Low- and Zero-VOC Finishing

Healthful Indoor-Air Finishes First

Schumacher & Co. Custom Hardwood Floors offers the Greater Cincinnati region’s broadest range of hardwood floor finishing solutions — from traditional oil-based polyurethane to low and zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) options. We can offer a product that meets the individual needs of our customers, including those who do not want to detect any chemical odor in their homes.

Standard Finish

Our standard finish consists of an oil-based polyurethane product with a VOC content of 496 grams per liter. Polyurethane forms a protective coating on top of the wood’s surface. Wear over time is repaired by recoating the polyurethane or sanding and refinishing.

Oil-based polyurethane produces a traditional, rich amber look and feel. This finish takes about 10 hours to dry, and its odor may persist for several days. Standard maintenance recoating is needed every five to seven years. Sheens available are matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.

LOW-VOC

Waterborne polyurethane finishes that contains a solvent but have GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification, and VOC levels as low as 230 grams per liter. The odor of this product is far less aggressive than oil-based finishes. Off-gassing is reduced once the product has dried, usually in two to three hours. Standard maintenance recoating is needed every seven to eight years. Waterborne polyurethane is available in a variety of tones and sheens.

UV-Cured waterborne polyurethane:  This process uses a waterborne basecoat in clear or light amber tint, designed to replicate the aesthetic created by oil-based polyurethane. The VOC content of this base coat is less than 200 grams per liter. The waterborne topcoat used in this process contains less than 21 grams of VOCs per liter. There is virtually no odor from these products. Our ultra-violent curing machine stops off-gassing immediately by instantly curing the finish, creating a diamond-hard finish that is impervious to chemicals and abrasion. The standard maintenance coat is 10 or more years.

ZERO-VOC 

Plant-based oil: This finish forms a molecular bond with the surface of the wood. This product contains a modified solvent that emits no chemical odor or VOCs. Worn or damaged surfaces can be spot-repaired by applying more of the oil to those areas without sanding or re-coating the entire floor. This oil is available as a clear coat or in one of more than 30 tinted colors. The standard maintenance re-coat timeline is 12 to 18 months.

OUR FOCUS ON INDOOR-AIR QUALITY

also means that reasonable measures will be taken to contain as much of the sanding dust as possible. We estimate an approximate 98% collection rate.

For more information, call 513-831-5000 or Contact Us.