"Turns out the sealant they used was loaded with VOCs."
Yeah, that's the tricky part—people often overlook sealants and finishes, assuming the flooring itself is the main culprit. I've seen clients surprised by similar issues with reclaimed wood floors too. They think they're making a sustainable choice, but then use a conventional polyurethane finish that off-gasses heavily. Makes me wonder, has anyone here tried natural oil-based finishes like linseed or tung oil? Curious how those stack up in terms of VOC levels and overall durability...
I've actually experimented with tung oil on a recent project. VOC-wise, it's definitely lower than typical poly finishes, but don't be fooled into thinking it's completely odor-free—there's still a noticeable smell during application. Durability-wise...well, let's just say it depends on the traffic and use. It held up great in bedrooms and office spaces, but high-traffic areas like kitchens needed touch-ups sooner than expected. Still, worth considering if you're aiming for fewer chemicals floating around indoors.
Totally agree with your points on tung oil—it's definitely not odorless, but still way better than most poly finishes I've tried. A couple extra things I've noticed from my own experience:
- Application matters a lot. Thin coats applied patiently seem to dry faster and smell less intense. Learned that the hard way when I rushed a coat before guests arrived...the smell lingered way longer than I expected.
- Sunlight exposure can affect durability too. I used tung oil on a coffee table near a sunny window, and it faded noticeably quicker than the same finish in a shaded room.
- One upside: touch-ups are pretty straightforward. Unlike poly, you don't have to sand down the entire surface to fix minor wear spots. Just a quick clean and reapply, and it blends in nicely.
Overall, it's a solid choice if you're prioritizing indoor air quality and ease of maintenance. Just keep expectations realistic for those high-traffic areas.
Good points about sunlight—I hadn't really thought about that aspect before. Makes sense though, since natural oils probably aren't as UV-resistant as synthetic finishes. I've been considering tung oil for some interior woodwork in a new build, mainly because of the lower VOCs and easier maintenance you mentioned. But now I'm wondering if it might fade too quickly in rooms with large windows or skylights.
Have you (or anyone else here) tried adding UV blockers or pigments to tung oil to improve durability? Curious if that would help without compromising the air quality benefits. Either way, appreciate the heads-up on application technique—definitely don't want lingering smells when clients walk through...
"Have you (or anyone else here) tried adding UV blockers or pigments to tung oil to improve durability?"
I've wondered about that too, actually. A while back, I experimented with adding a bit of pigment to tung oil for a built-in bookshelf near a huge south-facing window. It definitely slowed down fading, but the trade-off was losing some of that natural wood grain look I loved. Maybe a clear UV additive would be better? Curious if anyone's had luck with those without sacrificing indoor air quality...
