Top 10 Questions When Deciding On Green Floor Finish

So, you’ve done your homework (including having read our last blog on Nanotechnology in Floor Finishes). You know that, largely thanks to developments in nanotechnology, green floor finishes have come a long way in just the last few years. You’re almost ready to make the leap from traditional, more toxic polishes to a sustainable version. But you still have a few more questions that need answering before you are fully convinced. With this in mind, below are the Top 10 questions you need to consider before you switch to a green floor finish program. 

1. How durable is sustainable floor finish?

Largely thanks to the recent use of nanotechnology used by the best green floor finishes, sustainable floor finishes are extremely durable, far surpassing most of their traditional competition. This is largely because nanotechnology allows the polymers to fuse directly without a third-party, such as zinc (labeled a toxic metal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) or its nontoxic replacement, calcium, which as we discussed last time, lacks the stamina needed for long-lasting polish; traditional finishes relying on these and other ingredients also leave larger gaps between polymers, eroding durability. Thus, at the Nano level, green finishes that eliminate the middleman create a harder, more scruff, scratch and dirt resistant finish that lasts up to 10 times longer than traditional floor polishes.

2. Do sustainable floor finishes provide a good gloss?

Because the particles fuse so tightly together at the Nano level, are less prone to yellowing, and the coatings dry so quickly, these sustainable floor finishes create a superior “wet look” sheen faster than conventional polishes that often contain ammonia, which results in a slower, lower gloss build.

3. Are sustainable floor care products safe for workers?

Sustainable floor finishes are nontoxic and have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other potentially harmful ingredients. Nanotechnology also eliminates the use of ammonia and other chemicals that give off odors that can offend and even negatively impact workers and customers.

4. Are sustainable floor care products easy to use?

Nano floor finishes are easier to apply and dry faster than conventional finishes. They also are easier and faster to remove, in part because no ammonia or other chemicals are required to dissolve the bonds forged between the polymers and the bonding agents, such as zinc and/or calcium found in traditional floor finishes.

5. How do sustainable floors affect labor?

The newest sustainable floor coatings greatly reduce labor. Faster, easier to apply and remove, longer lasting and quicker dry times all spells less labor—and, therefore, lower labor costs.

Contact us to learn more about our sustainable floor products.

6. How do green floor finishes affect product usage?

Green floor finishes using nanotechnology can cover 3,500- 4,000 square feet per gallon versus the 1,500-2,500 square feet coverage afforded by most traditional floor polishes. This, along with the need to refinish floors up to 10 times less frequently, greatly reduces product usage.

7. How expensive are sustainable floor care products?

Green floor finish costs have actually come down in recent years due to better technology.  And since they offer double or more coverage and require far less labor, the savings trump more traditional alternatives. Also, green finishes diminish the chances of accidents and subsequent insurance or Workers Compensation claims—or worse lawsuits—that can result from using more toxic coatings.

8. Are sustainable floor solutions easier or more difficult to maintain than more conventional versions?

Floors coated with sustainable finishes dry harder, are more resistant to scratches and dirt—and even bacteria— and hold on to their gloss better than non-sustainable versions—all of which equate to less maintenance,

9. Are sustainable floor coatings effective on different floor surfaces?

While it is always recommended to read the specific flooring manufacturer’s recommendations when it comes to finishing floors, nanotechnology is already being used on a wide variety of surfaces from linoleum, rubber, vinyl composition, and other types of tile flooring such as marble and terrazzo.

10. How does a sustainable floor care program compare to a conventional one?

Once arduous due to subpar performance, green floor care programs have turned the tables on more traditional systems. The new technologies that reduce labor and product costs as well as application, drying and removal times—all with increased coverage—have made instituting and maintaining a sustainable program far easier than continuing with older, more expensive and labor-intensive programs.

So is it time to flip the switch and implement a green floor care program? To mimic a popular commercial:, it’s the biggest no-brainer in the history of floor care.