Using Natural Varnish
By now, you all know how much Martin and I think about the environment in our day-to-day. It’s part of the reason we like to bike everywhere. So when we ran across this little Berlin shop, we knew we were in heaven.
This shop is a Natur am Bau or natural building supplies store where we buy all of our varnish.
Natural varnish isn’t filled with all the nasty products that release off gases that are toxic to our health like standard varnish. All those fumes that come with varnish and give you pounding headaches? Yep. That’s the pretty nasty stuff hurting your short term and long term health. So we didn’t even have to do the math on this one. Spending a little extra money on natural varnish meant we could keep living in our house during our kitchen remodel. We didn’t have to stay in a hotel, and we didn’t have to worry about future off gassing.
Of course, I’m all about saving time, too. There’s nothing worse than spending five minutes cleaning your brush in a bucket of toxic solvent after you’ve varnished. As luck would have it, natural varnish is water based.
All I had to do was stick my brush under the sink with a little soap, and it was as good as new; the stuff going down the sink was in the clear. With as many times as I had to sand/varnish/sand/varnish (whew!) and then flip the doors and shelves over to sand/varnish… you get the idea… let’s just say I was beyond ecstatic about my easy-wash brushes. The stuff dried in 15 minutes.
I want to call it my liquid miracle, but that’s a little salesman-like, no? All we know is this: regular old varnish no more.
We’ve got one more kitchen varnish project in the works for you. I just had to get more varnish!
So what about you? Anyone else have experience with natural varnishes and paint? Then again, can you even find natural products in your community?
Hiya Katie, your blog is very pretty but you do look serious in the above photo. Mind you I suppose it would have looked odd to see a big smile when you were needing to concentrate
Just today I used a natural finish on my new patio doors. I used Oil Wax Finish by AFM Naturals. It is low odor, easy and looks beautiful. I did not use a stain, so my wood is light in color. Basically, to apply it, I just brushed some on, let it penetrate for 15 minutes, brushed a second coat on, and after 30 minutes more of penetration, wiped up the excess with a rag. The only down side to this is that I had to wait for a 70 degree (F) day for it to properly cure.
In the same room, I painted the walls with Mythic paint, a no-VOC paint that goes on creamy.
In our bathroom, my husband will be applying an earthen plaster that is mildew resistant. It is made by American Clay.
We bought all of these products from a new shop in our city called Ecologic. It is our new favorite store.
Hey, Katie! This past month, I have been looking all over Berlin for some vinyl or linoleum. We had to go with some cheap stuff, so öko was out after I checked the prices. (Note: not ALL öko things are more expensive, but in this case it was, unfortunately.) Anyway, during my search, I found a few stores throughout Berlin that offered natural building supplies. Paint, varnish, all types of flooring, etc. You name it, they had it. I didn’t even consider that there were more environmentally friendly ways to go about remodeling, and I think it’s great that there is. Good for you for getting the word out!
We get low VOC paint – but haven’t varnished anything in a while so haven’t even looked for that. That’s so great that you are finding these products over there! Woohoo!
Hi Katie! I’m relatively new to your blog (though I must admit it, I’ve read all old entries) and I love it! I’m a Spanish living in Frankfurt and I can relate to many things you write about German culture and living in Germany. It’s been almost five years now, so I’m kind of getting used to it. :-)
Last weekend I moved to a tiny apartment in a great neighborhood in Frankfurt with my boyfriend and I’m thrilled to see how we manage to live in such a small place! (yeah, I guess we won’t we doing so much laundry anymore…).
Anyway, we have built our own loft bed with closets underneath (a DIY based on ikea closets) and I have to apply varnish to the upper wood panels (where the mattress actually lies). Could you maybe tell me the name of the varnish you used? It sounds great because we have to sleep on it, so the more natural the better, and we can’t really afford to move out just to varnish the bed! I’ll send you pictures when we’re done! (don’t expect them anytime soon though, we’re langsam)
Thanks Katie!
Alicia,
The idea of closets beneath the bed sounds like a really cool idea for small spaces. The storage would be a dream!
The varnish that we used is called “volvox proAqua Klarlack”. I think you’ll like using it.
I love what you’re all doing, from painting walls to varnishing doors with more natural products. You’ve made my week!
Katie
Hi Katie,
We just fall on your blog while searching a natural varnish so that we can finish our baby to come bed. Do you know if your nice shop can sell abroad or if we can get in touch with them to get some good advices ?
Thanks for your blog and that’s a damned good job your doing.
I liked your post, but can’t find anything as awesome as Earthborn available in the U.S. : (
I would like to know how I could make this natural varnish myself. I work in early childhood and it is all about sustainability. By using natural and inexpensive material that children under 5 can make, which must be non-toxic. Please help.
Sorry Jonathan – I bought, not made, the varnish we used. Best of luck, though!
hi!
I would like to know what company is that natural varnish made?
:)
hi!!
can I know the e-mail address of the company that you have bought a natural varnish?