OIL FINISH for Hardwood floor glued direct to concrete - Low VOC - HELP

[coolmobility]

We're renovating a 1980s house on the Lakes in Gippsland and wife is very sensitive to chemicals. VOCs are not her friend but I like the benefits of non clumping etc of oil finishes rather than water based polyurethanes (will be over Wormy Chestnut 130 x 19mm boards). Any suggestions for a long life, easy care for domestic use oil finish?

We'll have 80m2 total in living areas and bedrooms that has to meet existing slate tiles about 25mm higher than slab so will need a 3 mm screed under concrete sealer, membrane and glue plus board.

Home will be air conditioned most of year so dry 9 percent. To acclimatise should we stack boards in a room with a dehumidifier as we'll be laying in June?

[Dusty]

Try the Livios (http://www.livos.com.au/products_floorfinishes_timber_cork) line of products, or easier still put down a laminate floor. Or, even easier again, trade ya missus in for a hardier model :wink::;

[namtrak]

try either OSMO or Treatex Hardwax Oil

[coolmobility]

Thanks for the serious responses guys, really helpful.

OSMO products look promising as wife is also sensitive to linseed oil but there still seems a fair amount of VOCs.

How fast does smell of finish go after application? We won't be living there at the time but will move about a week later hopefully.

Wife wants to be able to damp mop floor (not too wet to create cupping or other problems, so looks promising. How smelly are the Osmo floor wash additive?

[Sherman]

No VOC is not necessarily the healthiest option. What is important is that you know all the ingredients of a product for you to be able to make an informed decision. We only use the Livos oils after trying many others. Once the surface is oiled, stay off it for at least 24 hours and ventilate to get rid of the linseedy smell. depending on the weather and how much you are able to ventilate, will dictate how long the smell lingers. You can contact Chris Weir from Bairnsdale, he has used the product on several projects including St Anns school.
You can wash the floor but the first few weeks one should use a vacume or broom untill the natural resins and waxes harden. Being natural products there are no synthetic hardners to make it hard from day one.

[TimDavis]

I sanded and coated the floor at St. Marys with Chris and it came up brilliantly. We have done several others with the Livos system and it looks very impressive and is meant to be easily maintained, although apparently linseed oil based finishes do not like water. We were back at the school not long after it was finished to patch up some damage from other trades and there was no hint of either solvent (VOC) or linseed oil type smell.

[Sherman]

Great to hear Tim, Sorry it was St Marys, St Anns is in Kew and was done in the Livos oils too. No, initially the floor does not like water but this is until the waxes and resins harden, after that then one can mop the floors with a PH neutral cleaner.
We are doing more and more schools because the surface is so easy to maintain, rejuvenate and can be repaired without a major sand again.

[Lancastrian]

Take a look at Synteko Natural - no VOC and low odour: Synteko Australia - Synteko Oil Based Floor Finish Products (http://synteko.com.au/products/finishes/product_oil.htm#)

It gives a very 'flat' finish.