[Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product Recommendation

[Frank Tettemer]

Hi Allison,

If you find a suitable product, that stands up well on a floor, with no 
VOC's, I will be amazed. Please share the news. I'm not aware of any. 
Water-based urethane products, once they have worn, require significant 
scraping and sanding to remove the product, before refinishing. Not at 
all sustainable, from my point of view.

/Sanding evenly, and working the grits down from 40 to 80 to 110 to 240, 
will do more for the finish and look of the wood than anything you can 
wipe onto it.

/After that, what you wipe onto it has two choices, but both involve 
solvents. Here they are:/
/
1.) What I've used on many floors is polymerized Tung Oil, thinned with 
citrus oil solvent. The less thinner you use, the shinier, and the 
slower it is to dry, and the more difficult it is to apply a super thin 
coat that will dry well without being tacky or turning milky.
If you use more thinner, then it dries "better", with a matte finish. I 
like to apply 6 to 8 coats, on raw, sanded hardwood. With good drying 
weather, this can be done over 7 to 9 days, which may not work for the 
modern world. Which is why it's not too popular.  But it is the toughest 
and the best.

2.)  Second approach would be to use a linseed oil/tung oil/carnauba wax 
blend, by Eco-House, from New Brunswick. This is my favorite to use, 
though slightly less durable. It works wonders over a tinted, and finely 
trowelled floor, or, over a well-sanded hardwood floor. This requires no 
experimenting or mixing; just three or four coats:
http://www.eco-house.com/shop/270-hardwood-floor-oil/

I want to use products that I believe in; yet long-lasting durability, 
and the ability to refinish the wood in the future, without having to 
strip off the old hardened finish, is a part of my belief as well.

Frank

//

On 13/05/2015 11:06 AM, Allison Friedman wrote:
>
> Hi everyone -
>
> I need a recommendation for a great and durable eco friendly floor 
> finishing product, as we're refinishing our wood floors this summer. 
>  I was surprised that at this time of the green building movement when 
> I asked the subcontractor for some eco options and got a shrug and an 
> offer to use a water-based top coat (only) "if I wanted."  Yes, I want 
> to use low or no VOC products for the environment and also for my family.
>
>  I posted this on RIG’s site, and of course I would love to start a 
> discussion on the topic.  But really, I just need the advice - and I 
> want the information to be getting out there for others too, in any 
> venue. 
> http://www.rateitgreen.com/green-building-community/discussions/products/i-need-a-fabulous-water-based-poly-or-other-eco-floor-coating/697
>
> I am working to promote green building products and services, and 
> sometimes I forget that it's not automatic to ask about 
> environmentally friendlier options and to think this way.  I thought 
> this would be easier and I could really use a super recommendation 
> (the key is just to get the information out there so we can support 
> these positive products and so in this case we can breathe a bit 
> better too).
>
> Are you also surprised when you go out into the real world and assume 
> there will be eco options - and then people don’t seem to be as 
> enthusiastic as let’s say the people and companies were at the last 
> green building event you attended?
>
> I want to hear about products people out there really believe in - and 
> I want to go back and say here, this comes recommended.  We’re using it.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
> Allison
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Allison Friedman
> Rate It Green
> www.rateitgreen.com <http://www.rateitgreen.com>
> @rateitgreen
> @MAGreenbuilding
> @NYGreenbuilding
>
>
>
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-- 
Frank Tettemer
Living Sol ~ Building and Design
www.livingsol.com
613 756 3884