“Green” finish for wood countertop?
andy_
| Posted in General Questions on
I have some nice big 2 1/2″ thick planks of Western Red Cedar that were milled from trees on site a few years ago. I’d like to use a couple of them as a vanity top in a bathroom.
Does anyone have any good experiences with a finish that could hold up to some moisture, some abuse, and be a little more environmentally friendly?
I know it’s a drop in the bucket compared to all the impact of a home build, but I still like to think that the little steps can add up.
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Linseed oil is a traditional exterior finish for cedar. The nice thing is you can just give it another coat any time.
The downside is it's prone to mildew.
Problem in my mind is the constant water and dampness of a bathroom counter. It will look ratty in no time. I would either think of a different purpose for those beautiful slabs, or use a resilient finish so they you can use it and not worry about it.
Closest I come in my house is the window frame behind the kitchen sink. Old growth redwood, originally stained opaque brown[what a sin, both cutting the tree, then covering the wood]
I sanded it clean and wiped it with satin urethane 14 years ago, and it has held up perfectly thus far.
In my opinion, being green sometimes means making sure something lasts a really long time even if the methods don't feel green right then
I'm thinking a furniture project would be something that might last longer than till the next bathroom remodel.
If you want something that will hold up to moisture, you could try teak. Teak has been used for all kinds of things on boats for centuries. It holds up well.
Bill
That's a fair point, but I have the cedar here as leftovers so it's essentially free. There's also the bragging points that it was originally growing exactly where this bathroom now is, so after milling on site this wood hasn't travelled more than a few feet.
The cedar matches the aesthetic I'm going for so I don't think I'll be ripping it out in a couple years like a bored suburban homeowner with disposable income and fickle tastes. I just need to figure out a reasonable way to make it work and make it last.
I started my career making custom furniture and built-ins. My favorite finish was a mix of spar varnish, tung oil, turpentine, beeswax and carnauba wax, all melted together in a double boiler and applied by hand, buffed to a nice sheen, similar to a French polish. It has proven to be very durable and repairable. Turpentine (not mineral spirits) is a natural material, as are the waxes, but the whole thing is very high VOC.
If you want something out of a bottle, this has proven to be an excellent floor finish on my projects and two of the builders I work with use it on clear-finished trim as well: https://www.ampro-online.com/products/578. It lays down more nicely than other polyurethanes I've used.
I know a lot of people who swear by this company's whey-based products: https://vermontnaturalcoatings.com/. I haven't used it myself.
I like a walnut oil finish. Very easy to apply, very repairable and renewable. It is 100% food grade.
Note every finish suggested has drying oils and the rags used to apply the finish must be treated as a fire hazard spontaneous combustion is a real possibility.
https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/MF10000/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1t2pBhAFEiwA_-A-NOkOJSzThi-nKwp4repkI7eY30NfVsSqlO2VSl3kn-H-h9sD6IO7wRoCI_sQAvD_BwE
Walta
I haven’t actually used this formulation before but I looks pretty nice and may work well next to sink. https://www.sutherlandwelles.com/murdochs
I have used their tung oils and they are very nice. I would use straight tung oil on a counter but not next to a sink. That mix Michael suggested is nice also
The Murdochs looks pretty interesting albeit a bit pricey. Might give that one a shot.
Rubio Monocoat has come up before, e.g. here: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/can-you-stain-butcher-block
I haven't used it, but I'd like to.
I have used Rubio Monocoat on flooring and trim in an addition to my house and love it, will be my go to stain/sealer now.
We used Vermont Natural Coatings on our wood bathroom vanity tops and it worked out well:
https://vermontnaturalcoatings.com/product/polywhey-furniture-finish/