AFM has been formulating and making safer building and cleaning products for 40 years. One of our first products, Safecoat Safe Seal, was developed and used in a government hospital to help seal in offgassing in a newly remodeled wing. When patients were then able to tolerate their environment, we knew we were on to something important. AFM now offers 40 products field tested and safely used even by many sensitive to chemicals.

No. But formaldehyde is in many products because it is very inexpensive and it works extremely well as a preservative. In addition, many products contain ingredients which create formaldehyde as they are being used. We go to great lengths to make sure that neither formaldehyde nor such formaldehyde precursors are used in our manufacturing processes. This is just a basic standard we set for health and safety.

Most of our products are structured to set up an extremely tight barrier against chemical offgassing through a unique process of molecular bonding. Independent tests have shown that even Safecoat Zero VOC paint reduces formaldehyde transmission by 90%. Moreover, all AFM products are formulated to cause the least amount of offgassing possible.

AFM products are premium quality and perform as well as and, in many cases, better than most mainstream, toxic brands on the market.

AFM products are extremely stable and should, with proper storage, last up to two years. Unlike virtually any other paint, our products do not contain heavy duty, toxic mildewcides or fungicides, so if they are subject to contamination then things like mold and mildew can grow in the container. The biggest source of potential contamination is when tools are repeatedly dipped directly into the can or bucket. It is recommended that you pour the amount of product you think you will use into a separate container. When the job is completed, tightly reseal any remainder in the original container and store in a cool, dry place.

Both products are designed to reduce toxic off-gassing:

Safe Seal is best on highly porous surfaces such as processed woods, plywood and MDF. It can remain slightly tacky so is best used on unexposed areas such as sub-floors or cut edges, or can be overpainted on exposed areas. Proven to reduce off-gassing by 100%

Hard Seal is a clear gloss sealer is formulated to provide resistance to both low- and high-porosity surfaces. It forms a continuous membrane and when applied properly in a multiple coat application. Proven to reduce off-gassing by 96.2%

Q. Which is the best product to seal in off-gassing if I don't want to overpaint but want a matt finish?

Safecoat Acriglaze is a great option, as it works well over painted or unpainted surfaces and is also 97% effective at reducing off-gassing.

Safecoat WaterShield is a film forming sealer composed of a hydrophobic acrylic resin and emulsified silcone suspended in water. WaterShield reduces surface tension promoting water repellency on wood and masonry surfaces. Porous material may require multiple coats to obtain the desired protection. WaterShield dries clear and will slightly darken the surface.
Safecoat Penetrating WaterStop is a penetrating type sealer composed of potassium silicate and a modified hydrophobic acrylic suspended in water and is designed to chemically bond with the salts and minerals in cementitious surfaces. Penetrating WaterStop is recommended for concrete, stone and lime or cement plasters. It dries clear and does not discolor the surface.

Q. A few years ago we built an exterior wooden deck. I sealed it the first year with a mainstream toxic product that was "guaranteed" to last 10 years. It didn’t even last one year. We've used other clear water repellent sealers since, which only last a half a year or so. Is there any sealer I can put on that will last?

A. Exterior wood is prone to surface damage from sunlight and moisture as well as temperature changes and other environmental conditions. It swells and shrinks every time it rains. This causes stress at the interface between the wet and dry wood cells, which results in cracking. Without protection, it exhibits surface discoloration and damage. Studies by the national Forest Products Laboratory have found that clear water repellent sealers last only six months to a year, while pigmented stains and sealers tend to last somewhat longer, although typically no more than two or at most three years. The pigments absorb ultraviolet light, keeping the lignin that holds wood fibers together from breaking down. So you can use Durostain in any color, followed by a coat of Watershield, or you can use Safecoat Naturals Oil Stain, and extend the life of the sealer. But treat wood as a living thing which needs maintenance, and recognize that the environmental conditions to which it is exposed means that it will need sealing more often than a dimensionally stable surface such as concrete.

Q: I recently purchased some of your Safecoat zero VOC interior semi-gloss wall paint. I downloaded your information about how to properly apply it, but I didn't see where it said how long it takes for the odor to dissipate. According to the dealer I bought it from, they say that it will have no odor after it has been cured. What does this mean - how much drying time, etc. will pass before the odor is completely gone and persons who are chemically sensitive can return to the home?

A: How long it takes a product to cure depends upon environmental conditions, the thickness of the coating when applied, and air flow. If the temperature in the room is warm and the humidity dry, it will take much less time to cure than if the temperature is cold and the humidity high, for example. If the coating was applied in multiple thin coats, with several hours or a day between coats, it will cure more quickly than if it was applied in a very thick application.

The most important point is that strong air flow will cause the coating to cure much more quickly than if the house is closed up and there is no air movement. We recommend setting up fans to blow over the painted surface, preferably at 25 - 40 cfm, and and any residual odor should be eliminated very quickly.

We cannot make a specific recommendation because of the above and the fact that people who are sensitive show a wide variation - some can actually paint with the paint, others need to wait till it's dry, others until it is fully cured. With good air flow, it should be very quick. Please test first.

From the very beginning, we have formulated products specifically for those with chemical or environmental sensitivities. Because such individuals are like the proverbial canary in the mine shaft, if AFM products work for the chemically sensitive, they must be better for everyone. In recent years, more and more individuals and companies have become interested in reducing indoor air pollution or simply just building or remodeling in the most healthful manner. AFM products have proved the perfect solution for these users.