…or Construction Finishes.
I am about to embark on sanding these builder grade stair stringers and treads. Planning on a finished bead board sheet cut into risers after stairs are finished.
Looking for the best product for a clear natural finish. Client is in the house and has cats, which we can keep out. The weather is great this week in Virginia so we can shut off the air handler and open windows upstairs and in the walk out basement.
What do you recommend for a finish that has good wear and low to moderate VOC aspects? I have Minwax Polycrylic onsite. Water-based or oil based?
Thanks.
Replies
I highly recommend Bona Traffic floor finish. https://www.bona.com.au/products/finishes/traffic
I've used it on several floors and it holds up very well, and has little smell.
Yes its expensive. But well worth it.
I agree. We had our oak flooring refinished and this was used.
I ordered some and it works great. The water based formula make it friendly to animals and people in the area, and allows several coats in a day.
Bona makes several versions.
Decide if you want gloss or a satin (which has plastic suspended so you have to keep it stirred.)
A wool applicator on a clean surface will amaze you.
unclemike42
Wool applicator? Can you provide a little more detail or a link to the product recommended please.
Bona did come to mind. Thanks for the direction.
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Masters-30500-Stain-Applicator/dp/B000I1AOP2/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=lambs+wool+applicator&qid=1676589916&sr=8-13
I should have said lambswool. Small one hand version should do the stairs just fine. they sell larger ones you use a broom handle with to do large flooring areas. that would get in the way on your stairs.
I also used a small good quality brush (so you do not chase stray bristles around) for the corners (as you will have many interior corners)
the field will be great with thin coats using this or a similar applicator.
If you work from top to bottom of those stairs with the applicator in one hand and a small brush and stirrer in a quart, or half gallon or so plastic pail half full or less of the finish, you will be done with a coat before you know it.
You should be able to pour some on a step, spread it around with the lambswool applicator, do the riser and side, brush if you need to spread around excess from corners, and trim the top edge.
Follow directions for recoat, and be done in a nice day or so.
I think I roughed up/smoothed a bit with a green scratchy pad followed by a damp rag between coats.
soap and water will clean up the applicator pretty well for next time.
You probably can cover the brush and applicator in a plastic bag between coats if you like, and clean at the end of the day.
With a quick dry latex finish all you might have to do is read a couple chapters in a book as you wait at the bottom till dry.
Oil base, do every other tread on the way down then tomorrow, do the others.
No kidding, had a homeowner tell me he had to pee in the sump crock saving $ diy.