Finishing Hardwood Floors - Comments
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Do you have any idea why a polyurethane sealer over a new pine wood floor (unfinished when laid)would fail to cure in four weeks? We're in rural Texas. Would be grateful for suggestions on how to get it to cure so the smell will go away. It was AFM Polyureseal BP, allegedly low VOC, low odor.
gf hale at February 2, 2008 09:27 AM
Posted by: gf hale at February 2, 2008 09:27 AMI don't know why that would be. It doesn't sound normal. Contact the manufacturer and ask them for help. The comment about it smelling makes me wonder what you really got -- my low VOC water-based polyurethane had minimal smell when wet and essentially none when dry. The oil-based still stinks after four years though.
The Flooring Lady at February 2, 2008 05:36 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at February 2, 2008 05:36 PMI have just had a Red Pine Living Room installed and a sealer was not applied before they put am oil finish on the floor. A Light Walnut colour was used and the colour is beautiful but when it is dry there are greyish areas around the knots and also along some of the wood pieces. It spoils the whole look. Should a sealer have been put on first. Can I sand it with a 120 sand paper and a square hand sander. If I apply a Varnish now will it cover the grey areas. Hope you can help.
Margaret Peppy at February 4, 2008 10:17 AM
Posted by: Margaret Peppy at February 4, 2008 10:17 AMSorry to hear the beautiful color isn't universal on your new flooring. Knots take stain and varnish/polyurethane differently than any of the other parts of the wood. You were right in not sealing the wood before staining it because the stain needs raw wood to work with.
In an inconspicuous area of the floor, try putting another coat of stain on the gray area of the knot, and other gray areas, to see if you like the results better. If it's better, try another coat until you are pleased with the results. When you are happy, do all of the gray areas the same way. When it's dry you can seal the floor to keep the beautiful look you want. It also protects the wood itself.
The Flooring Lady at February 4, 2008 10:47 AM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at February 4, 2008 10:47 AMShould I put a sealer on my hardwood floor before oiling it
Chitra at February 6, 2008 08:39 PM
Posted by: Chitra at February 6, 2008 08:39 PMNo.
The oil needs raw wood to do its job. The sealer protects the oil and the wood. Oil first. Seal second.
The Flooring Lady at February 6, 2008 11:08 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at February 6, 2008 11:08 PMHi Flooring lady,
I just moved into a new apartment. Not sure if the management installed new hardwood floor or just polished the old one. However, it looks brand spanking new. Problem is, my whole apartment now smells like new paint or burnish or something to that effect. Will the smell ever go away? I'm alergic to the smell and am finding it a little obnoxious. How do I get rid of this smell? Thank you. - Sunandan.
Sunandan at March 5, 2008 07:47 AM
Posted by: Sunandan at March 5, 2008 07:47 AMI'm going to guess the owner/manager refinished them for you. Find out what they used so you can determine how long it's going to last. If the product is oil based it's going to last a long time.
Things I'd do to get rid of the smell, or at least greatly reduce it include: * close the apartment up tight, cut an onion and place it cut-side up in a bowl of water in each room, turn the heat high and leave it for several days (assuming you have a place to go in the meantime). You may want to return to replace the onions with fresh ones. * if you have the luxury of it, open the windows wide and leave them open as much as you can. * put an ozone machine in the apartment and let it do its thing -- without you being there -- for several days.
Good luck. Those fumes are bad for everyone. You just happen to be one of the canaries who knows they are harmful, and suffer for it.
The Flooring Lady at March 5, 2008 01:20 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at March 5, 2008 01:20 PMHello. I am in the process of selling my house and the hardwood floors are in rough shape. I would like to save money by not sanding and refinishing them. My question is, can I get by with solely waxing and buffing my floors without having to go through the whole ordeal of sanding etc? Thanks, Chris.
Chris Miller at March 19, 2008 02:53 PM
Posted by: Chris Miller at March 19, 2008 02:53 PM
Not being able to see your hardwood floors makes answering your question a bit harder than it would otherwise be, but I'll give it a shot. Waxing and buffing the floors will improve their "curb appeal" - that first impression potential buyers get. That's probably what you really are after, making the home more showable.
I see two possible outcomes, as worst-case scenarios: 1) you may get a little less for your house than you want because of the shape of the floors. 2) the buyer may ask you to refinish the floors as a condition of closing.
On the upside I see the buyer may not care what the floors look like because they are going to do their own flooring when they move it. If that's the case you have attracted the buyer with the effort you put in but not wasted time and money "fixing" something that's not broken for them.
The Flooring Lady at March 19, 2008 03:01 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at March 19, 2008 03:01 PMComment Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
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