Pros And Cons Of Wood Floor Finishes

klucrezi

Ok, I am about done laying 1600 feet of fir flooring. Got some good info on filling gaps in an earlier post. Now I am interested in the finish. So many choices. I did one years ago with "Gym Coat" and it smelled for about a year. Our local high school did there gym and it smelled for 2 years. Not what I want in our home. I am living in the house as we finish. I have been thinking about a wax finish but most people try to talk me out of it. I have not heard a reason why not to use a wax finsh that really makes any sence yet. The floor is a "very rustic" fir, its only in the kids bedrooms, the tv rroom and the play room. I expect that it will see spills from time to time. I am not wooried about wear. In fact I have thought about distressing even more. I plan to fill knot holes but leave planer chunks and dents and dings. I like the idea of wax because I expect the floor will get abuse and a wax touch up would be easier than sanding and poly finish areas that get damaged. I build houses for a living but I am no flooring expert. My expert says "street shoe" is the ticket. He cant tell me why no wax though. So at the risk of a huge debate, I am looking for a bonafide reason why wax is a bad idea and what would be better and why. Thanks in advance for the time.

jamestrd

wax needs annual maintenace
shows wear quicker and leaves water markings from cleaning... most wood floor cleaners will leave spots if you spray directly to floor..
for 3 years or so you will need to rebuff and wax, then you will need to strip wax and start over...

if you want an easy finish to maintain and touch up, go tung oil...2 coats and call it a day.

tung oil is very user friendly,,, scratches and wear easily touched up..apply 1 coat..allow 2 days to dry..then second and your done...

I also stand by street shoe super matte..
either will give the floor a nice antiqued and natural look..

klucrezi

jamestrd, seems we should be emailing each other. Ok. So I have heard that the wax wearsquicker, yet to touch up areas like high traffic spots and stairs, yoiu can spot treat by simply applying more wax, and buff. I am not opposed to buying a buffer.
I have looked at tung oil. Not seen a floor done that way. I have done food grade wood work using it. Cuting boards and butcher blocks. They always seem a bit oily untill they have been washed many times. They are however pretty water proof. We had a wooden bowl that lasted years and we never added oil to it. Have you used tung oil yourself? I am curious as to how long the surface stays oily.

Edger Boy

Pure Tung oil is very slow drying. One of the best Tung oil finishes for wood floors is Waterlox. It is formulated so it gives better wear resistance and dries over night. This finish is also easy to touchup unlike a poly finish.
We waxed many floors in the past. We did not have all the excellent finish choices we have now.

The Waterlox ingredients are:
Mineral Sprits
Specially processed Tung oil
Ester gum
Phenolic resin
And specially processed linseed oil


Here is a Carlisle new heart pine floor we just completed. It is solid 5/8” x 5.25”– 7.25”– 8.50”glued to the slab. We used the Waterlox four coat system. Two coats of their Tung oil sealer and two coats of their Tung oil satin. This system has a build of finish on the surface similar to a poly finish but is easy to spot repair by just wiping on then off more finish on scratches or worn areas. You can also apply this finish by buffing it on then buffing it off. This system gives a hand rubbed oil look without a build of finish on the surface.

jamestrd

Typically tung oil needs a good solid 2 days.. you can apply with lambswool.
I like Waterlox prodcuts.
Approach job like any finish. buff between coats and apply second.. 2 is all you need.

You can also handwipe, but giving the size of space, i would use lambswool.

yes I have used it on my occasions, all commercial and on pine.. when you scratch the floor, just give it a quick hand sand and wipe on some oil and it blends right in.
Restaraunts i have done with it lasted very long.
Wtaerlox also make sealers with tung oil in it..same applications apply..
In the right drying environment, floor should be ready for use in 2 days.
if you want to go private my email is flortecjh@aol.com

James

jamestrd

my reply crossed with above..

Nice job edger boy.

Edger Boy

Thanks James,

Carlisle and Waterlox recomends their four coat system on this soft pine. This floor still looked thirsty until the fourth coat was applied. They wanted the finish to stand on the surface for a smooth look so it took all four coats to accomplish this. I guess the number of coats depends on the wood and the desired look. I like the look of two coats buffed on then off. There is almost no sheen but the rich color and protection is still there from the tung oil.

Justin

klucrezi

If I remember right, tung oil you put on till the wood stops taking it. Then you wipe off the rest? I like the fact that it holds up to commercial use. I am interested in more info about aplication, and coloring. I remember seeing a tung oil with a darker color. So no pre staining required. I have built alot of cabinets and know how important sanding is if dark stain is going to be used. If I can get a darker color in the oil and avoid the stain it would save alot of sanding time.

klucrezi

Went to the waterlox web site. Got all the info. Thats the one. Going to order tommorow. I will try to post some pics of the progress.