REX Flooring

The flooring has been installed at the REX Project and looks fabulous! Why not? The work was done by Fabulous Floors. They installed the entire floor in two days and by using the Osmo finish, it only took two more days for completion. We choose Chest Nut, and it's a reclaimed wood that we purchased at Ecohaus. Random lengths and random widths. One downer is that we were told that we would receive equal amounts of widths of 5", 4", 3" and 2". We only received a very small amount of 5" width. So when ordering, get it in writing the actual amount of product that you will get. If the order is not what you purchased, request the correct amount at no charge or a reduction in price. Also in writing before you purchase. To seal the chestnut we chose Osmo wood finish. I checked out Ecohaus's website and pulled this information about Osmo.

..."Makes wood look, feel and stay beautiful. This product has a satin finish, but it can be polished for a slightly higher sheen.

Because this is a semitransparent stain, the final appearance will be influenced by the natural color of the wood. Best results are usually obtained by using a color that is the same or slightly darker than the bare wood. We recommend light shades only for new, light-colored wood.

Because the finish is microporous, any moisture found in the wood can evaporate without causing peeling. This feature makes Wood Wax Finish a good product for rooms with high humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms. It has been used for decades in Europe in rooms with high moisture—even around indoor swimming pools.

Ingredients

Depending on the tint, 50 to 60 percent solids (the part of a finish that remains on the wood after the finish dries): natural vegetable oils and waxes, iron oxide and organic pigments, and white titanium dioxide pigment—all approved for use in the food sector in Germany. This finish also contains water-repellent additives and lead-free dryers.

The natural oils include sunflower, soybean and thistle.

The finish uses two hard, natural waxes—carnauba and candelilla. A Brazilian palm tree, Copernica cerifera, produces the carnauba in its leaves, berries and stalks. Villagers cut down fronds, dry them for several days, and then beat off the wax. The candelilla comes from the outer coating on a desert shrub, Euphorbia antisyphiliti, that grows in northern Mexico. Farmers boil the leaves and stems with water and sulfuric acid to release the wax.

The remaining 40 to 50 percent of the contents are aliphatic low-odor mineral spirits that meet the German standard for purity.

Benefits of OSMO Wood Wax Finish Transparent

Environmental benefits include:
· Made mostly from readily renewable, natural ingredients.
· Meets European safety standards for use on children's furniture and toys and resistance to perspiration and saliva.
· Contains no biocides or preservatives, only aliphatic low-odor mineral spirits that meet the German standard for purity.


Practical benefits include:
· Easy to apply—just one coat on woodwork, two on furniture and floors.
· Does not raise the grain of wood, so there's no need to sand between coats.
· Won't peel, rub or flake off. Finish resists water, dirt and abrasion.
· Dries to a satin sheen but can be polished for greater gloss.

How much do I need?
One liter covers approximately 200 square feet.

How to use this product

Preparation

Wood surface must be clean and dry (maximum moisture content of 20 percent).

Old paints and varnishes must be removed. Old microporous stains only have to be cleaned.

On new wood, where possible, apply the finish to all sides of the wood before installation. It's easier and neater.

Do a trial application on a scrap or in a hidden spot. You can deepen the color by applying a second, thin coat after the first one dries. You can also mix colors.

Application

Open windows. Make sure ventilation is good.

Stir the finish slightly. Don't thin.

Using a stiff OSMO brand brush or a clean cloth, apply a thin coat evenly and thoroughly. Brush or rub in the direction of the wood grain. (We recommend an OS brush because its short bristles were designed to work efficiently with this finish.)

Drying
Drying takes about 12 hours. Maintain good ventilation.

Storage

Can be stored for five years or longer.
Freezing doesn't ruin this product. If the can freezes, the finish may thicken. But it will regain normal consistency and be ready to use after two or three days at room temperature.


Safety
WARNING: Spontaneous Combustion Danger!
Oil-soaked materials (rags, steel wool, sanding dust, etc.) may spontaneously combust.
Immerse oil-soaked materials in water and store in an air-tight container.

WARNING: Contains Flammable Solvents!
Use only in areas with no open flames or other sources of ignition. No smoking. Provide good ventilation.
Observe all local and federal laws that pertain to the handling and storage of these types of products."