[Greenbuilding] formaldehyde-free ply wood

Thu Aug 31 12:50:58 CDT 2006

I am finding fabulous resources in used building materials, including
plywood. I believe that the older the plywood is, the less off-gassing. Is
this true? I wonder if there have been any objective measurement of this?
(if this has been asked and answered in this thread, forgive me, I have not
had the time to follow it closely).

Mary Bull
Greenwood Earth Alliance
Save the Redwoods - Boycott the Gap Campaign
252 Frederick, San Francisco, CA 94117 http://www.gapsucks.org
415-731-7924 chalicenew at earthlink.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Keating" <t.keating at rainforestrelief.org>
To: "Keith Winston" <keith at earthsunenergy.com>; "Greenbuilder list"
<greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 7:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] formaldehyde-free ply wood

> Plus, the added benefit of Homasote is that it's made from 100% recycled
paper.
>
> While the concerns about the glues are certainly justified, there's
> also the destruction of forests that goes on to make plywood as well.
> About 30% of US softwood plywood is coming from British Columbia
> where logging of old growth temperate rainforests makes up about 95%
> of production.
>
> tim keating
>
> At 10:03 AM -0400 8/29/06, Keith Winston wrote:
> >One formaldehyde-free subfloor (and siding, and roof sheathing) option
> >is homasote, homasote.com. I have mixed feelings about it, but it also
> >has some great properties. It's not real cheap, but not totally over the
> >top.
> >
> >Keith
> >
> >
> >Mike O'Brien wrote:
> >>  Hi, Irina--
> >>
> >>  Columbia Forest Products makes interior plywood with "mussel glue"
> >>  which doesn't emit formaldehyde. We are using a veneered version in
> >>  some cabinets.
> >>
> >>  Exterior grade plywood is made with phenolic resin, or phenol-
> >>  formaldehyde adhesive. It does emit formaldehyde, but the emission
> >>  rate is very low compared to interior urea-formaldehyde plywood (on
> >>  the order of 1-2% of the urea-formaldehyde products).
> >>
> >>  If the exterior grade plywood is on the exterior of the house as
> >>  sheathing on walls or roof, then there probably would not be pathways
> >>  for it to get into the occupied spaces.
> >>
> >>  If the exterior grade plywood is used as subflooring or cabinet
> >>  frames, then the formaldehyde could offgas into the house.
> >>
> >>  You can use formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard for cabinets,
> >>  look for Medite II and Medex.
> >>
> >>  For subflooring, I don't really know of a substitute. Here in
> >>  Portland we need the plywood to be part of creating a strong
> >>  diaphragm in the floor to resist an earthquake, so no one uses solid
> >>  wood subflooring like in the old days (my youth). Perhaps if you can
> >>  afford it and live someplace seismically quiet the solid wood is an
> >>  option.
> >>
> >>  Best,
> >>
> >>  Mike O'Brien
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  On Aug 28, 2006, at 4:02 PM, Irina Golfman wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>  Hello everyone,
> >>>
> >>>  I hope that someone can clarify my confusion and help me locate
> >>>  formaldehyde-free plywood.
> >>>
> >>>  I now understand that there are two types of formaldehyde. The
> >>>  urea-formaldehyde (really toxic) and phenol-formaldehyde (less
> >>>  toxic). I am
> >>>  told that while certified urea-formaldehyde plywood is available,
> >>>  plywood
> >>>  that is free of both types of formaldehyde does not exist.
> >>>
> >>>  I was told previously that CDX plywood (also knows as outdoor
> >>>  grade) is
> >>>  free of formaldehyde (both kinds?). However, someone just told me
> >>>  that this
> >>>  is not always the case.
> >>>
> >>>  I am working with my contractor to locate the plywood that would
> >>>  work for
> >>>  my healthy house and would very much appreciate any help that the
> >>>  folks on
> >>>  this list can give me.
> >>>
> >>>  Many thanks,
> >>>  -------------------------------------------------
> >>>  Irina
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>  _______________________________________________
> >>>  Greenbuilding email list
> >>>  List info: http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/
> >>>  greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org
> >>>  List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> >>>  Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
> >>>        publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r)
> >>>  Hosted and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>  _______________________________________________
> >>  Greenbuilding email list
> >>  List info:
>
>>http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org
> >>  List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> >>  Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
> >>        publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r)
> >>  Hosted and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >--
> >Keith Winston
> >Earth Sun Energy Systems
> >3927 Madison St.
> >Hyattsville, MD 20781
> >301-980-6325
> >keith at earthsunenergy.com
> >www.EarthSunEnergy.com
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Greenbuilding email list
> >List info:
> >http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org
> >List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> >Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
> >       publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r)
> >Hosted and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org
>
>
> -- 
>
>
> "The Earth and myself are of one mind. The measure of the land and the
> measure of our bodies are the same..."
>                                     - Hinmaton Yalatkit, Nez Perce chief
> ____________________________________________
>
> R   A   I   N   F   O   R   E   S   T        R   E   L   I   E   F
>
> Sparing  the  World's  Rainforests  from  Consumption
>
> Rainforest Relief works to protect the world's remaining tropical
> and temperate rainforests by reducing the demand for the products
> and materials of rainforest destruction such as timber and paper,
> industrial agricultural products such as bananas, beef, coffee,
> chocolate and cut flowers, and mining products
> such as oil, gold and aluminum.
>
> New York, NY: phone: (917) 543-4064
> Portland, OR: (503) 236-3031
> http://www.rainforestrelief.org
> info at rainforestrelief.org
> 122 W. 27th Street  *  New York, NY 10001  USA
>
> ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
>
> _______________________________________________
> Greenbuilding email list
> List info:
http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org
> List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
>       publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r)
> Hosted and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org
>