Expert: Eileen Cronk - 5/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: Have new heart cedar paneling in our church kitchen. Can we seal the panels with something to reduce the odor?

ANSWER: Hi William
Nice to hear from you.
Not a lot of info here to go on.
Is "New Heart" a brand name?
Is this real cedar and a cedar smell you wish to mask or is it more a chemical type smell coming from "cedar looking" paneling?
And does it now have a coating of some kind?
Get back to me please
Regards
Eileen


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: These are newly sawn 1 x 6 tongue/grove boards from real cedar trees, boards selected are mostly heart, no coating of any time. Want to mask some of the smell if possible with a clear stain or sealer?

Answer
Hi again William
This clarifies the question.
What confused me was the word "panelling".
Here in Canada panelling is 4x8 sheets that look like boards.
We never refer to tung and groove boards as panelling.
Thats our history/ language lessen for the day LOL.
If these were my boards I would seal them with a water based poly in a satin sheen to seal the smell.
Can't think of another thing I would use except that.
I would get it in a wipe on.
Heres a link
http://www.minwax.com/products/water_based_clear_protective_finishes/water_based
Good luck
Regards
Eileen