carpet in one room (media room).
Corinne
It’s a toss up between vinyl plank and laminate for best cheapest flooring just depending on if you want short term offgassing (from laminate) or longer term possible problems from plasticizers (in vinyl).
Alan
How safe is carpet?
Corinne
it ranges from 0 VOC and no persistent chemicals to quite high offgassing and persistent chemicals like flame retardants, PFAS and metals. See post on carpeting. The question is can you get one of the polyester extremely low VOC ones at the right price. that I don’t know off the top of my head.
John
Does durvana flooring have formaldehyde in it?
Corinne
yes
Ryan
Hi Corinne,
Thanks for your helpful articles I decided not to replace carpet with carpet, instead I’m looking at either laminate or LVP given the budget.
My question is about the water-proof/water-resistant feature of the latest products. What drove me away from carpet is the chemicals such as PFAS (and the carpet manufacturers don’t reveal what proprietary topical treatment their fiber goes through when they claim they don’t use PFAS). Now my concern is for laminate flooring that claims to be water-proof/water-resistant, do they involve the usage of such chemicals that fall under PFAS family? I saw your mention of AquaGuard using melamine layers (their website says “2 pass power sealer edge coating for water resistance”) and I saw the LifeProof laminate from Home Depot mention “edges treated with wax”, and Pergo/Mohawk has SpillProtect/WetProtect which doesn’t say exactly what it is, plus Mohawk laminate also features CleanProtect which is soil/stain resistance, now this sounds more and more similar to what they do to their carpet, so do you think there is the possibility of PFAS involved? Where did you get the information about the AquaGuard water proof technology since I couldn’t find any detail about it?
Thank you very much!
Corinne
I think it’s generally wax, melamine, or a plastic mixed into the wood fibres because that’s what I’ve been able to find so far. (It could also be PFAS)
Julietta
Also , which floor option is best if radiant heating elements are installed below the planks … does that makes the flooring safer or worse?
THANKS!!
Julietta
Great info! What do you think of Golden Arowana sold at Costco? Any concerns?
Thanks !
Michele
Thank you so much for your article. I had no idea. We have laminate or vinyl in our apartment, brand new when we moved in. My daughter has respiratory issues since childhood and other medical issues. We are purchasing a new manufactured home that has carpet but has either laminate or vinyl (going to ask next week) in the kitchen and bathrooms already. All new. I was planning to rip out the carpet and have laminate or vinyl installed but after hearing of the chemicals and health risks, I am not considering now going that route. I need to prevent as many risks to my daughters’ health as possible. Is carpet then better than laminate or vinyl? I don’t know what to do. We always tried to avoid carpet because it seem less healthy. Any advice, suggestions you can give is greatly appreciated? Going to look further into your blog for other stories. ITs great having a resource like you. Coffee coming.. 🙂
THANK YOU so much again..
Mariane
She has a post on all the different flooring from green to less green and carpet deft seems worse than laminate. I personally chose to go with laminate over vinyl and others for the price point and the green guard certification. Tile is a great option if no lead but I don’t love the hard floors for little ones to fall. Just another moms insight. I hope your little one get better. Living a non toxic life is so hard sometimes.
Janice
I believe that only tiles are totally chemical free, and that will be my choice.
Corinne
‘-some brands of carpet are 0 VOC but most have PFAS (see the carpet post), I would avoid high offgassing brands of carpet
-laminate with formaldhyde is the highest offgassing of the three (if you compare with better carpet brands) by a long shot, with elevated formaldehyde for at least the first few months
-LVP vinyl has practically no offgassing but there is a question mark about the plasticizers
(Vinyl sheet if that is what you have is much higher in offgassing than LVP and is something I would avoid)
Corinne
it would need some air flow between boards to offgas. other questions I talk about in the article
Mariane
Thank you. I will make sure we open them. But in terms of brand and being that the only available type from home decorator was the waterproof kind, is that probably a safe product? I could not find info on what makes them waterproof.
Also, if we installed it and left that room unused and closed would that be an issue for the rest of the home? In terms of off gassing. Thanks so much. Sending you some coffee money. =)
Corinne
the room also should have some air exchange
Mariane
Got it. If we installed it from the box in a room and closed the room for nobody to use it and had a window open plus air purifier in there at all times, would that be good enough?
Mariane
Hi Corinne,
My husband found the home decorators collection at Home Depot that would come with the polypropylene underpayment already. They claim to be waterproof. Is that a concern since we don’t know what they use? It’s green guard gold certified. Is that a good option? Also, it’s been purchased at Home Depot and mowings in my garage, would you say it probably already offgass a lot since it didn’t come straight from supplier? Thank you.
Praful Lalchandani
Any experience with Aquaguard from Floor and Decor. They claim to be GreenGuard Gold compliant, but should I be suspicious given they are not manufactured in the USA?
Corinne
The GGG certification would catch anything that is very wrong with offgassing. I’ve seen it and it seems normal to me in terms of offgassing.
Praful Lalchandani
I am considering laminate from https://www.urbanfloor.com/product/archer/ and I have a few questions:
– They say they are CARB II compliant (https://www.urbanfloor.com/safety-sustainability/) but say nothing about Green Gold. Is CARB II less stringent or more when it comes to formaldehyde emissions?
– They say they are ‘water resistant’ – does this increase the likelyhood of emissions?
Mariane
Would you consider an improvement to remove traffic master carpet from a room for baby and put Shaw laminate instead? My husband wants a more affordable option and he doesn’t want tile. The carpet has been there for a bit over 4 years.
Thanks so much
Christine
Hi, I’m considering a laminate flooring -Mohawk Revwood Plus.
Do you consider this product to be similar in composition and “safety” (regarding off-gassing) to Pergo Portfolio +?
I’m asking because you provided a short consultation with me in 2020/2021 and we determined that the Pergo was likely a good choice for our home with two chronically ill (neurological) kids. Unfortunately, the color of the Pergo is discontinued and we need to choose another flooring.
Corinne
If the product was in storage and not brand new straight from the supplier it changes things.
Megan
Christine did you end up getting Mohawk’s Revwood Plus? I’m considering that too. Sales rep is telling me it’s formaldehyde free (what!?) but I’m waiting on materials safety data sheet. I’m also told they are Green Guard certified (but does not say Gold).
Corinne
Megan
Update- I talked to the Mohawk technical department today regarding Revwood and learned they are not Green Guard certified but all their flooring is certified CARB and floor score (@ the “TVOC Less than/equal to 0.5 mg/m3” level). He told me they do not use formaldehyde in Revwood but wouldn’t tell me what they use instead as binding agent – “Proprietary info”.
Product safety data sheet was pretty useless other than listing “VOC w/w” as
<9ng/m3.
Just putting this out there in case anyone else is considering Revwood.
Corinne
Wow OK I will have to get in touch with them. They would be the only laminate flooring without formaldehyde. It’s shocking that they wouldn’t write that on the product page. The only other glue I know of at this time for this kind of fiberboard is MDI which also offgasses as well.
Megan Blakeslee
Right!? Can’t believe they wouldn’t advertise that. I went into a local flooring shop this morning and the Mohawk rep happened to be there. I asked him about the binding agent for Revwood. He also said no formaldehyde and said it is a “water-based glue”.
Janice
If they don’t mention is because they are hiding something…
We are considering tile, or polished cement, just for the sake of our health.
Alie
What do you think of evoke floorings laminate?
https://evokeflooring.com/us/products/surge
It claims to have a wood composite core free of hdf or mdf. Do you think this would offgas less?
Corinne
They don’t say what it is. This is a new trend in laminate floors where there might be a slight modification to try to make it more waterproof. The only thing they really say about Evoke Surge is: “manufactured differently from traditional laminate’s HDF—the wood fibers are ground more finely to allow them to be encapsulated in resin and therefore unable to absorb moisture.” Resin is normally formaldehyde and I would expect that here. Perhaps there is another additive to make it more waterproof but they don’t say what it is.
Alie
Hmm thanks for the response. It is a green guard gold certified, so even if it is a formaldehyde based resin it would be offgassing at safe levels, correct?
Corinne
laminate can meet green guard gold, it’s probably at the upper limit of formaldehyde.
Ro
Hi! Thanks for this information. I’ve seen articles saying that laminate from China may not be safe. I’ve seen brands that are made in China, but are also Greenguard Gold certified. If a laminate is Greenguard Gold certified, is it safe regardless where it is made? Thank you!
Usha
Thank you for the detailed post! Woud you recommend the cali bamboo brand (which offers LVP flooring)? The brand claims no-detectable formaldehyde as per independent testing.
Catherine
I recently had water damage in my mobile home. They opened up the underlayment and the laminate to install and a very strong toxic odor poured out. I argued with them to not use it and was dismissed. I was told it would take weeks to get a different flooring. I let them proceed. I got very sick from it and my doctor told me to stay elsewhere. The odor permeated the house. I removed the flooring. 500sq ft. I cannot find any warnings from the company that made the laminate. The underlayment didn’t have any references not even a name. Now the contractor who knew I was sensitive ( its in the contract) won’t give me my money back. Thank God I’m not sick anymore but I’m walking around on plywood. I guess any laminate gives off VOCs and some are more allergic than others.
Connie
Which country ?
And where was the laminate made in?
Were there any type of certifications?
Annette
Hope you can help.Do you know if Newton laminate flooring is greenguard certified? Also the country it is manufactured in? Having a difficult time finding safe flooring for my family.Thank you.
Corinne
You will have to ask the company.
Jaime
Would you say that if someone only has mild sensitivities (I was recently in a home with newly installed laminate flooring that was not even green guard gold certified and had no issues) that Home Depot brands would be safe? I just worry about the overall level of VOCs if it’s installed in the whole house even if the individual pieces are low voc.
Corinne
Cbpep
Did you evaluate aqua guard laminate? It was not listed in your article.
Corinne
I mention the “waterproof” claim.
Denise H Chustz
Hi, Im looking at buying the Pergo floor from Lowes. I reached out to Pergo and they claimed to be floorscore certified with total VOC of <=0.5 mg/m3 Do you think this a safe level ?
Corinne
All of these laminate floors have *extremely* similar composition (almost identical) at this time.
Janice
That is toxic the same.
Chrissy O’Donnell
Hi Corinne,
I live in a floor unit condo. I bought a laminate flooring from Homr Depot, installed 2017. I did the living room only.
I notice a strong odor when my unit is closed up for several days. especially in Summer. It still has some residual “ smell” but not as strong.
How can I get this odor evaluated?
What agency could help identify it?
Please advise. Thank you
Corinne
Hi I would do an air test for formaldehyde through Prism Analytics.
Jill Balzer
Hi Corinne! Great article! I’m looking at Mohawk solid tech plus
Baker hallow
Color: b42 chance. I cannot find if this is would fall in your opinion of a safer flooring? Thoughts? Appreciate your input.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
that’s vinyl not laminate. see the article on vinyl plank
Katie
Any thoughts or experience with LifeProof laminate flooring? (Might be staying somewhere that has recently installed it in the last 1-2 weeks).