Over the last couple of weeks, the word “formaldehyde” has surprisingly climbed several notches on the “things Americans are worried about” ladder. This concern around formaldehyde in flooring is largely the result of trouble the company Lumber Liquidators has found itself in. The company, one of the country’s largest flooring retailers with over 300 locations, allegedly skimped on U.S. health and safety regulations related to the manufacturing and sale of flooring materials—specifically formaldehyde in laminate flooring.

 Flooring Regulations and Formaldehyde Standards

In short, to sell flooring materials in California, products must pass a set of standards created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Later this year, the rest of the country will follow suit after Congress passed legislation to federally standardize regulations on flooring materials, modeled after California’s standards.

Part of these regulations deals with the amount of formaldehyde in laminate flooring, a chemical commonly found in adhesives used in plywood and fiberboard. The formaldehyde in flooring materials can dissipate into the air, which is where the real problem begins. According to allegations, the floors sold by Lumber Liquidators contained excessive levels of formaldehyde, creating serious health concerns.

What Is Formaldehyde and Why Is It Dangerous?

Formaldehyde is a chemical compound found in many organically and synthetically produced materials. It is perhaps best known for its use in preserving animals and human bodies during the embalming process. Formaldehyde is highly toxic to humans and is classified as a “known carcinogen” by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. A carcinogen is any substance that can cause cancer after prolonged exposure.

How Formaldehyde in Flooring Affects Indoor Air Quality

The main issue with excessive formaldehyde in flooring is that formaldehyde exists as a gas at room temperature. Since flooring is installed inside homes, this means floors can release gaseous formaldehyde into indoor air.

This off-gassing occurs in all floors to some extent; however, the laminate floors sourced from Lumber Liquidators’ mills in China allegedly contained far higher levels of formaldehyde in laminate flooring than what is considered safe. Prolonged exposure may lead to severe health problems, including nasal cancer and leukemia.

Organizations like CARB work closely with scientists to ensure that formaldehyde levels in flooring materials remain within safe limits. However, the floors sold by Lumber Liquidators reportedly bypassed CARB standards.

60 Minutes Investigation and Manufacturing Practices

In the 60 Minutes investigation that brought this issue to light, undercover investigators posing as buyers visited Chinese mills used by Lumber Liquidators. During the visit, a plant manager admitted that the flooring was not CARB-approved.

When asked why unsafe products were being produced, the manager explained that CARB-compliant flooring could be manufactured—but at a higher cost. To keep prices low, cheaper materials containing unsafe levels of formaldehyde in flooring were used, while CARB-approved labels were placed on the final products. According to the report, this practice helped reduce costs by approximately 10–15%.

What Homeowners Should Learn From This

There will be updates as this story continues. It remains unclear whether Lumber Liquidators was aware of these manufacturing practices. However, the key takeaway is simple: flooring is not an everyday purchase like clothing or groceries.

Floors are a permanent part of your home, installed by professionals, and represent a significant investment. Whether you choose a low-cost or premium option, it is critical to understand what you are buying. When a product is priced far lower than competitors, it is worth asking why—especially when formaldehyde in laminate flooring is involved.

Not everyone is an expert on formaldehyde, but every homeowner should be informed.

Need Expert Flooring Advice?

For any questions about Arlington Heights flooring, concerns about formaldehyde in flooring, or flooring in general, visit www.scvfloorsmith.com or call (661) 476-5034.