[Greenbuilding] Floor product recommendations

Fri May 15 07:39:59 CDT 2015

Of course, the best way to make a floor finish last is to take your shoes off. Ok, well, maybe an effective door mat..
Clarke Olsen
clarkeolsendesign.com
373 route 203
Spencertown, NY 12165 
USA
518-392-4640
colsen at taconic.net

On May 13, 2015, at 3:52 PM, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

> 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>
> > To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product
> >       Recommendation
> > Message-ID: <555390EA.4030503 at livingsol.com>
> > 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>
> > To: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
> > Subject: [Greenbuilding] Need a Floor Refinishing Product
> >       Recommendation
> > Message-ID: <C824FEBE-A146-4C6C-B18D-FA5983389B18 at rateitgreen.com>
> > 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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