[Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product Recommendation

[Benjamin Pratt]

I know there are a lot of people using the "bona" brand of water-based
floor finishes with good results. Most water-based stuff comes in all
levels of gloss.
Ben


b e n j a m i n p r a t t

professor art+design
the university of wisconsin stout

On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 1:06 PM, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <
info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

> 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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