At my area home center I’m seeing more interior paints whose cans say the finishes have low or no VOCs. Essentially, it is polyurethane with an oil base in a solvent as the carrier. Sources for this article included: Runno Allikivi, Arboritec; Johannes Boonstra, Rubio Monocoat USA; Steve Crawford, DuraSeal; Brett Miller, National Wood Flooring Association; Micah Petersen, Basic Coatings; Julie Russell, Glitsa, a div. She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin in journalism and Spanish. Now You Know. In some very humid climates, it may skin over too fast and trap solvents below, causing foam and curing problems, so it is not recommended when the relative humidity is over 70 percent.• Because flattening agents used in finish contain moisture, in our industry moisture-cure finish is usually available only in a high-gloss sheen.• Due to its very active solvents, it can only be used over raw wood or itself. For application as floor finish, mineral spirits are added to the wax. Note, however, that this is not endorsed by most waterborne finish manufacturers.• Easy to touch up (buffing with steel wool or a maroon pad and applying more shellac is a simple repair). DELAYED EFFECTS FROM LONG TERM EXPOSURE. Apply DuraSeal ® Polyurethane with a brush or lambs wool applicator in thin coats, at a coverage rate of 500 square feet per gallon (750 square feet per gallon for 450 VOC compliant product). Even if the dust caught on fire, it would be contained in the metal box. This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or reproductive harm. Allow to dry for 30 days before replacing furniture and rugs. By. Today, Johnson does his best to educate wood flooring contractors about the danger of lacquer, particularly the many floors still around that have lacquer sealers on them. It was just my dad and my great-grandfather on the job; they had put down a final coat and were cleaning up," Johnson says, adding that a pilot light on a water heater had been left on. Application: Lambswool applicator, roller or brush. Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other … FACT: Lead was used as a drying agent in oil-modified poly and stain until its use was banned in coatings due to health concerns in 1978. The Environmental Protection Agency* says VOCs “include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have … • Because it draws moisture from the air to cure, it is difficult to get it to dry and cure in dry climates. The Doc. Cutting edge safety for working at height. Hardwood Floors is honored to recognize 40 industry professionals under the age of 40 who… Drill Size Conversion Chart on DrillsandCutters.com. Nonphotochemically reactive. Torca has been engineering superior joining solutions for the automotive and industrial exhaust market for more than 30 years. How can I remove the stain? What Does ‘Baseline Moisture Content’ Mean? Clear Semi-Gloss Water-Based Varathane 1 Gal. Tung oils have been on the market for more than 100 years; hardwax oils were in use in Europe before being introduced to the U.S. market in the last 10 years. ... Duraseal Waterbased Polyurethane - Semigloss 1gl. "In the bowling alleys, they used to sand the lanes and put down eight coats of lacquer. Wash hands after using. Years on market: Varies widely depending on the product. A “compound” refers to a combination of elements from the periodic table. • Too much wax on the floor attracts dirt and scuffs easily.• Durability does not compare with urethane-type finishes. 6" Double Cut Carbide Burrs; 60 Degree Double Cut Carbide Burrs One- and two-component versions are available. As VOC levels decrease, so does the odor. Regulatory Category(s): Varnish or Wood Coating. Using highly vis­ible LEDs, DANGER: Rags, steel wool, other waste soaked with this product, and sanding residue may spontaneously catch fire if improperly discarded. Available in three gloss levels: satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Clear Semi-Gloss Water-Based Interior Polyurethane Varathane 1 Gal. Available in Satin, Semi-Gloss and Gloss. Fourth-generation wood flooring professional Rob Johnson, now in sales and training for the Bona US sports floor division, is one of many in our industry with a tragic tale about lacquer: His family lost his great-grandfather to an explosion at a bowling alley in the mid-'60s. Application takes practice due to its quick dry time (some contractors find that thinning the shellac down to a 2-pound cut can help avoid lap marks, but thinning the shellac may cause it to exceed its VOC limit). Chemically Resistant – Resists essentially all solvents and caustic agents. What it is: Wood floor wax is made from carnauba wax, which comes from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm tree, native to northeastern Brazil. For skin contact wash thoroughly with soap and water. For many industrial employees, working at height is just another part of the job. • Doesn't give the appearance of having a coating on top of the floor.• Wax floors can be walked on only a few hours after application.• Sheen can be determined by the material chosen to polish the wax coats.• If desired, consumers can maintain the floor themselves. When you hear a news story about a wood flooring job site blowing up while the workers were on the job, most often they were using lacquer finish. NOTE: Application of thicker coats results in extended drying time. Some areas are 550 VOC, 450 VOC and 350 VOC. Since carbon is always one of the elements present, the term “organic” is added. Co-Browse. Traditional waterborne finishes are compliant with VOC laws with a limit of 350 g/L, and manufacturers have created products that meet new regulations in some regions of 275 g/L. STAIN LINE? Proceed from step 3 under New Wood Floors. Ohhhhh dear! Allow each coat to dry at least 8 hours. Abrade thoroughly between each coat using a DuraSeal, Clean floors with an abrasive pad moistened with mineral spirits to remove all grease, oil, dirt, and soap residue. When mixed as a wood floor finish with its alcohol solvent, however, VOC levels are around 730 g/L. When you're buying a stain for your home, the package may indicate the level and type of VOC. Bringing out the best in hardwood floors. Old-school finishes, like wax, are experiencing a renaissance of sorts, old standbys like oil-modified polyurethane are evolving due to environmental regulations, and new varieties of finishes are moving into the market, often from our European counterparts. TIP: Typical wood floor cleaners can damage natural oil finishes. CONTAINS: ALIPHATIC HYDORCARBONS. There are small pockets of contractors in areas such as Toronto, Chicago, Detroit and some parts of the East Coast, however, who use still use lacquer as a sealer coat. VOC levels: OMU products have been among those most affected by the patchwork of VOC laws in effect in the United States, leading to a variety of products on the market at different VOC levels depending on what is required by law, with quarts still available in some markets at higher VOCs. (Products above 140 degrees require no designation.). Robert Higgins, an Ormond Beach, Fla.-based independent consultant, answers: What are VOCs and how do you know if the products you're using are safe? When the Co-Browse window opens, give the session ID that is located in the toolbar to the representative. "Thank God we had fire extinguishers," he adds. Share on Facebook. Polyurethane will have an ambering effect when applied over light colored surfaces. It wasn't always like that. If swallowed, call Poison Control Center, hospital emergency room, or physician immediately. DuraSeal ® Polyurethane 350 VOC is a clear oil-based, durable protective finish specially formulated for hardwood floors.. Compliant Stain and the Wood Finish™ 550 V.O.C. Dura Seal is WORSE than Minwax. Immediately place rags, steel wool, other waste soaked with this product, and sanding residue in a sealed, water-filled, metal container. Hey everyone, I purchased a new BMW on the weekend and they have just called trying to sell me all their wonderful paint protection and interior protection serv Waterborne finish is applied with the usual methods, but once the finish is dry enough to walk on, the machine is run over the floor, bringing the finish to its final cure instantly. Years on market: Developed in the 1940s and came into use for wood floors during the '50s and '60s. Sand the floor to bare wood according to NWFA approved methods. COMPLIANT STAIN WITH THE WOOD FINISH™ 550 V.O.C. In the wood flooring industry it was, and remains, most often used as a sealer coat. A steel wool pad or maroon pad is used to abrade between coats. Quart: Covers 75-100 sqft Price: $30 VOCs are 4.27lbs per gallon Buy now. The lacquer we think of as a wood floor sealer has been used since the first half of the 1900s; back then it was usually a sealer under wax. Particularly popular in areas with stricter VOC regulations. Away from the office, she’s busy enjoying her family, including two beautiful children, a sassy ex-racehorse, an extraordinarily silly black Labrador mutt and her husband, Brent, whom she met at … yes, wood flooring school. Application: Depending on the product and the user, a roller, T-bar or lambswool applicator is used. Johnson says his first job, as a 14-year-old, was emptying those containers all day. What it is: Also known as Swedish finish or acid-cure, conversion varnish is available as a one- or two-component finish. Infrared Heating Tool IR-550-MK3-CE-MINUS-00 CY8483-000 NOTE: Drying time will be increased by high humidity, low temperature, lack of air movement or applying too heavily. The latter is a new category for "a clear or semi-transparent wood coating, labeled as such, excluding lacquers or shellacs, based on a natural occurring conjugated vegetable oil (tung oil) and modified with other natural or synthetic resins; a minimum of 50 percent of the resin solids consisting of conjugated oil.". Description. VOC levels: Conversion varnish has its own category for VOC laws, with a limit of 725 g/L. For easy cleanup, use mineral spirits or paint thinner, following manufacturer's safety instructions. It's a beautiful finish, but simply not worth it, he says: "The danger outweighs the beauty."—K.M.W. DuraSeal® Polyurethane 350 VOC is a clear oil-based, durable protective finish specially formulated for hardwood floors. • Extremely flammable, so all pilot lights and other ignition sources must be turned off during use.• Strong odor—after application the job site must be ventilated with as many air exchanges as appropriate. If you switch to a water based, 2 part (2K) polyurethane, be prepared to change flooring companies/workers. All pets, including fish, must be removed from the home.• Full-face respirators should be used during application. FACT: Whether a finish is considered flammable or combustible depends on its flash point, the lowest temperature at which its vapors ignite in air when exposed to an ignition source. ViewConversion VarnishSuppliersAdvantages: • Extremely durable and chemical-resistant.• Quick-drying, allowing multiple coats to be applied in one day.• Depth of color comparable to an oil-modified poly.• Smaller molecules dive into the wood, protecting wood cells.• Excellent grain clarity, depth and color.• Easy repairs due to the coating's ability to wet back into itself. If repairs are necessary, do them after the coating has dried. water or oil) and same scope of work, chances are the installer is … Do not thin. • Generally aimed at the residential market.• Some people find the odor unpleasant, although some newer VOC-compliant products have less odor than earlier generations.• Newer VOC-compliant formulations have more solids; they can be slower to dry than original formulations, and they can be difficult to apply at the (relatively thin) mil thickness required to get the correct spread rate. Traditional OMU had a VOC level of around 550 g/L, while compliant OMUs have gone down to levels of 450 g/L and 350 g/L. Wood flooring abounds in modern building construction—from apartments to homes to workplaces. Some manufacturers have developed products for those cases with an amber appearance.• Takes practice to apply without applicator marks, particularly in areas with extremely low relative humidity.• Higher cost than solvent-borne coatings.• The aziridine and isocyanate ingredients in some waterborne finishes should be handled with care—gloves should always be used when handling them. VOC levels: At or below typical waterborne VOC levels. ViewUrethane, Moisture-CureSuppliersAdvantages: • Extremely good characteristics for wear- and chemical-resistance, meaning it was often chosen for high-wear situations such as restaurants, dance floors and roller rinks. Traditional OMU had a VOC level of around 550 g/L, while compliant OMUs have gone down to levels of 450 g/L and 350 g/L. 3500 Single-Hung Window. Dura Seal: 550 g/L VOC; 450 g/L VOC. Years on market: Wax has been used as a wood floor finish for hundreds of years, and it was the predominant finish for wood floors until the prevalence of polyurethane-type finishes in the 1950s. DuraSeal 350 VOC Polyurethane – DuraSeal® Polyurethane 350 VOC is a clear oil-based, durable protective finish specially formulated for hardwood floors. Surface Preparation. Application: T-bars are the longtime applicator of choice for waterborne finishes and are still the most popular, but today many waterborne finishes can also be rolled. Tweet on Twitter. The seal has definitely been broken on … Years on market: Introduced to the wood flooring market in about the last five years. $47.98 $ 47. Depending on the VOC's will depend on how the smell is afterwards. VAPOR HARMFUL. Years on market: Developed in Sweden in the early 1950s and introduced to the U.S. market later that decade. What it is: A true urethane finish with strong solvents. of Rudd Company; Todd Schutte, Bona US; Janet Sullivan, Lenmar; and Mike Sundell, Consultant. FACT: In very high-humidity situations, moisture-cure finish can begin to dry as the brush is being pulled out of the finish can. DuraSeal Polyurethane gives wood floors depth and richness while protecting them from dirt and spills. Today it is more commonly used in the furniture finishing industry. • The contractor must take care with the machine to not burn the wood floor by leaving the machine running in one place too long.• The contractor has to remain on the job site to go over the floor with the UV machine once it's dry enough to walk on.• The intensity of the UV light exposure is equivalent to 25 tanning beds, so contractors should wear eye protection, long sleeves, long pants and high-SPF sunscreen when using the UV machine. DuraSeal 550 VOC Polyurethane Wood Floor Finish (semi-gloss sheen) a transparent, tough, oil-based finish formulated to provide excellent durability and remarkable stain resistance. Application: Paste wax is buffed into wood flooring with a rag or burlap sack, while liquid wax is spread with a lambswool applicator. Application: Often applied with a metal trowel. Application: For flooring, a 3-pound cut of liquid dewaxed shellac is typically used. Any pets in the house, including fish in aquariums, must be removed during coating. The resin is scraped off tree branches, heated and filtered, then dried into flat sheets that are broken into flakes. Closing up the home can delay the curing process and prolong the smell in the home. Some are spread with a steel trowel, while others are buffed in. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. The strictest VOC limit (70 percent) is in California; elsewhere in the U.S. the limit is 90 percent. How to make sense of this changing landscape? CAUTIONS: Contents are COMBUSTIBLE. WARNING! If you experience eye watering, headaches, or dizziness, increase fresh air or wear respiratory protection (NIOSH/MSHA TC23C or equivalent) or leave the area. Finish you 're applying, do not apply Polyurethane with a plasticizer similar. Bona US ; Janet Sullivan, Lenmar ; and Mike Sundell,.. Of Wisconsin in journalism and Spanish, lack of air movement or applying heavily. 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Safety Lessons from Real wood flooring contractors, regulatory Category ( s ): lacquer or wood coating product. Floor immediately afterwards or reproductive harm moistened with mineral spirits or paint thinner, following 's... Recorded human history one of MI 's best vinyl windows a catalyst leaves a sensation... The curing process: • an extremely forgiving finish that is slow-drying and easy to apply without applicator..