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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Alan, what are you (and others) using to finish/seal these wood
countertops? What have you had successes with? Failures? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I realize that a client’s priorities dictate what we’re
able to use—a client with chemical sensitivities may require a very
different finish (or even material) than a client who does not have this issue
and prioritizes longevity over all else. There was a time in my life
where the former was a requirement for ME based on my health, but now, after
many years, I’m in much better health—and would be more likely to choose
something that might offgas a bit (and preferably allow it to do this in my
garage/workshop for some time!) but would last indefinitely (just as
sustainable an option, in my book, if it doesn’t have to be replaced for
a much longer time). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Melissa (Andron) Walter, LEED AP, GreenAP, Allied Member ASID<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#009900'>realm design studio, inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>sustainable interior design<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>919.649.2384<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>www.realmdesignstudio.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>or see us on <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1167158862#!/pages/Chapel-Hill-NC/Realm-Design-Studio/59661343019?ref=ts&__a=15&ajaxpipe=1">Facebook!</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>member: <a
href="http://www.hbadoc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=57">Green
Homebuilders of the Triangle</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
greenbuilding-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Alan
Abrams<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 25, 2010 6:18 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> JOHN SALMEN<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Chris Koehn; Greenbuilding@bioenergylists.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Greenbuilding] MDF vs Particleboard vs Whatever<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Nothing like wood for counters. When I can sell it,
we're using urban harvest black walnut, which is as beautiful as it is stable
(I have a walnut vanity top with an undermount sink, made as an durability
experiment. after four years of daily exposure to water, it is in great
shape. <br>
<br>
We did a large portion of a kitchen with urban harvest mulberry--also dense,
fairly stable, and unexpectedly beautiful. As I've mentioned before,
there are at least three sets of high grade white pine counters still in
service that I made in the early 80's--one of which housing a sink.<br>
<br>
regrettably, I have ripped out countless proprietary (Bally or similar) maple
butcher block counters that were severely warped and delaminated.<br>
<br clear=all>
<b><span style='color:#006600'>Alan Abrams<br>
Abrams Design Build LLC</span></b><span style='color:#006600'><br>
<i>A sustainable approach to beautiful space</i><br>
</span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#006600'><a
href="mailto:alan@abramsdesignbuild.com" target="_blank"><span
style='color:#3333FF'>alan@abramsdesignbuild.com</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#3333FF'><br>
</span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#006600'><a
href="http://www.abramsdesignbuild.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:
#3333FF'>www.abramsdesignbuild.com</span></a><br>
</span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#006600'>202-726-5894 o<br>
202-437-8583 c<br>
202-291-0626 f</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-CA><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'> </span><span
lang=EN-CA><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>Butcher
block is a good counter surface for dry areas that can be used well and
refinished as needed.</span><span lang=EN-CA><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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