📝 What Is VOC Rating in Flooring? (And Why It Matters for Your Home in Stockport & Cheshire)
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
🏡 A simple guide from Branew Flooring
When choosing new flooring, most people focus on style, colour, and price — but there’s one important factor many homeowners overlook:
👉 VOC rating
At Branew Flooring, we believe in giving you honest, professional advice — so here’s everything you need to know in plain English.
🧪 What Does VOC Mean?
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds.
These are chemicals that can be released into the air from:
Flooring materials
Adhesives (glue)
Underlay
Finishes, paints and coatings
👉 The key rule: The lower the VOC rating, the safer it is for indoor air quality.
⚠️ Why VOC Rating Matters in Your Home
When flooring is first installed, some products can release VOCs into the air — especially if lower-quality materials or adhesives are used.
High VOC levels can cause:
Headaches or dizziness
Allergies or irritation
Breathing discomfort
Issues for children or pets
That’s why more homeowners across Stockport, Manchester, and Cheshire are now specifically asking for low-VOC flooring options.
🏡 What Flooring Options Are Low VOC?
The good news is — modern flooring has improved massively.
At Branew Flooring, we only work with trusted suppliers and high-quality materials, many of which meet strict low-emission standards.
✅ Popular low-VOC choices:
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) – durable, stylish, and widely available in low-VOC options
Modern carpets – improved fibres and backing for better air quality
Linoleum – a natural, eco-friendly flooring option
Carpet tiles (commercial use) – great for offices and high-traffic areas
💡 We’ll always guide you on the safest and best option based on your home, lifestyle, and budget.
🏷️ What Should You Look for as a Customer?
You don’t need to overcomplicate it — just look for:
Low VOC / Ultra Low VOC labels
Indoor Air Quality certifications, such as Greenguard Certification and FloorScore Certification.
Trusted brands (which we supply in-store)
👉 Or even simpler: Ask us — we’ll only recommend products we’d be happy to install in our own homes.
🛠️ Why Installation Matters Just as Much
Here’s what many companies won’t tell you:
👉 VOC levels aren’t just about the flooring — they’re also about how it’s installed.
That includes:
Adhesives used
Subfloor preparation
Installation methods
Ventilation during fitting
✔️ The Branew difference:
Professional in-house fitting team
Correct products are used every time
Clean, safe installation processes
Advice on aftercare
🐾 Safe Flooring for Families & Pets
As a family-run business in Stockport, we know how important it is to create a safe environment.
Whether you’ve got:
Young children
Pets (including our showroom star, Lilo the doggy floor fitter 🐶)
Allergies in the household
👉 Low-VOC flooring is always the safer choice.
📍 Why VOC Rating Flooring Matters for Homes in Stockport & Cheshire
Many homes across the North West have:
Older subfloors
Poor ventilation in certain rooms
High-traffic living areas
Choosing the right low-VOC flooring helps:
Improve indoor air quality
Reduce lingering installation smells
Create a healthier living environment
💬 Our Honest Advice
At Branew Flooring, we don’t just sell flooring — we help you make the right long-term decision.
👉 Simple takeaway: VOC rating is about how safe your flooring is for the air you breathe — and lower is always better.
📞 Ready to Choose Safe, High-Quality Flooring?
Visit our Stockport showroom or speak to our team for expert advice.
👉 We can help with:
Low-VOC flooring options
LVT, carpets, and commercial flooring
Full supply & professional installation
Domestic, landlord & commercial projects
📍 Visit Us
Branew Flooring – 70-72 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6NB. Serving: Manchester, Stockport, Cheshire East, Sale, Trafford & surrounding areas, with VOC rating flooring.
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