Found your company on the internet, got a bunk bed delivered about a week ago with a strong chemical smell. I researched it and the smell seems to be coming from the unfinished bed slats. They appear to be plywood and since the bed was made in Vietnam, I'm concerned they didn't have a standard regarding formaldehyde. I can't return the bed - all sales final. Do you think I could use one of your sealers to seal it? What product would you suggest and what quantity would I need? SAMPLE - AFM SafeCoat, Safe Seal Wood Stains & Sealers

Question

Found your company on the internet, got a bunk bed delivered about a week ago with a strong chemical smell. I researched it and the smell seems to be coming from the unfinished bed slats. They appear to be plywood and since the bed was made in Vietnam, I'm concerned they didn't have a standard regarding formaldehyde. I can't return the bed - all sales final. Do you think I could use one of your sealers to seal it? What product would you suggest and what quantity would I need? SAMPLE - AFM SafeCoat, Safe Seal Wood Stains & Sealers

Status: Open Jul 14, 2016 - 12:00 PM

1answer

Answer

Jul 14, 2016 - 12:00 PM

So sorry to hear of this issue! There could very well be a lot of formaldehyde in the wood, and that can take a lot of time to fully off-gas. You should be able to encapsulate the off-gassing with a sealer like AFM's Safe Seal. Safe Seal is especially good for plywood material, or other composites like chipboard or particleboard. Apply 2 coats, and when it's dry the emissions will be blocked, and most, if not all, of the chemical smell will be gone. You can use a paint brush or paint roller to apply. A quart size covers 80 square feet in one coat. In the meantime, try and keep the area ventilated as much as possible.