Concerns About Swedish Floor Finishes
Refinishing a wood floor and selecting a finish can be a designing delight with a range of sheen and even color choices. However, be informed and know that some finishes leave behind more than you bargained.
Concerns About Swedish Floor Finishes
Refinishing a wood floor and selecting a finish can be a designing delight with a range of sheen and even color choices. However, be informed and know that some finishes leave behind more than you bargained.
A healthy home starts with a healthy floor
When it comes time to select your hardwood floor finish, ask for waterborne or a water-based finish which is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. Some contractors may offer you a less expensive option such as acid-cured, conversion varnish or “Swedish” finish. Be wary that while many tout the durability and protection of this type of finish, your home and family will pay by way of poor air quality and chemicals that will remain long after the finishing process.
Benefits of Choosing Bona Traffic HD Waterborne Wood Floor Finish
A Healthier & Safer Home
It's important to choose a finish that you know will be safer- both during application and after it's dried.
- No Volatile organic compounds. VOCs are human made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacturing of many household products. Off-gassing occurs when VOCs and other chemicals are emitted from manufactured products. When the VOCs levels are high and when there are other toxic chemicals in the product, it can become a hazard to your health. Bona Traffic HD is a very low VOC finish, with less than 150 g/L.
- GREENGUARD GOLD certified for indoor air quality. GREENGUARD GOLD certification is a 3rd party organization that assures that products that are used for indoor spaces meet strict chemical emission limits, which contribute to the creation of healthier interiors. The GREENGUARD GOLD certificiation offers stricter criteria, considers safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly), and ensures that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities.
- Less toxic ingredients. Bona Traffic HD contains no added formaldehyde or other toxic ingredients that are considered hazardous to your health.
Unsurpassed Durability
Bona Traffic HD is the most durable finish available today. Bona pioneered waterborne wood floor finishes in the 1970's and is committed to advancing the technology within this category to always stay at the forefront of durability and protection of your floors!
Convenient for you
Bona Traffic HD provides one of the fastest dry times in the industry! Getting you back on your floor, home and normal routine quicker. Within a few hours the floors can be walked on in socks, and in only 3 days, the floor is fully cured, meaning the finish is completely hardened to withstand wear and tear.
Design driven beauty
The Bona Traffic HD family of waterborne finishes dry clear, are colorless and will not turn yellow or change color over time. This allows the true natural beauty and elegance of wood to remain over the life of the floor. Bona offers a full system of compatible sealers and stains to provide endless color combinations to enhance the design of your space or provide the perfect neutral foundation for your furnishings.
Hear What Contractors Have to Say
Bona Traffic HD is the most durable waterborne wood floor finish on the market! It’s also safer for contractors, homeowners and their surroundings. From being GREENGUARD Gold certified for indoor air quality, to having fast dry and cure times (just 3 days!), it’s the perfect solution for homeowners to choose a safer, more durable and beautiful finish for their wood floor.
Facts about acid-cured - "Swedish" finishes
High 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. At VOC levels ranging anywhere from 550 to upwards of 700 (compared to less than 150 for waterborne finishes), acid-cured finishes contain toxic ingredients like formaldehyde that degrade air quality, can agitate respiratory illnesses and cause problems like nausea, dizziness, headaches, and irritation in the eyes, nose and throat.
Long cure time
Swedish finishes dry fast but can take 30 - 90 days to fully cure. 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. Most contractors recommend leaving rugs off floors for as long as possible until the floor is cured. Anti-slip backing on rugs or carpet will dissolve if the floor is still off-gassing and curing.
Yellows over time
Swedish finishes will change the color of the floor over time. As it ages, acid-cured finishes will yellow to an amber patina altering the original color you selected. While some may like this patina over time, one should be aware of this color-change that occurs with acid-cured finishes.
A homeowner hazard
Because of the extremely high levels of toxic fumes and VOCs found in acid cured "Swedish" finishes, homeowners are required to vacate the home during application and for a number of days following while the off-gassing process begins. If any food is left in the house when coating with Swedish finish products, it must be thrown out. All pets and plants need to be vacated as well. In addition, because of the long cure time, VOC levels in the house may still cause issues after the initial application. Acid-cured finishes also have a low flash point, so pilot lights and other heat sources must be extinguished before application.
Renovate your floors with a Bona Certified Craftsman
If you’re looking for a professional contractor for your floor renovation needs, consider a Bona Certified Craftsman®. These professionals are trained in all Bona® floor systems and can give your floors the look you want and the protection from toxic alternatives. Find a Bona Certified Craftsman near you.
Maintain your investment
Maintain the investment in your wood floors with Bona's waterbased clearners that are safer for families, pets, and the planet.
