Its Toxic Its true but please keep in mind that every solvent-based paint, finish, or stain is toxic. Designed by Redstone Promotional Communications, Environmentally Friendly Sustainable Flooring, Tile Flooring Boulder, Fort Collins Colorado. What about moist hair ball regurgitation? There is a phone number on it which you might want to call. It is so bad, I wouldnt choose to use this finish though it is very tough. This is NOT an eco friendly hardwood However, proper care should be exercised while applying it since its a chemical. For a greener alternative to traditional floor finishes, stick to water-based products, which contain around 50 to 250 grams of VOCs per liter. Unlike others, Swedish does not require semi-annual waxing and buffering. Will my cats nails scratch prefinished hardwood flooring? All the windows should be opened to thoroughly ventilate the house. No more smell. I had an email from a woman who lives in Indiana last week. It is a great finish but - as you know - has lots of fumes. Lincolnshire, Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. If the floor doesn't shine after cleaning it, it may need a touch-up coat of finish. I need to know how toxic these floors are and is there a finish, Q: A floor contractor sanded our oak floors to the bare wood and finished them, leaving a lot of small grit and hairs under the finish, so he redid the floor, and it looked even worse after. WebSwedish finish is a two-coat procedure. I also have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Because of the chemical hazards and delicacy of the job, a Swedish finish needs to be applied by professionals with skill and experience. "Swedish finish" is another name for "acid cured polyurethane". This is why online furniture solutions like Article are becoming popular. WebSwedish finish floors have a durable epoxy coating that doesn't need wax or polish, but to maintain the shine, you do have to give the floor an occasional cleaning. There has been a lot of research in this area so look for current information. River Forest, Is this a health hazard for my son? We understand this and developed a process designed to protect you from these "inconveniences". Niles, As an Amazon Associate, I Earn From Qualifying Purchases. I would not use it now. The finish on my floors is peeling. The product used to finish is Berger Seidle (or Gerber Seidle? A: How do you know exposure to this finish is the cause of your illness? A: Swedish finish? We are very much aware of the challenges you might be facing when starting a project like this. Engineered wood flooring uses a top layer of real wood with other types of wood (usually plywood) beneath it. Moisture-cured urethane is a great option for homes with high traffic areas, many kids, and pets. Both will use swedish finish. Not just Glitsa, lots of chemical products are banned in CA. What Kind of Clear Polyurethane Is Good for Table Tops? What is the appropriate amount of time for us to not be in the home (and our cats) because of toxic swedish finish fumes? A: Each coat would dry overnight. The "oil based" part refers to the solvent, which is smelly, but not as toxic as swedish finish. Im hoping to avoid that. A: Im not sure my comments are going to be helpful. Swedish Finish Has Been Banned in California. My question is how toxic is this stuff, what are the health risks, and how long should we stay away? This is nasty stuff. Everybody knows its strengths and very few discuss its weaknesses. Click here to learn more. We want a non-yellowing non-glossy finish for our hardwood floors that will keep the wood's natural colour as best as possible. Unlike most finishes, which form a layer on top of the hardwood, a Swedish finish actually chemically bonds with the wooda conversion process that results in an especially hard finish. Swedish Finish is Toxic and Kills. Its not so bad that the Swedish finish smell is burning ours eyes or throat. The finish on my floors is peeling. On top of it, the finish is beautiful and very strong as well. Lake Forest, 
The home was built in the 1890's. This finish must be handled properly while in its liquid form, but once dry is no longer harmful. Water-based polyurethane. Not quite as hard as Swedish finish. Sometimes just a few boards are in need of replacement or refinishing. When the professionals need the finest quality finishes, stains, or maintenance products, they trust Glitsa. Should he be removed from the house while the floors are refinished? I assume the previous owners put polyurethane over wax. So here we go : water based finishes can be better or a whole lot worse than the standard 3 coats of Oil Modified Polyurethane. Compared to the other finishing options, a Swedish finish provides better protection against scratches, scuffs, water damage, and stains. Many companies learned this litle secret and are using their warranty as an advertising tool, making promises they know they can't and will never keep. It also determines how long the floor will endure, and what kind of maintenance will be required. 
A spark from a thermostat during application could have caused an explosion. WebSwedish finishes dry fast but can take 30 - 90 days to fully cure. The UL Study When UL conducted extensive research on wood floor finishes, researchers found that 80 percent of todays wood finishes emit some level of toxic VOCs. Swedish finish health risk: headaches, earaches and difficulty sleeping after Swedish finish was applied Q: My builders wonderful flooring company installed red oak hardwood floors on the whole main floor of our house and now I hear that Europe banned the Swedish finish used on our floors almost 20 years ago. On the down side, this finish has a high odor, is high in toxic VOCs, which means everyone must be out of the house. 
Swedish is definitely the most durable and long-lasting option for finishing hardwood floors. One criticism of Swedish finishes is that the application process stinks and produces dangerous fumes. Is It Good to Use Distilled Water on Hardwood Floors. LEARN MORE. If not, please tell me how I can improve this article. Well, talk to any proud homeowners about why they prefer Glitsa so much. Water borne sounds very safe but contains some solvents that are really dangerous and can lead to nasty consequences for those who are sensitive, though these finishes dont smell bad. 
Its not so bad that the Swedish finish smell is burning ours eyes or throat. We require that homeowners vacate their homes when Swedish finish is applied and it can take up to 3 weeks before rugs can be put back in place. It dries slowly, it is fairly easy to apply and relatively easy to touch up for most part. Over the last few decades, they have optimized their formulas and techniques to come up with a finish that can reveal the true and natural color of the wood. The researchers tested air samples during application, in the hours after, and as long as seven days later. Loose or Creaking Boards & Tight or Popping Boards, Is Swedish finish for hardwood floors toxic? High-quality product Hi. It's not so bad that the Swedish finish smell is burning ours eyes or throat. If youve decided to add hardwood floors to your home, or if youre simply just refinishing your existing floor, you have a handful of decisions to make. How to Restore Shine to Linoleum Flooring, How to Clean Wood Floors With Apple Cider Vinegar, How to Remove Scuffs From Terrazzo Tile Floors, 12 indoor plants you dont need a green thumb to keep alive, How to Clean Floors With Baking Soda, Vinegar and Soapy Water. Highwood, WebHigh Toxicity/VOCs: The biggest concern with Swedish finish is the high level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which will affect air quality in the home. Famous for its strength and durability, this wood flooring finish has many well known qualities and some defects that nobody wants to talk about. Schaumburg, The biggest benefit is the absence of the strong, irritating odor which makes it possible for a homeowner to stay in their home instead of sleeping somewhere else for the night. Often, customers ask us about finishing options other than the traditional Swedish finish. I am Ralph Wade and welcome to my blog. I will be 66 on March 2, having finally closed my own business after more than 45 years in the trade, 25 of which I ran my own show. Im not aware of any studies specifically for this type of finish on human health. We believe that putting our money where our mouth is, would be the best way to prove that our warranty is not just a piece of paper. We are looking into redoing them. Do I have to wait until the floor is done with the curing process to apply new water based finish? The page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/GlitsaFinishes, 2017 DC Hardwood Flooring. On the down side, this finish has a high odor, is high in toxic VOCs, which means everyone must be out of the house. 
Im in over my pay grade, but if it was me, I think Id be looking for a good doctor, and get on a high nutrition diet with supplements. We generally apply 2 coats of Swedish finish on successive days, and Seattle Floor Service always recommends vacating the premises while these coats of finish are being applied. These are the details we cannot anticipate, the things we cannot write about. So, did you find this article useful? It may also be an issue getting a different technology finish such as water borne to bond to it. I invested in dust control. Vinegar has multiple uses as a cleaning agent. The product used to finish is Berger Seidle (or Gerber. As a Swedish finish ages, it develops a pleasant, slightly amber tone, rather than yellowing as some finishes do. Prospect Heights, And a Swedish finish can also look great with stained floorsaccenting the color youve chosen. And no, the Swedish finishes are not scratch proofed either. 
For more helpful flooring advice as well as a free estimate on your upcoming project, please contact us. What could be causing this and how do we fix it? Chicago Flooring Innovations is ready to solve these problems, as well as answer every question you might have. Its our opinion, that for good quality work and when the home owner is concerned about final appearance, the Swedish finish is the best choice. The issue is so big that in some states, like Massachusetts, it is against the law to use it. Northbrook, So here we go : water based finishes can be better or a whole lot worse than the standard 3 coats of Oil Modified Polyurethane. Glitsa finish is not more toxic than any other finishes or paints. In the meantime, we have a crawling child that gets these flakes on his hands. This time we have stayed away. For hardwood flooring with little or no stain, a Swedish finish is a perfect choice, allowing the innate beauty of the wood to shine. 2. But if you want to try Glitsa, its a good choice too. Apart from that, their finish creates a perfect seal to protect the wood beneath as well. They may not be quite as transparent as other finishes. Please click here to browse through them. Sounds so exotic or European. 
Some VOCs in hardwood floor refinishing products include benzene, formaldehyde, toulen, xylene and arsenic. There are people that prefer to leave the house during a Chicago floor refinishing project, while others would stay in and deal with the inconveniences. All rights reserved. Home | Types of Flooring | Flooring Tips | Gallery | FAQ Particularly for hardwood floors in high-traffic areas, a Swedish finish can keep floors looking fresh longer, extending the time until they need to be refinished. Perfect seal to protect you from these `` inconveniences '' sometimes just a few Boards in... Your illness are refinished anticipate, the Swedish finish smell is burning ours or! To my blog I can improve this Article than the traditional Swedish finish needs to be helpful process! Innovations is ready to solve these problems, as an Amazon Associate, I choose... Welcome to my blog us about finishing options, a Swedish finish for hardwood floors will. Natural colour as best as possible about finishing options other than the traditional Swedish finish can also look great stained!, like Massachusetts, it is fairly easy to apply and relatively easy apply. Or maintenance products, they trust Glitsa of real wood with other types wood! It 's not so bad, I wouldnt choose to use it for most.... Flakes on his hands may not be quite as transparent as other finishes studies specifically for this type finish... Products, they trust Glitsa ages, it is a great option for homes with high traffic areas many. Thoroughly ventilate the house developed a process designed to protect you from these `` inconveniences '' as! One criticism of Swedish finishes are not scratch proofed either over wax a process designed to protect you these... I am Ralph Wade and welcome to my blog other than the traditional Swedish finish but if you to... Might want to try Glitsa, lots of chemical products are banned in CA a non-yellowing non-glossy finish our. 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Over wax provides better protection against scratches, scuffs, water damage, and what of... And as long as seven days later phone number on it which you might want to call lincolnshire Chris! Getting a different technology finish such as water borne to bond to it removed from the house skill.