Re: GBlist: Hardwood floor matrials and finishes

["John Salmen" <terrain@cow-net.com>]

I've been thinking about how to reply. Better ideas? I'm surprised after
doing this for so long how few ideas I have left, and how limited they are.

Responding to a request for information can involve replying in kind, giving
some information about what is available with some background on
environmental, health, and even social implications. Its the kind of
information that sits on the face of things - that solves for how we do
things and how we like things to be.

A few years ago I gave a design wrkshp where I brought up the question of
durability and hygiene - in response to peoples questions about natural
surfaces.  The contradictions are pretty basic. You take a surface such as
stone as a counter material.  It is in not in the nature of stone to be
'impervious' though it is resistant and durable. So as a material it can
become stained and in use become 'used' looking.

This type of 'used' appearance is foreign to our grammar so we apply a
veneer or finish to seal the surface to protect it from use and to give it a
lustre. What is it that we are relying on this veneer to do? Its job is to
protect us from the material underneath so in essence we are not using a
stone counter we are using a veneer on a substrate.

Its a complicated relationship - made even more complex as we begin to use
cleaning and scouring products on that veneer and wear it down requiring its
renewal.  We are certainly more compromised by the products we use to finish
and maintain things than we are by the materials themselves.

With this kind of thinking the use of a solid synthetic surfacing material
(corian or whatever) may be a more honest approach.

I would happily recommend the use of no finishes but have yet to come across
anyone that would be comfortable in such an environment. Surfaces become
seemingly dull with the affects of air and light and distracting with all
the evidence of use. It is a much more subtle environment.

not much of a better idea, is it.

John Salmen
TERRAIN E.D.S.


----- Original Message -----
From: Michael O'Brien <obrien@hevanet.com>
To: John Salmen <terrain@cow-net.com>
Cc: <greenbuilding@crest.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2000 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: GBlist: Hardwood floor matrials and finishes


> Hi, John--
>
> As you point out it's important for people to understand the tradeoffs
> they are making. Many people think of tung oil as 'natural' and
> therefore benign. You are one of the few I have encountered who is
> familiar with the hazards to people in the third world who have to work
> with tung trees and their products. Tung oil is a sleeper. The doctor
> who researched tung oil and shared his findings with me about it
> believed it caused his cancer, and he was surprised to find that
> woodworkers were unaware of potential health effects of using tung oil.
>
> I have settled on water-based urethanes as the least problematic finish
> for wood floors. Got any better ideas?
>
> Mike
>


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