How shiny is it? I want it shiny! Can you get it shinier?
Sound familiar?
Most people only see one dimension of a floor finish when on a floor, and only judge it by how much it shines. John Earl Company of Hackensack New Jersey took a different perspective on this topic and created a floor finish cake. This shows three dimensions of a floor finish. This graphic illustration teaches there are more considerations with a floor finish that need to be understood. So, if you are reading this and have any exposure to these products at any level, listen up because this is for you.
This three dimensional display shows the internal chemistry, where pieces of this chemistry tell an important story. The first part of this story begins with a question that needs answering. Why is the floor finish so yellow? Most floor finishes manufactured discolor under UV light (ultra violet) because of a Styrene component. Occurrences of this chemical reaction can be commonly found on floors near windows or sky lights that allow natural light into rooms and hall ways. This is evident in John Earl’s floor finish cake with the amber or yellowing discoloration.
The yellowing is caused by a Styrene additive, which also creates environmental and health hazard considerations. Styrene is not biodegradable so when a floor finish is stripped off the floor and the sludge is discarded by custodians in drop sinks, storm drains, grass or any dump sites, it becomes a pollutant, contaminate of water sheds and a major negative impact on the environment for a very long time.
Once a Styrene floor finish is put on a floor, it needs maintenance to keep its shine. This is done by using a polishing pad with a buffing machine which is usually done a couple times per month. The health issue here is that once a floor finish is burnished, airborne particles are created. The problem with Styrene air borne particles is that Styrene is classified as a carcinogen. The greatest problem is that for security reasons, virtually all buildings are secured with closed doors and sealed windows. This results in a lack of proper ventilation that exposes its habitants to carcinogenic material. Buildings like these would be classified as an unhealthy building.
Our greatest concern is our schools. Poor practices and a lack of understanding of chemicals has put our children at risk for future health problems. There are many things that can be said on this subject. In recent years, much of the chemical manufacturing industry had made strides in making safer chemicals, but there is no such thing as a safe chemical, just safer.
John Earl’s floor finish pie is meant to communicate a simple point, not a technical one. This point is to teach end users how to look further than how well the floor shines but to make informed decisions about what they put in a building that may be hazardous to the people that are in it. Creating open dialogue is the challenge and sometimes all you need is a little cheesecake to spark the conversation. John Earl and his team know the future is our children, and places great emphasis on educating school decision makers on how to look further than the shine that tickles the eyes.
Click and enjoy the success stories of school systems that have completely removed styrenated floor finishes from their schools