Finishes include all surface materials and treatments in the home. They are what is seen on a daily basis and, along with furnishings, constitute the personal signature of the owner. Finishes are the predominant source of odors in a new home. They can introduce a multitude of toxic volatile organic compounds into the air and will continue to volatilize, or out — gas, for years after the home is completed. However, when chosen carefully, finishes can enhance health and well-being as well as add to the aesthetic value of the home.
Until recently, nonpolluting finishing products were considered specialty items. Fortunately, healthier products are now regularly appearing on the market. Many of these are easily accessible, cost competitive, and comparable in performance to their more toxic counterparts. Some even have the ability to improve air quality by sealing in toxins that may be present in underlying materials.
In some regions, traditional nontoxic finish materials are readily available and widely used. In the Southwest, for example, tile, stone, natural wood, and plaster are commonplace, whereas in many regions of the country they have been replaced even in custom homes by wall-to-wall carpeting, vinyl wall coatings, laminate cabinetry, and other synthetic substitutes. When you build a healthy home, we encourage you to take full advantage of the traditional materials native to your region.
Plaster generally provides a healthful interior wall finish. Because of the labor and skill involved in its application it is a more expensive finish, but it is much sought after for its beauty. Plaster has the ability to block the small amount of VOCs present in the gypsum lath and taped joints that it covers in frame construction. Although this dense material works well as an air barrier, plaster will develop gaps due to shrinkage and on occasion will develop
