Historic Resources Committee

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Russell Sergeant AIA
Firm Owner
R E Sergeant AIA Architect
Mystic CT
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I own a house with southern pine floors that expand and contract with the changes of season and I've caulked a 42' tugboat with sisal rope [many years ago].  My two warnings are that 1] the v.o.c. levels of the primer and cover coat for the sisal would have to be sufficiently modified from the maritime application to be useable in a home, and 2] when the floor boards expand with summer humidity, you're going to have bulging sisal that whatever you top coat it with will wear down and you'll probably get sisal fibers blowing around your house.

My guess is that this is not a product that is readily adapted to use within habitable space. 

The cedar decking should expand and contract less than the pine, I would think. But you still have a cautionary tale there. We will monitor the sisal for bulging. In our installation of the sisal, since the cedar decking has radiused edges, we are stuffing the sisal down just below them, perhaps this will help with any bulging?

As to the fibers, yes, we are aware of that issue. We won't be using any marine-grade sealers. Just a waterseal product for decks.


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Mary Colette Wallace Assoc. AIA
President
The Wallace Research Group
Bellevue WA
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