[Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product Recommendation

Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn info at ecobrooklyn.com
Wed May 13 13:06:35 CDT 2015


Frank where do you buy your tung oil?

On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, Frank Tettemer <frank at livingsol.com> wrote:

> 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
>
>
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-- 
Gennaro Brooks-Church
Director, Eco Brooklyn Inc.
Cell: 1 347 244 3016 USA
www.EcoBrooklyn.com
22 2nd St; Brooklyn, NY 11231
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