After they are dry, ventilation is the key. 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. Even if you go for water-based finishes, they contain harmful chemical compounds too. The finish is one of the most important aspects of a beautiful hardwood floor. Share your experience with Glitsa floor finish in the comment box. The Swedish finish is a well established product when it comes to wood floors. The finish is not combustible or highly flammable, but caution should be exercised during its use, as with any chemical, even household paint. Our house is only new-one and a half years. WebSwedish Finish Looks. In the meantime, we have a crawling child that gets these flakes on his hands. I think its a good place to bust those myths for good: Probably the biggest myth so far. Unlike others, Swedish does not require semi-annual waxing and buffering. Not quite as hard as Swedish finish. Learn how your comment data is processed. We are looking into redoing them. For a greener alternative to traditional floor finishes, stick to water-based products, which contain around 50 to 250 grams of VOCs per liter. I would not be in the house while an acid cure is drying. Not only does a quality finish help your hardwood flooring keep its beauty longer, the right finish can accentuate the look youve chosen. Because of its exceptional hardness, a Swedish finish is very durable. 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. Swedish Finish Has Been Banned in California. Could Swedish finish fumes harm our pets? 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. We understand this and developed a process designed to protect you from these "inconveniences". Is that a good idea to buff it and apply a coat or two water based finish? They are terrible to apply and require approved respirators which were not provided when I was an employee. They both died! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. Your email address will not be published. The "oil based" part refers to the solvent, which is smelly, but not as toxic as swedish finish. However, Glitsa floor finish is highly popular in the Pacific Northwest region as well. They were really nasty. I would stay out for a full 24 hours if applying acid 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. What is the appropriate amount of time for us to not be in the home (and our cats) because of toxic swedish finish fumes? Right after the debut in Sweden in the early 1950s and dominating there, Glitsa started operation in the U.S. in 1956. I started getting sick shortly after and myself and 2 children now have a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Designed by Redstone Promotional Communications, Environmentally Friendly Sustainable Flooring, Tile Flooring Boulder, Fort Collins Colorado. So if youre having a Swedish finish installed in a home where youre already living, youll want to clear out during the installation. This means that while the floor may not be sticky to the touch (dry), the finish continues to off-gas, emitting toxic chemicals into the air while curing. You dont want to be in the house when Swedish finishes are drying. You dont want to be in the house when Swedish finishes are drying. And when it comes to cleaning, a light mopping is all thats required to maintain the warmth and shine. Its not so bad that the Swedish finish smell is burning ours eyes or throat. The alternative of polyurethane surface finish is Swedish finish which is very much popular in the Pacific Northwest. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. On top of it, since touch ups are supposed to be done, without you leaving the house, the issue of odor and toxicity is also an important one to keep in mind. That is not safe. The smell hung around for 5 days very intensely after the first treatment on 1/15. 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. I have a lot of opinion about finishes. I assume the previous owners put polyurethane over wax. Scrubba Wash Bag Alternative That You Can Consider! 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. Would they harm the floor? How were all these floors removed? If that proves to be the case it would tell me that, yes it continues to emit formaldehyde even when dry. The U.S. Green Building Council ranks varnish and lacquer as the worst offenders in terms of VOC off-gassing. O'Hare, Even those that are ok with the fact that is considered to be a very toxic product have a hard time dealing with the fumes left behind by this floor finish. Home | Types of Flooring | Flooring Tips | Gallery | FAQ Both will use 'swedish finish'. If getting it over with is your priority the Swedish floor finishes are definitely the option to go for. One piece of advice though: do not ever apply three coats of finish in the same day. Acid cure floors, also known as a Swedish finish, is a highly dangerous and toxic method of sealing hardwood floors. The "oil based" part refers to the solvent, which is smelly, but not as toxic as swedish finish. On top of it, the Swedish floor finish it normally dries very fast, which means it requires a fast application. Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Its been almost two months since it was finished, but it still smells if we close the windows. For anyone with cats, etc., see our post 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)? I had an email from a woman who lives in Indiana last week. Thanks! E-floor epoxy finish. Unlike others, Swedish does not require semi-annual waxing and buffering. The main drawback of a water based finish is that it can and often will raise the grain of wood, thereby causing the flooring to be a little rougher. 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. As an Amazon Associate, I Earn From Qualifying Purchases. Niles, I will say this about them. Here is why its getting incredible popularity: Always sticking to the classic Swedish principles is the motto of Glitsa. Because of the chemical hazards and delicacy of the job, a Swedish finish needs to be applied by professionals with skill and experience. It also does have a slightly shorter life and a paler more natural wood color. And is there a finish I can apply over the Swedish finish in order to seal in the gassing off? Swedish finishes are two parts products that require mixing the proper quantities prior to starting the job. Californias ban is against any chemical that increases the VOC level to have clearer air in the CA. Acid-cured (Swedish) Floor Finish link to Why Is Article Furniture So Expensive And Is It Worth It? They're shiny with a yellow tint. LEARN MORE, When there is damage to hardwood floors it is not always necessary to replace or refinish the entire floor. WebAnd yes there is the Swedish acid cured finishes, and the Moisture Cured Poly. Lake Zurich, So, prior to using a Swedish floor finish in your house make sure you understand its level of toxicity very well. WebSwedish finish is a two-coat procedure. Cost: $2 to $4 per square foot professionally applied. I now see some peeling going on. Glitsa is an oil-modified polyurethane finish. Wheeling, 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. 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. What could be causing this and how do we fix it? Water-based polyurethane. WebAnd yes there is the Swedish acid cured finishes, and the Moisture Cured Poly. Odor and Toxicity. In the meantime, we have a crawling child that gets these flakes on his hands, Q: I have a Swedishfinished hardwood floor. Maintenance of Swedish can be as little as damp mopping. Im also happy to apply sweat equity and do something that wont last as long but will still look good. While not impossible to apply on top of hardwood flooring stains, it is challenging to the inexperienced contractor. Odor and Toxicity. Painting a room can become toxic if you do not allow proper ventilation. Swedish 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. After only one and a half months the floors are starting to peel. I don't know much about this, but it's a specialized application. It is a great finish but - as you know - has lots of fumes. Emily Beach works in the commercial construction industry in Maryland. Even some building supplies like plywood may use adhesives that off-gas formaldehyde forever. Q: We are about to have a hardwood (oak) floor laid, and also (at the same time) another room resurfaced and refinished. Park Ridge, The researchers tested air samples during application, in the hours after, and as long as seven days later. And, if the project will take longer to complete you will, most likely, end up paying for labor what you save on materials or even more. You dont want to be in the house when Swedish finishes are drying. A: Swedish finish? There are a growing number of waterborne (water based) finishes available on the market including some like Glitsa Max, Bona Traffic, or Basic Coatings Streetshoe. A: How do you know exposure to this finish is the cause of your illness? 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. 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. Lincolnshire, There have to be some really good reasons to get recommendations from those professionals, right? This week they put on the second coat of toxic Swedish finish, and we are staying elsewhere for the first 3 days at great inconvenience. The primary disadvantage of the Swedish finish is the powerful and unpleasant odor. Water-based finishes are good choices from this point of view as well as the Monocoat floor finish. I would be very interested to know what would happen if somebody entered the house with an instrument that could measure what was in the air. She received a bachelor's degree in economics and management from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. These have been widely used for over a decade. I havent used an acid cure finish for years. I did hear an unverified story back in the 1980s that an acid cure finish was applied on the main floor of a house. Some lower-VOC, water-based products largely finish off-gassing within a few days. It may also be an issue getting a different technology finish such as water borne to bond to it. Most companies have product data sheets that can be downloaded indicating what hazardous chemicals may be used. You want to deal with this problem for as short of a period as possible. The finish on my floors is peeling. 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. These last two are out as far as I am concerned because of their great toxicity. Its both stain-resistant and durable. WebBesides its superb quality, it is also the only finish that requires very little maintenance. To me, this is the less dangerous to a home owner. To clean your Swedish finish hardwood, mix 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar in a gallon of warm water. Let me explain. 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. As much as we try to give you an insight on all the in and outs of the flooring businees, as much as we try to help you make the right choice there are always going to be these details that belong to your house and your house only. 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 Apart from that, their finish creates a perfect seal to protect the wood beneath as well. What is the difference between our two choices "Swedish finish" and water-soluble? As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. 3. Its somewhat true but the ban is not specific to Glitsa floor finish. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Why We Chose Glitsa Hardwood Finish | City Floor Supply (https://youtu.be/QqyureZqtfQ), Is Rymar Extreme Weather Wood Sealer Worth It. Tough finish, but nasty. WebBesides its superb quality, it is also the only finish that requires very little maintenance. Consider this "money in the bank" for any issues that may come up after the project is finished. The only fall back is that Swedish finish permits toxic fume during the coating process. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The only fall back is that Swedish finish permits toxic fume during the coating process. They're shiny with a yellow tint. This finish is usually done off-gasing within 3 days, and after 7 days, no noticeable off-gasing is detectable. It is also known as acid cured! Understanding how long VOCs linger in your home after refinishing may help you decide what floor finishes and refinishing techniques are best for your family. WebBesides its superb quality, it is also the only finish that requires very little maintenance. Please click here to browse through them. Many homeowners choose the Swedish finishes specifically for this. I would also appreciate studies about this product regarding safety. Could the fumes harm him? Moisture-cured urethane is a great option for homes with high traffic areas, many kids, and pets. Kenilworth, 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. I dont use these finishes because of safety concerns, and would recommend nobody stay in the house until the smell has dissipated. On the down side, this finish has a high odor, is high in toxic VOCs, which means everyone must be out of the house. A: Each coat would dry overnight. Many homeowners choose the Swedish finishes specifically for this. Once again, we have been using Swedish Finish for over 20 years and have never started a fire or blown up a house with it. UV-cured water-based polyurethane. I invested in dust control. Glitsa Swedish Finish is for professional use only because it needs to Some VOCs in hardwood floor refinishing products include benzene, formaldehyde, toulen, xylene and arsenic. How long will the toxicity continue for Swedishfinished floors using Berger Seidle? Swedish is definitely the most durable and long-lasting option for finishing hardwood floors. The good news is that you wont have to be gone long. VOCs reduce air quality within your home and pose both short- and long-term health effects. For DIY, water-based poly is really the only option. If your landlord did this coating himself, I would advise him to leave this work to professionals. For more helpful flooring advice as well as a free estimate on your upcoming project, please contact us. This means that while the floor may not be sticky to the touch (dry), the finish continues to off-gas, emitting toxic chemicals into the air while curing. 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