[SustainableTompkins] Advice on refinishing pine floors

[Simon St.Laurent]

Margaret McCasland wrote:
> Oils like tung and linseed can be "natural" or not (see the GREAT SewGreen
> thread on the topic of sandwich wraps). If they want a natural wood look,
> they could consider "Tried and True" wood finishes (from Trumansburg).
 >
> I have not found any low VOC floor finishes (paints or "varnishes"). However
> I can think of 2 options:  using truly natural oils (eg, Tried and True) for
> "bare" wood, as noted above; also Home Green Home sells a polyurethane
> (Safeguard) that seals itself and any VOCs in the finish below so they don't
> off-gas. So if sanding and then using polyurethane is the only option, then
> Safeguard may be worth using as the final coat. I don't know if it can be
> used to seal paint, but I think the same company makes a paint sealer.

I've used Tried and True for doors and furniture, though, and it seems 
quite happy there.

http://www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com/

I never would have thought of it for flooring, but they do have a page 
about using it on floors:

http://www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com/flooring%201.html

I guess it might be worth trying!  (When I've used their products, I've 
always heated them a little, as that seems to accelerate their drying 
time a lot.  I've also applied the thinnest layer I could, though I 
don't think I've used the varnish oil.)

Simon St.Laurent
http://livingindryden.org/