In 24 of the new floor coverings (16%), we found harmful additives that had long since been banned, such as lead used as a stabilizer and the plasticizer DEHP, an ortho‑phthalate.

Q–My husband and I are looking for flooring for our new home. We have seen samples of the new plastic laminate flooring. Is this the same material that is used for plastic laminate countertops?

Although you can have legitimate concerns about the costs involved, covering your basement's dirt floor makes a lot of sense. ... lay a plastic sheet, or install a crawl space vapor barrier.