Vermont Natural Coatings

VT Natural Coatings Can on a hardwood floor

Vermont Natural Coatings patented PolyWhey® technology has emerged as a new category of wood finish, delivering easy-to-use products with the highest performance and environmental standards. And now, Bibens Ace is proud to say it is available at all Bibens Ace locations.

We use whey protein, a byproduct of cheese making, to displace toxic ingredients found in traditional finishes. PolyWhey® floor and furniture finishes and our new Exterior Penetrating Stain and Water Proofer, are the choice of professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike.

Enjoy free delivery with qualified orders or free in-store pickup at your convenience, when you shop with Bibens Ace

Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey® Interior Wood Finish is a Better Wood Finish… Naturally!

With PolyWhey, you don’t have to choose between a wood finish that is durable, professional grade, and green. Our next generation polyurethane is all of these attributes wrapped up in one.

Vermont Natural Coatings Interior Floor and Furniture Finishes

Professional quality with unprecedented performance

Bedroom with custom wood painted with Vermont Natural Coatings

Twice the hardness of other finishes
Seals and protects against water and chemicals
Clear finish enhances wood grain without yellowing
Easy, single product application
More coverage—500-600 sq ft per gallon
Fast drying— three coats in a day

Easy cleanup with soap and water
Complies with requirements of Material Resource Credit 4.1
Environmental Quality Credit 4.2 under LEED
Safe for people pets & the environment
Neutral Odor
Low VOC

Vermont Natural Coatings Exterior Finishes

Our products deliver outstanding protection for exterior wood surfaces like siding, decking, and furniture. Our Exterior Penetrating Stains include UV protection, sealer, and attractive colors, while our Exterior Penetrating Water Proofer Infused With Juniper is unmatched for moisture, mold, and mildew protection, all while allowing wood to gray/age naturally.

cows around a picnic eyeing a can of Vermont Natural Coatings and a paint brush

Easy application
Safe for people, pets & the environment
Water proofer safe over water for docks
Low or no VOC
The most effective water proofer available

Built environments – floors, furniture, homes, schools, offices, and outbuildings – are central to our lives and communities. At Vermont Natural Coatings, we are dedicated to developing non-toxic wood finish technologies that are grounded in sustainability, easy to use, and stand up to the test of time. Born of academic inquiry, scientific innovation, and Vermont ingenuity, our coatings meet the building industry’s highest performance and safety standards.

Thanks to scientific advancements and an increased awareness worldwide, we are in the midst of a sustainability revolution on the rise. Now more than ever, corporate responsibility and transparency are of the utmost importance. As conscious global citizens and producers, we are committed to building sustainable systems and making responsible choices that nurture the health and vitality of our homes, communities and planet, now and for generations to come.

Our products set new and higher standards of safety, performance and environmental responsibility. In an industry where toxins are the norm, Vermont Natural Coatings has found a ‘Safer Whey’.

What is PolyWhey?

PolyWhey technology was developed by University of Vermont scientists who were on a mission to create environmentally responsible products. PolyWhey uses whey protein, a byproduct of the cheese making industry, as crosslinkers between wood-protecting resins and the water-based liquid that carries them. Through this process, we replace the use of toxic solvents commonly found in other coatings. We’ve revolutionized the coatings industry by bringing to market wood finishes that are free of carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxins, have a neutral odor and are easy to cleanup with soap and water.

Vermont Natural Coatings finishes do not contain any of the Prop 65 substances, and all of our products are safe for people, pets and the environment. We’re proud to be leading the movement to change the coatings industry by refusing to accept that toxic ingredients are a necessity in creating a high-quality product.

FAQs

What is PolyWhey?

PolyWhey is the trade name for the patented processed used by Vermont Natural Coatings to use whey protein, a byproduct of cheese making, as the transformative ingredient in its wood finishes.

PolyWhey has greater durability, with a cured hardness that is twice that of the average water-based finish. It also has 25% less VOC content than the standard that most water-based finishes try to meet. PolyWhey accomplishes this by using whey, a natural, renewable resource, as its bonding agent.

Is it durable?

Absolutely. Independent tests confirm that Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey finishes are among the most durable on the market. They have stood the test of time on residential and commercial floors and in furniture manufacturing.

What makes PolyWhey a Green product?

Our formulations use whey protein as the bonding agent. Whey is a renewable resource and a natural by-product of the dairy industry. This use of a natural product in our professional finishes translates to low VOCs, and better indoor air quality.

What does VOC stand for?

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, evaporate into the air from many substances. These off-gasses contribute to smog production and health problems from inhalation. Petroleum products, like oil-based finishes, have harmful levels of these VOCs and are easily identifiable by their noxious smell.

What is the VOC level in Vermont Natural Coatings?

The VOC level for Vermont Natural Coatings finishes range from ≤180g/L (grams per liter) in our floor finish to zero VOC in our Penetrating Water Proofer Infused with Juniper. The toughest indoor air quality standard for wood finish in the United States is California’s 275g/L.

What makes Vermont Natural Coatings safe?

Our products not only contain ultra-low VOC levels, but they also are free from carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxins that can still be found in many products that claim to have low or no VOCs.

How soon can I walk on my newly finished PolyWhey floor?

Once the finish is dry, it can be walked on with care. Keep in mind, the less action the surface sees before it has come to a full cure, the better. Do not put anything fibrous on the floor until it has come to a full cure – rugs, newspaper, cardboard, etc. The important distinction here is the difference between ‘dry’ and ‘fully cured’. While your PolyWhey surface will feel dry to the touch within a few hours of application, full cure time is seven days.

What is BioPreferred?

USDA BioPreferred is a certification program for products with high percentages of bio-based (naturally sourced, non-petroleum based, raw) ingredients. This program reflects our dedication to building a sustainable future by producing safe and healthy coatings while decreasing our reliance on/use of fossil fuels. Look for the USDA BioPreferred logo on cans of PolyWhey.

Do VNC finishes contain Flame Retardants?

PolyWhey finishes do not contain any flame retardants. Chemical flame retardants added to paints and coatings are known to be carcinogenic, harmful to human health, and release even more toxins when they do burn. Our finishes do not contain any of these harmful chemicals, nor do they increase the flame spread of an existing fire.

What is a Class A Flame Spread Rating?

Flame spread ratings categorize a surface material’s capacity to catch, burn and spread flames in an existing fire. Materials are ranked on a scale of increasing flammability from Class A – C. PolyWhey finishes have a Class A Flame Spread rating, the lowest and safest possible in the industry.

What is Zero Flash Point?

Flash point refers to the temperature at which the vapors of a volatile substance will ignite. PolyWhey finishes have zero flash point – this means that the vapors of our finishes do not spontaneously combust.

Application

Is it easy to use?

Very easy to use. Our floor and furniture finishes self-level and have great flow, ensuring a uniform finish. We recommend a light sand with fine grit after the first coat. You can apply with a brush, foam brush, or paint pad. For detailed application instructions- (take from current website)

Does it yellow when exposed to UV light?

Our interior finishes remain clear when exposed to interior UV light. PolyWhey Exterior has UV inhibitors to protect your decks, fences and siding from the sun’s rays.

How do I prepare a surface for a VNC finish?

If applying to previously finished wood, sand in order to remove old finish before applying new finish. If sanding entire surface is not desired, be sure to sand areas of distress that can cause flaking, in order to blend edges. Apply the product directly to the surface or the sealer coatings.

Is it possible to have a different level of gloss?

PolyWhey Furniture finish is available in gloss, semi-gloss and satin. PolyWhey Floor finish is available in matte, semi-gloss and satin. Large volume customers should contact us to request a custom finish.

Vermont Natural Coatings:

Beautiful wood finishes. Durable and safe.