[Greenbuilding] Floor product recommendations

Wed May 13 14:52:45 CDT 2015

Water based finishes are like vegetarian hot dogs. Go with oil.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, Allison Friedman <afriedman at rateitgreen.com>
wrote:

>
> Thank you kindly, Frank.  I was kind of hoping there were some obvious
> amazing products I was just missing.  The vendors were hesitant back in
> 2005 when we last worked on floors, and I insisted.  I lived with them but
> the finish really didn't last.  I will send your thoughts along to the
> contractor (and maybe you or I - somehow - will post them so more people
> can see and in time)
>
> We did ok with one water-based finish a couple of hers ago in a
> low-traffic room, but it's a really matte finish.  I want to go green but
> remain shiny too, if we can.  What do you mean by less-durable?  We have 2
> kids and we really do have some high traffic areas.
>
> We need to do all we can to support the amazing green building products
> out there and to encourage companies to keep developing these products and
> services as well.  We will reach 100% of building materials as green only
> when there are enough users to demand and then actually buy green.  And
> when these providers offer products and services that can compete in every
> way.  But to do that they need our help cheerleading what works and our
> feedback when something doesn't.
>
> Thanks again.
> Allison
>
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 13:59:06 -0400
> > From: Frank Tettemer <frank at livingsol.com <javascript:;>>
> > To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
> <javascript:;>>
> > Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product
> >       Recommendation
> > Message-ID: <555390EA.4030503 at livingsol.com <javascript:;>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
> >
> > 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
> >
> > //
>
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 11:06:27 -0400
> > From: Allison Friedman <afriedman at rateitgreen.com <javascript:;>>
> > To: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org <javascript:;>
> > Subject: [Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product
> >       Recommendation
> > Message-ID: <C824FEBE-A146-4C6C-B18D-FA5983389B18 at rateitgreen.com
> <javascript:;>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> >
> >
> > 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
> > @rateitgreen
> > @MAGreenbuilding
> > @NYGreenbuilding
> >
>
>
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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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