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David J. Wyatt, CDT
Senior Member
Username: david_j_wyatt_cdt

Post Number: 236
Registered: 03-2011
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 03:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I searched 4specs and did not find a thread that addresses this directly. I have a project in which a member of the owner's team wants me to specify linseed oil-based paint for exterior wood trim on a building with some historic significance (1820s Ohio). The few sources I have found online so far are in Europe. A commercial paint representative I have worked with for a few years told me the paint is very expensive, has a long lead time, and may have prohibitively high VOC content. Any input from the 4specs group on cost and availability of this product would be welcome. Thank you. Dave Wyatt
Ronald J. Ray, RA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, AIA
Senior Member
Username: rjray

Post Number: 177
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 03:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hi Dave.

You need better clients :-)

I don’t think linseed oil-based paint has been produced in the United States since the 1920s. But I guess that would be new technology for your building, and perhaps the building owner.

It is not all that uncommon for painters today, to add 10 percent linseed oil to oil-based paint to improve flow. Linseed oil is sold at most of the box home improvement stores. Perhaps that would satisfy your client. However, few paint manufacturers would recommend an oil-based paint for exterior applications, considering the advancements in water-based paints.

Good luck.
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, NCARB
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 1866
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 04:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

From my SW Rep: Sherwin Williams does not carry products anymore with Linseed oil. Especially on exterior where it can destroy the wood fibers from the lack of UV protection.
David J. Wyatt, CDT
Senior Member
Username: david_j_wyatt_cdt

Post Number: 237
Registered: 03-2011
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 04:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Jerome,

Thank you for your response. It confirms the traces of information I have so far.

Apart from that, I hope things are going well for you in Florida.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid

Post Number: 382
Registered: 10-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 05:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I don't see what the big deal is. Any 19th Century painter know how to make paint. The process is shown at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=425&v=-UxsAij-ykg.

Send us pictures showing the progress.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, NCARB
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 1868
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 05:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Michael, I don't know who is crazier, you for posting the link or me for actually watching it.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid

Post Number: 383
Registered: 10-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 09:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Clear,
Complete,
Concise, and
Crazy.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, NCARB
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 1870
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 09:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Is not that the definition of a Specifier?
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, NCARB
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 1872
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 10:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Back to Linseed Oil , from what I've now read, Linseed Oil is highly flammable and can be a food for mold, more reasons to not specify it for woodwork finishes.
J. Peter Jordan
Senior Member
Username: jpjordan

Post Number: 1028
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 11:01 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

This is where an expert in woodwork restoration work (actually doing it) might be most helpful. Can understand why one might want to use it in a historic restoration, but an alternative may need to be found which remains true to the spirit of the restoration work, is compatible with existing substrates (probably includes previous paint layers), and offers better protection.
J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1160
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 11:20 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Peter, great points.
My guess is that tying into the exiting coating will be tricky at best and I question whether the owner will be comfortable stripping everything down to bare wood or if that's even advisable.

Somehow I have to wonder if going to Home Depot for a can of Kilz primer is going to cut it for this work.

Any chance of bringing in the big guns like KTA Tator in Pittsburgh, https://kta.com/, to weigh in on this?
Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap
Senior Member
Username: lgoodrob

Post Number: 344
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 11:48 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David,

We do a fair bit of historic restoration work and often collaborate with Boston Conservation Associates, www.bcausa.com, as an Owner's consultant. Brian Powell and Melissa McGrew are two of their experts in painting and finishing. Their work is not exclusively in NE.

Our National Park Service has an excellent resource in their Preservation Briefs, including several about exterior woodwork and painting.
-
Paul Sweet (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 12:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/10-paint-problems.htm

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