Here is what our client with severe chemical sensitivities, Rosemary Hippe of Seattle, had to say about us and our custom cabinets:

I was referred to Beech Tree Woodworks by the architect who designed our new house.  Because I have multiple chemical sensitivity, everything used to build the house had to be zero or low VOC.  

My first impression of Nic and his team was they enjoyed working with wood.  It is not just a job.  Second, I did not react to anything in the shop even though they were staining and finishing some pieces as I toured the shop.  These were the two deciding factors for my choosing them to build all my cabinets.

The fact that BTW was aware of the harmful effects of building materials and was already using products that I did not react to was a huge benefit.  They understood what would be required to successfully work with someone with chemical sensitivity.  It can be frustrating to work with chemically sensitive people because each one reacts to different chemicals.  ​
ABOUT VOCs
VOC is an abbreviation for volatile organic compounds. The EPA states, "VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects."  Click here to visit the EPA's website

The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health effect.

SIGNS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO VOCs
  • Eye, nose and throat irritation
  • Headaches, loss of coordination, nausea and dizziness
  • Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system
  • Some can cause cancer in animals, some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
  • Allergic skin reaction
  • Unexplained fatigue

Higher concentrations of VOCs are typically found indoors, which is worrisome since we spend so much time inside. That is why it is so important to bring the green inside! 

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DO THIS
Reduce the source of VOC, when remodeling or building be sure your contractors source green quality products.​ Click here for some information on which products to look for. Here is some specific information about cabinets.

Mitigate whatever you have through ventilation and filtration. 
​This TED talk, How to Grow Fresh Air explains how specific plants improve indoor air quality.

California is the leader in creating and implementing laws to protect the environment and human health. Some of the above information is drawn from these findings. 
Vertical Divider
DISCLAIMER : While it is our mission at BEECH TREE WOODWORKS to provide a product that is the lowest VOC's available and the most neutral for the chemical sensitive, we do not claim that we can guarantee against any intolerant  reaction to our product. Please discuss with us your particular needs.