I need a fabulous water-based poly or other eco floor coating

http://www.vermontnaturalcoatings.com/our-products/polywhey-natural-floor-finish/ It works!

Hi Allison, If you find a suitable product, that stands up well on a floor, with no VOC's, I will be amazed. Please share the news. I'm not aware of any. Water-based urethane products, once they have worn, require significant scraping and sanding to remove the product, before refinishing. Not at all sustainable, from my point of view. /Sanding evenly, and working the grits down from 40 to 80 to 110 to 240, will do more for the finish and look of the wood than anything you can wipe onto it. /After that, what you wipe onto it has two choices, but both involve solvents. Here they are:/ / 1.) What I've used on many floors is polymerized Tung Oil, thinned with citrus oil solvent. The less thinner you use, the shinier, and the slower it is to dry, and the more difficult it is to apply a super thin coat that will dry well without being tacky or turning milky. If you use more thinner, then it dries "better", with a matte finish. I like to apply 6 to 8 coats, on raw, sanded hardwood. With good drying weather, this can be done over 7 to 9 days, which may not work for the modern world. Which is why it's not too popular. But it is the toughest and the best. 2.) Second approach would be to use a linseed oil/tung oil/carnauba wax blend, by Eco-House, from New Brunswick. This is my favorite to use, though slightly less durable. It works wonders over a tinted, and finely trowelled floor, or, over a well-sanded hardwood floor. This requires no experimenting or mixing; just three or four coats: http://www.eco-house.com/shop/270-hardwood-floor-oil/ I want to use products that I believe in; yet long-lasting durability, and the ability to refinish the wood in the future, without having to strip off the old hardened finish, is a part of my belief as well. Frank

Hi Allison, I just came across this company that you may be interested in for your floors. http://www.mrsandless.com/ Dave Joyce is using them on a home in Concord and says they are terrific. Good luck

Allison Preferred Environmental has a soy based sealer. They are developing colors as well. I can send you some details via email.

To clarify, oil-based poly’s are poison. Water-based poly’s can be healthy and great, or poison and great, or poison and crap. All top-coat polys typically require sanding to refinish. Oil-based penetrating finishes can be beautiful, durable, natural (even organic), and healthy. What’s real nice about these finishes is that you can easily patch and repair and top-coat, should never need to sand and refinish. I sell a lot of: Osmo Polyx Oil – apply it thin and work it in. When in doubt, use less. That’s the key to success. Airports in Europe use it. A lot of pros just can’t figure this out b/c it’s the opposite of what they’re used to and they don’t do “new and different” well. AFM Safecoat Oil-Wax penetrating finish, which is an organic mix of plant oils and plant waxes. Not as strong as Polyx Oil for a floor (very popular for furniture, trims, beams, etc) Vermont Naturals – a very nice one-part water-based poly. Works well, good product. AFM Safecoat Polyureseal – a very nice one-part water-based poly, more expensive. The choice for a real glossy sheen. Unique in that it helps to seal in offgassing you’ve applied another finish that is creating an IAQ problem. I sell lesser amounts of Pure Tung Oil, which is as pure as it gets but it’s a labor of love. Several coats, takes days b/w coats. Polymerized tung oil is basterdized; doesn’t count in the green world if health counts. Bona Traffic is a 2-part water-based poly that can be very nice and durable, but is a little more complicated to apply b/c it’s 2-parts (mix a hardener in). Rubio Monocoat has been getting more popular. Another penetrating finish. One comment I’ve heard is that it sometimes can feel TOO thin on the wood.

I work in the paint department at Ace Hardware. All of the stains that we sell are low to zero VOC. I do not believe we carry a fully water based polyurethane. However Minwax makes a water based oil modified polyurethane. Here's a link to the product. I hope this helps you at all. http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/clear-protective-finishes/interior/minwax-water-based-oilmodified-polyurethane

Hello Allison, Good comments here. As a coatings consultant, I used several here listed in other comments. My question is why water base? As to other comments, water based can be healthy, and so can oil products, they should understand VOC'c as it relates to outdoor pollution, not indoor air quality. Also, who's 3rd party certified, whether can be used on toys, or food grade approved...One cert. in particular would be California's SouthCoast Air Quality Management www.aqmd.gov/ So the question begs, Why Water based?

Allison, I realize this is an older conversation and the floor coating solution you sought was for wood. I am now associated Creative Materials out of Massachusetts that produces 0 VOC floor coatings for concrete floors.

For more information on Rubio Monocoat products, please visit... www.rubiomonocoatusa.com