Home Design Around Allergies

Home Design Around Allergies
When construction of the home being built by Nancy Newman of Houston is completed, she expects to breathe a literal sigh of relief. Newman, acting as her own contractor, suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities and is taking extra steps to build a "healthy house" -- an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly house that will enable her to breathe easier.

She is utilizing aerated concrete, a lightweight block of air-impregnated concrete, as well as paying particular attention to the heating and air conditioning ducts.

"I did research and talked to a lot of people," she says. "I used different materials and adjusted the ducts in the house. I just wanted to live in a house that didn't make me sick. Anyone can do it with a little bit of knowledge and a few adjustments."

It has been estimated that up to 75 percent of Americans will develop allergies or environmental sensitivities. Symptoms include respiratory, kidney and stomach problems as well as a lowering of the immune system. Everything from synthetic carpets to wood products may be the culprits.

As an alternative to wood framing, Newman is using a FlexCrete Corp. product that also eliminates worries over mold and termites. The company manufactures and distributes the materials used and provides trained construction crews to erect houses in all price ranges.