Sealants and Finishes
One of the challenges we faced throughout was what kinds of adhesives sealants and finishes to use. Each person with MCS has their own list of what they do and don't tolerate, but adhesives, sealants and finishes are notoriously toxic.
Adhesives
Our first decision was to avoid adhesives as much as possible, and rely instead of mechanical attachment by using screws and rivets. But we did make an exception for attaching the aluminum interior walls to the metal frame. Because everything inside the walls is sealed away from interior air space, we decided to use 3M Very High Bond (VHB) adhesive tape, which is widely used in construction. For the ceiling, we did use screws, because in order to allow for the extra thick insulation I wanted, we had to suspend the second layer of foam from the first in a somewhat elaborate plan that included thin strips of wood. Because the adhesive tape is so strong and once it sticks, sticks forever, we limited its use to areas where it was easy to maneuver the metal sheets into the right position. We also used non-toxic caulk as an adhesive in some places.
Our first decision was to avoid adhesives as much as possible, and rely instead of mechanical attachment by using screws and rivets. But we did make an exception for attaching the aluminum interior walls to the metal frame. Because everything inside the walls is sealed away from interior air space, we decided to use 3M Very High Bond (VHB) adhesive tape, which is widely used in construction. For the ceiling, we did use screws, because in order to allow for the extra thick insulation I wanted, we had to suspend the second layer of foam from the first in a somewhat elaborate plan that included thin strips of wood. Because the adhesive tape is so strong and once it sticks, sticks forever, we limited its use to areas where it was easy to maneuver the metal sheets into the right position. We also used non-toxic caulk as an adhesive in some places.
Sealants and Finishes
We chose Safecoat sealant for all our caulking needs--around windows, plumbing, and so on. We also used it in a few places as an adhesive. I've never had any problem with this product and the crew found it easy to use.
I spent quite a while researching finished for the exposed wood: indoor floor, deck floor and furniture. Bioshield is one of my favorite non-toxic paint and finish companies. I tested samples of many different products and found that the ones I tolerated were their floor and furniture wax, and their water based polyurethane. Many products claim to be non-toxic and still have a strong smell that my body reacts to. For the outdoor wood, I went with VOC free Lumber-Seal, a product from Home Depot.
We chose Safecoat sealant for all our caulking needs--around windows, plumbing, and so on. We also used it in a few places as an adhesive. I've never had any problem with this product and the crew found it easy to use.
I spent quite a while researching finished for the exposed wood: indoor floor, deck floor and furniture. Bioshield is one of my favorite non-toxic paint and finish companies. I tested samples of many different products and found that the ones I tolerated were their floor and furniture wax, and their water based polyurethane. Many products claim to be non-toxic and still have a strong smell that my body reacts to. For the outdoor wood, I went with VOC free Lumber-Seal, a product from Home Depot.