Safety first: Refinish with caution

With any renovation project – whether it be on a large-scale or done at home – safety comes first. Oftentimes, particularly when refinishing furniture on your own, it’s difficult to identify the dangers and utilize the correct materials to minimize accidents. In recent years, whether it be a hotel or a home, dangerous situations have made the news.

For example, a stubborn fire broke out in Oakland hills last year believed to have been caused by rags soaked in chemicals and left in an enclosed basement by one of the occupants living in the home refinishing a piece of furniture. We’re relieved no one was injured in the Oakland hills fire, however the accident should serve as a warning to anyone to all refinishing professionals or those taking on projects individually.

Repairing and restoring old furniture yourself is fun and enjoyable, and a great way to save money. Upcycling existing assets rather than replacing saves on product costs, shipping costs and the cost to the environment while more than doubling the assets lifespan – it is an important route to consider in any renovation.

However caution must be taken when using dangerous chemicals and items shouldn’t be left unattended in the process. Remember that traditional chemicals are flammable so where possible always do the work outside, or ensure there is adequate ventilation as oily rags can spontaneously combust.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals with a high vapor pressure emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs come from common refinishing materials including paint strippers, cleaning supplies, paints and lacquers. Concentrations of many VOCs may be up to ten times higher than outdoors.

As a company that lives and breathes sustainability, we actively encourage people to think green, and refinishing, repairing or remanufacturing items at home, or employing professional service contractors to do so is a fantastic way to be both cost and environmentally efficient.

At The Refinishing Touch, we ensure the safety of our customers and their guests by eliminating toxic and hot chemicals through the use of low –VOC, nonvolatile compounds and safe materials for refinishing projects. All our products are non-toxic, drastically reducing the risk of fire, and environmentally friendly.

To learn more about The Refinishing Touch’s low-VOC lacquers and safe materials, get in touch today at [email protected].