Natural hardwood floors provide an elegant and natural feel to any space, but staining and sealing hardwood floors can often be challenging, especially when searching for products that are durable and don’t emit hazardous air pollutants. Most oil-based products, for example, contain petroleum solvents that can off-gas for months, and the same is true for many water-based polyurethanes. Just because it is water-based does not mean it is safe—there are still solvents in most of them. However, we have discovered several brands of eco-friendly wood floor stains and sealers that don’t emit toxic chemicals and perform just as well as traditional wood floor finishes. Whether you are sanding an older floor or finishing a new hardwood floor, we offer everything you need to produce a beautiful, durable, and greener floor finish.

At Green Building Supply, we carry low- and zero-VOC water-based polyurethanes (yes, the only zero-VOC polyurethane finish on the market from Italy), as well as zero-VOC, water-based wood floor stains in a variety of colors. These we recommend for those who cannot tolerate strong odors. These are typically used in conjunction with one another to produce the best low-maintenance, long-lasting finish.

For those wishing to refinish or restore oiled hardwood floors in older homes or who are installing new vintage wide-plank floors with matte finishes, we offer a wide range of oil-based wood floor sealers. We also carry the only zero-VOC oil and stain combination from Europe that can be applied in one application, saving you time and money. While oiled finishes require more routine maintenance than polyurethane finishes, they allow for quicker move-in times, usually within a few days versus a few weeks, with less dust in—and disruption to—your household.

Once you’ve completed staining or refinishing your hardwood floor, we offer a variety of hard-to-find floor waxes, maintenance oils, and cleaners made specifically to protect and enhance the beauty of your floor for years to come.

At Green Building Supply, we’ve researched and tested thousands of products in order to find the best non-toxic options. However, because every person and application is different, we always recommend that you order samples and test for yourself.

Sustainability is our passion at Green Building Supply. We specialize in the safest building products, which work as well as—or better than—those that use harmful chemicals. If you’re looking for flooring products that are safe, non-toxic, effective, and versatile, Green Building Supply is your one-stop source.

Have questions? We have answers. Check out the Q&A section at the bottom of each product page of our website or read some of the 9,000-plus five-star reviews. Or you can call our staff of trained experts at 1-800-405-0222. We’re available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, or 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Since 1991, we have helped thousands find the right products for their specific hardwood-floor-finishing project, and we can help you, too.

This page was written by Joel Hirshberg