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Non-Toxic Wood Sealers and Repellents

posted by Annie B. Bond Feb 15, 2008 12:00 am
filed under: Blogs, Ask Annie
10 comments
Sally P, - NH asks:

We are planning to seal our wood deck this spring and I’d like to use a green product. As an added issue, the existing wood is pressure treated and I am worried about the arsenic in that. What do you recommend?

Annie:

Good choice, going green for sealing your deck! Don’t look back! And yes, you need to choose a product that is not only green but able to seal in the toxic arsenic in the pressure treated wood. You are in luck, there are now a number of green products on the market, many made of soy. They will succeed in these tasks, thanks to the perseverance and progressive thinking of a number of manufacturers.

Soy oil has become one replacement for petroleum oil, so longer-lasting oil-based repellents and sealants can still be used, but without the toxic petroleum oils used in the past.

Here are some “green” water repellents and sealants for exterior wood:

SoySeal Wood Sealer and Waterproofer
• Manufactured by Natural Soy Products, LLC.
• A natural soy-based 24-month sealer for all wood, decks and docks.
• Contains no V.O.C.\'s, is non-toxic, non-flammable.
• Contains a small amount of a mildewcide to prevent mold from feeding on the soy oil.

SoyGuard Wood Sealer and Water Repellent
• Manufactured by BioPreserve.
• A natural soy-based 24-month sealer for all wood, including pressure treated, decks and docks.
• Contains very low level of V.O.C.’s, non-flammable, low odor.
• Contains a patented mildewcide; claims “no toxic biocides.”
• Does not damage ozone.

Rainforest Sealer
• Low VOC, 100 percent natural, non-toxic.
• Water repelling, insect, algae, mildew, wood decay fungi deterrents based on elements and minerals. (Uses zinc borate as a mildew and fungus deterrent, which has been found to be nontoxic, instead of chemical biocides.)
• Use for timber, siding, decks, floors.

Safecoat DynoSeal
• Low odor, all-weather, waterproof, vapor proof coating and sealer that gives off no offensive chemical fumes.
• Adheres well to concrete, block, metal, wood and hot mop asphalt.
• Safecoat® products eliminate unregulated toxic ingredients such as solvents, heavy metals, chemical residuals, formaldehyde and other harmful preservatives and are as safe and not toxic as possible.
• Products are structured with a unique molecular formulation designed to seal surfaces thus reducing offgassing into your environment.
• Does not use any mildewcides or fungicides.

Safecoat WaterShield
• Controlled penetration water repelling sealer which provides an invisible barrier against water and resists oils, grease and similar liquids.
• Non-toxic, non-flammable, lead free, formaldehyde free, and does not contain surface contaminating silicones.
• Does not use any mildewcides or fungicides.
• Safecoat® products eliminate unregulated toxic ingredients such as solvents, heavy metals, chemical residuals, formaldehyde and other harmful preservatives and are as safe and not toxic as possible.

Some of the hazardous ingredients traditional exterior water repellents and sealers may contain include:

Formaldehyde: Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer.

Petroleum distillates: Can contain long-term toxins and known cancer causing agents, produce local skin irritation, and add to smog and water pollution due to improper disposal or during manufacture and use.

Volatile Organic Compounds: Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

More on Ask Annie (117 articles available)
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Annie B. Bond

10 comments

10 comments

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10 comments add your comment
Darlene R.

I would like to buy a soy product to seal my outside deck. Any suggestions where to purchase these products.

James Church

I want to know is it true a cockateals name should be limited to 4 letters of the alphabet 5 at the most. And is it true the are some letters of the alphabete that should be avoided if posable to start a cockateils name due to dificulty in speaking.

Barbra W.

I have a hot tub which I love, but I would rather not use chlorine and other toxic chemicals. Any suggestions?
Barbra Wiener, Minneapolis

Sharon S.

Hi.
Can you point me in the right direction, please? I have just started recycling and don't know the specifics of what can be recycled:
- Paper - is this every paper and cardboard product? What about the plastic lined rice milk box?
- Plastic - does this include things like make-up tubes and packaging which has food on it (like a steam veg pack)?
Thanks for your help!
Sharon

Sharon S.

Hi, Annie.
I have a question that will probably have all the experienced greenies cringe, but perhaps you can help. I have recently started recycling and we have a plastic and paper recycler in our area. Now, here's my question: What counts as paper? And what counts as plastic?
- Is paper ALL paper and cardboard products, including the plastic lined rice milk box?
- Is plastic ALL plastics, including the packets from the steam veg with food on them? How exacting are the criteria?
I would really appreciate the clarification - a question 'for dummies' I'm afraid!
Sharon

Linda Dazey

Hi, What do you recomend for hair loss and or thinning? I recently started loosing hair when I turned 40 and it has not stopped.

Linda Dazey

Hi,
I would like to know what you recomend for a natural Heart Worm treatment for dogs. Frontline is full of toxins and horrible cancer causing chemicals. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nancy Oliver

Do you have a catalog i could order? I am Nanol@juno.com Thankyou

Sara Dubois

Hi! Are you the same Annie bond who has to do with the yummy Annie's all-natural pastas and macaronis? I've just been meanng to ask this of you for a long time, but never got up the nerve. For some reason, I had thought that Annie's pastas were created opriginally by someone with your name. Good product, anyway, whether it is you or not.

Sara Dubois

Hi! Are you the same Annie bond who has to do with the yummy Annie's all-natural pastas and macaronis? I've just been meanng to ask this of you for a long time, but never got up the nerve. For some reason, I had thought that Annie's pastas were created opriginally by someone with your name. Good product, anyway, whether it is you or not.

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