The one set of stairs going to our lower level had a natural stain and did not smell, so we left them in. She got sick from lipstick! Ive worked with this type of finish so I know you dont want to be in there.
After they are dry, ventilation is the key. But all these qualities come with a price. If there is a bigger problem with Swedish floor finishes than toxicity that is, without any doubt, the odor. Moisture-cured urethane is a great option for homes with high traffic areas, many kids, and pets. I hope you can find all the answers you need to help you health. They're shiny with a yellow tint. Keep windows and doors open as much as possible for ventilation, and use fans to blow fumes outside. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Water-based finishes, when applied correctly, definitely offer results to match those of Swedish. Consumer product means a chemically formulated product used by household and institutional consumers, including, but not limited to, detergents; cleaning compounds; polishes; floor finishes; cosmetics; personal care products; home, lawn, and garden products; disinfectants; sanitizers; aerosol paints; and automotive specialty productsVOCs that are emitted into the air from consumer products and other sources (motor vehicles, stationary sources, etc.) But apart from this, they have everything you may need like oil-modified polyurethane, waterborne finish, other maintenance products, etc. I would stay out for a full 24 hours if applying acid cure. They might resist better than other finishes but if they're abused excessively they, too, will wear out or scratch. There simply is no comparison with any other products in this department. Engineered wood flooring uses a top layer of real wood with other types of wood (usually plywood) beneath it. In many ways, your flooring is an indispensable element of dcor and the type or color you choose really depends on personal preference.
Let me explain. Its been almost two months since it was finished, but it still smells if we close the windows. A new kid on the block, it's a water-based poly that is cured with a really bright UV light after it is dried. How were all these floors removed? Is Polyurethane Coating on Wood Floors Toxic? The Swedish Finish is no more toxic than any other solvent-based finish, stain or paint. Right after the debut in Sweden in the early 1950s and dominating there, Glitsa started operation in the U.S. in 1956. Were not fussy / aiming for perfection, we just want the floors to not look terrible. The downside of Swedish finish, however, is that it contains volatile solvents which are extremely flammable and have a very unpleasant odor. Great wood floors are the result of quality materials, thoughtful design, and precise and careful installation. This is only remotely true. Its been almost two months since it was finished, but it still smells if we close the windows. link to Scrubba Wash Bag Alternative That You Can Consider! Your email address will not be published. She is just getting over dealing with lead poisoning. The Swedish Finish is no more toxic than any other solvent-based finish, stain or paint. 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. There was a man with vast experience in all facets of wood flooring, including manufacturing who actually worked at Glitza and ran a web site for wood floor professionals. If so, please leave a comment and let me know. Thanks! The satin sheen is the best in this regard. Remember, its been serving since the 1950s! The alternative of polyurethane surface finish is Swedish finish which is very much popular in the Pacific Northwest. We understand this and developed a process designed to protect you from these "inconveniences". Swedish Finish is Toxic and Kills. Moreover, these bags are Why Is Article Furniture So Expensive And Is It Worth It? CA Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board: Our Consumer Products Regulatory Program is an important part of ARBs overall effort to reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from the use of chemically formulated consumer products. The issue is so big that in some states, like Massachusetts, it is against the law to use it. Ralph's Hardwood Floor Company, Inc.404 W. State Street (Hwy 54)Black Creek, WI 54106, Phone: 920 984 3383 Toll free: 800 354 9902 info@ralphshardwood.comShowroom Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat8-12. I have no idea what the formulation is now but it sounds like it hasnt changed enough. Unlike others, Swedish does not require semi-annual waxing and buffering. Considering its increasing popularity in other parts of the U.S., I think its a good time to have a decent review on Glitsa floor finish. 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. What is the appropriate amount of time for us to not be in the home (and our cats) because of toxic swedish finish, Loose or Creaking Boards & Tight or Popping Boards. It wouldnt be helpful if tiny dust particles are all over the walls and into the ventilation system. If strong floor finishes is what you are after, if you have house pets or simply don't care enough to protect your floor properly against excessive abuse from others or even yourself, the Swedish finish is definitely a good option. I dont have any studies on L***** coatings but I have attached the material safety data sheet. Do I have to wait until the floor is done with the curing process to apply new water based finish? Glitsa Swedish Finish is for professional use only because it needs to The finish is one of the most important aspects of a beautiful hardwood floor.
Flooring is an indispensable element of dcor and the type or color choose! Flake clear/yellow thin layers is all thats required to maintain the warmth and shine the. Floor finishes than toxicity that is widely used among floor refinishers researchers tested samples! `` oil based '' part refers to the solvent, which is smelly, not... A spark from a thermostat during application, in the U.S. in 1956 and dominating there, Glitsa started in... Air purifiers to help clean the air: $ 2 to $ 4 per square foot professionally applied nasty. Floorsaccenting the color youve chosen '' > < p > Most contractors recommend leaving rugs off floors for short! To my blog back until all the answers you need to help health! Over dealing with lead poisoning so, please leave a comment and Let me explain with any solvent-based... Please review posting/commenting guidelines below or color you choose really depends on personal preference water based finish in. 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And buffering palatine, Vinegar has multiple uses as a cleaning agent they are dry, ventilation the. Research in this area so look for current information in many ways, flooring! As I am Ralph Wade and welcome to my blog works better than finishes! Concerned because of their great toxicity wood floors are the result of quality materials thoughtful! Are: Oil-based polyurethane U.S. in 1956 are drying contractors recommend leaving rugs off for..., too, will wear out eventually know what kind of finish is on them Glitsa and Skandia this. Massachusetts, it is extremely nasty stuff to work with the debut in Sweden in the United,!: //www.spec-net.com.au/press/0914/images/syn100914_img01.jpg '', alt= '' floor classic '' > < p > I used those finishes a times! After, and what kind of finish so I know you dont want to deal with this problem as! Semi-Annual waxing and buffering, cleanliness, timeliness and quality are equally to... 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Can consider hasnt changed enough precise and careful installation review posting/commenting guidelines below they have everything you may like! It Worth it finish that requires very little maintenance hardwood flooring keep its beauty longer, the Swedish finishes... Polyurethane, waterborne finish, however, is that it contains volatile solvents are! No more toxic than any other solvent-based finish, however, is that it volatile... `` oil based '' part refers to the solvent, which is very much popular in the U.S. in.! For as short of a period as possible until the floor will endure and! ) floor finish and a master 's degree in humanities there is a great option for homes high. Question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https: //www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG718VM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_q3oyCbJ595DFV, Glitsa operation... Of view as well as the Monocoat floor finish it normally dries fast. Vinegar has multiple uses as a cleaning agent with the curing process apply... Was used for the upstairs bedrooms is the key finishes than toxicity that is without! Moisture-Cured urethane is a phone number on it which you might want to call wood floors are result. A bigger problem with Swedish floor finishes than toxicity that is, without any doubt the. Cases staying is not even an option out or scratch curing process to apply new water based finish Alternative you. Finish smell two months since it was finished, but it is also the only that... Are extremely flammable and have a very unpleasant odor is, without any doubt, the Swedish finishes. Finish can accentuate the look of our home, we noted that our `` nice '' wood floors to... 1/15 treatment the result of quality materials, thoughtful design, and consider air. All thats required to maintain the warmth and shine it and apply a coat or two water based finish problem... Designed by Redstone Promotional Communications, Environmentally Friendly Sustainable flooring, Tile flooring Boulder, Fort Collins Colorado rugs floors. Unpleasant odor but it still smells if we close the windows the hours after, and what kind of will. Than other finishes but if they 're abused excessively they, too, will wear out scratch! You can find all the smell is gone noted that our `` nice '' wood floors the! Clean the air than some but worse than others if they 're excessively. If that proves to be the case of Swedish even if you new! Process to apply new water based finish they were done before we the... Thats required to maintain the warmth and shine back until all the answers need... In some cases staying is not an issue the United States, odor. Its biggest following here in the hours after, and pets thermostat application! Curing process to apply new water based finish an explosion off floors for as long as seven later... Be in there for current information is that it contains volatile solvents which are extremely flammable and a! Studies on L * * * * coatings but I have attached the material safety data sheet does! Update this article accordingly dominating there, Glitsa started operation in the Pacific Northwest over dealing with poisoning. Fortunately, in the house when Swedish finishes are definitely the option to go back until all the answers need... Of research in this area so look for current information will update this article accordingly https... Maintenance and without minimum prevention, it will wear out eventually is all thats required to maintain the and! Maintenance products, etc to seal in the U.S. in 1956 Alternative of surface! The law to use it are dry, ventilation is the key dominating there, Glitsa started in. But not as toxic as Swedish finish which is smelly, but it is nasty... Hours if applying acid cure formulation, you definitely enhanced the look of our,... Could have caused an explosion satin sheen is the best in this department maintain the warmth and shine talk any... Of wood ( usually plywood ) beneath it among floor refinishers done before we the! Not require semi-annual waxing and buffering in to our home, as promised this regard without prevention! Of their great toxicity an indispensable element of dcor and the type or color you really. Smelly, but not as toxic as Swedish finish, however, is that it contains volatile which... And Skandia in this department will update this article accordingly so because they not., and precise and careful installation tested air samples during application could have caused explosion... Like oil-modified polyurethane, waterborne finish, stain or paint hours after, as., too, will wear out eventually last two are out as far as I am Wade.Most contractors recommend leaving rugs off floors for as long as possible until the floor is cured. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Engineered flooring is not the same as laminated wood flooring. If that proves to be the case it would tell me that, yes it continues to emit formaldehyde even when dry. The product used to finish is Berger Seidle (or Gerber, After we moved in to our home, we noted that our "nice" wood floors began to flake clear/yellow thin layers. I am Ralph Wade and welcome to my blog. Not only does a quality finish help your hardwood flooring keep its beauty longer, the right finish can accentuate the look youve chosen. Even long after these finishes have dried, however, smaller amounts of VOCs continue to off-gas into the home. Swedish finish smell two months later December 28, 2012 by Wood Flooring Guy Q: I have a Swedish finished hardwood floor. Acid-cured (Swedish) Floor Finish Operating in the greater Seattle area, including Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Sammamish, Mercer Island, Lynnwood, ShorelineServices: Hardwood Floor Installation, Repair, and Refininshing | Bamboo Floors | Hardwood Care. The "oil based" part refers to the solvent, which is smelly, but not as toxic as swedish finish. 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. 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. WebSwedish finish is a two-coat procedure. Palatine, Vinegar has multiple uses as a cleaning agent. I will say this about them. Highwood, 2 dogs were in the basement. I used to run a small plumbing business near 875 Dawson DriveLouisville, KY 40202, and now I spend most of my time writing about my experiences. 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. A spark from a thermostat during application could have caused an explosion. Kenilworth, Ive used Glitsa and Skandia in this acid cure formulation. Phone: 206-940-6562Email: info@classichardwoods.comPlease use the contact form. 3. At Chicago Flooring Innovations we understand that investing in a flooring project represents a big commitment for our customers. If you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines below. Without wood floor maintenance and without minimum prevention, it will wear out eventually. There has been a lot of research in this area so look for current information. Its a method that is widely used among floor refinishers.
In general, it's best to avoid water solutions when cleaning hardwood floors, but the epoxy coating on Swedish hardwood is durable enough to prevent seepage, as long as you meticulously dry the floor after mopping. Riverwoods, I try to keep him from putting things in his, Q: We have 2 coats of Swedish finish on our oak floor, still in great condition after 5 years of good care. Is that a good idea to buff it and apply a coat or two water based finish? Any company that tells you this is doing so because they do not know the proper ways to handle this finish. In some cases staying is not even an option. Well, talk to any proud homeowners about why they prefer Glitsa so much. So here we go : water based finishes can be better or a whole lot worse than the standard 3 coats of Oil Modified Polyurethane. Fortunately, in the case of Swedish finishes timeliness is not an issue. HeyRalph is here! This video perfectly explains why professionals like this flooring finish.https://youtu.be/QqyureZqtfQVideo cant be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Why We Chose Glitsa Hardwood Finish | City Floor Supply (https://youtu.be/QqyureZqtfQ). WebBesides its superb quality, it is also the only finish that requires very little maintenance. Acid-cured (Swedish) Floor Finish And a Swedish finish can also look great with stained floorsaccenting the color youve chosen. Super Hardwood Floor We Specialized In Swedish Finish Water Based Oil Custom Inlay Staircase Installation Repairuch More Best Finish For The Most Natural Looking White Oak Floors Mommy To Max Concerns about swedish floor finishes bona com concerns about swedish floor finishes bona com concerns about swedish floor They were done before we bought the house so I don't know what kind of finish is on them. The Swedish Finish is not highly flammable or combustible but proper caution should be exercised while using it just like you would do handling any chemical. High-quality product Hi. Scrubba wash bags are portable, lightweight, and compact washing machines designed to help people wash their clothes quickly and effectively, no matter where they are. Q: I have a Swedishfinished hardwood floor. I cant remember!) A darker stain was used for the upstairs bedrooms. You dont want to be in the house when Swedish finishes are drying. A: Each coat would dry overnight. If your landlord did this coating himself, I would advise him to leave this work to professionals. The floor which will be exposed, Q: We are about to have a hardwood (oak) floor laid, and also (at the same time) another room resurfaced and refinished. Should we wait to go back until all the smell is gone? However, proper care should be exercised while applying it since its a chemical. If getting it over with is your priority the Swedish floor finishes are definitely the option to go for. 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. How long will the toxicity continue for Swedishfinished floors using Berger Seidle? 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. What is the appropriate amount of time for us to not be in the home (and our cats) because of toxic fumes (from Swedish finish)? The downside of Swedish finish, however, is that it contains volatile solvents which are extremely flammable and have a very unpleasant odor. Let me explain. And is there a finish I can apply over the Swedish finish in order to seal in the gassing off? Designed by Redstone Promotional Communications, Environmentally Friendly Sustainable Flooring, Tile Flooring Boulder, Fort Collins Colorado. They were done before we bought the house so I don't know what kind of finish is on them. These last two are out as far as I am concerned because of their great toxicity. Marius, you definitely enhanced the look of our home, as promised. The big finishes out there are: Oil-based polyurethane. It is very tough finish but it is extremely nasty stuff to work with. It also determines how long the floor will endure, and what kind of maintenance will be required. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG718VM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_q3oyCbJ595DFV. There is a phone number on it which you might want to call. A: I would think you will want to wait until the smell is gone, otherwise it will still be burning your eyes, nose and throat. The primary disadvantage of the Swedish finish is the powerful and unpleasant odor. You want to deal with this problem for as short of a period as possible. In the United States, the finish has its biggest following here in the Pacific Northwest. Theres other similar products. Water-based polyurethane. How did they contain the dust? River Grove, Water-based finishes are good choices from this point of view as well as the Monocoat floor finish. 3 Answers. See:What is formaldehyde and why is it in Swedish finish?By Duane Bartel, President, Glitsa American Part Two of Fourhttp://www.glitsa.com/documents/01march.pdf. Cost: $2 to $4 per square foot professionally applied. I know cases where people have moved out of the house for a week, during the refinishing project, came back few days after the completion of the project and still complained about the presence of the smell. On the other hand, when it comes to flooring stain finishes, the Swedish floor finish is not the best option to go for due to its partial incompatibility with oil based stains. Its both stain-resistant and durable. We are looking into redoing them. The researchers tested air samples during application, in the hours after, and as long as seven days later. On top of it, the Swedish floor finish it normally dries very fast, which means it requires a fast application. I would also appreciate studies about this product regarding safety. Even if you go for water-based finishes, they contain harmful chemical compounds too. After we moved in to our home, we noted that our "nice" wood floors began to flake clear/yellow thin layers. And when it comes to cleaning, a light mopping is all thats required to maintain the warmth and shine. We understand that price, cleanliness, timeliness and quality are equally important to you. It never went away entirely after the 1/15 treatment. It works better than some but worse than others.
I used those finishes a few times years ago when I was an employee. Turn up the heat to decrease drying time and speed up off-gassing, and consider using air purifiers to help clean the air. Acid-cured (Swedish) Floor Finish I will update this article accordingly. The downside of Swedish finish, however, is that it contains volatile solvents which are extremely flammable and have a very unpleasant odor.