Replies

1. 
   OneofmanyBobs | Oct 28, 2003 04:39pm | #1

   Big mistake.  Wax is 10 times as difficult, high maintenance, fouls things up if you ever do want a varnish finish.  Not resistant to water, alcohol.  Attracts dirt.  Don't.  Same goes for oil finishes.  Linseed smells bad.  Poor protection.  Tung is better.  They do not attract bacteria, but don't protect too well either.  You also don't want to wait weeks for them to fully cure.  You'd only use these things to match something historic with the same finish.  Not practical.

   Use a modern catalyzed urethane.  3 coats.  Have the contractor buff it to make it low gloss.  You can wax on top of that if you're dead set on it.  HAve him finish a sample piece or a closet to see what it looks like.  Expensive floor.  You don't want to mess it up and do it over.

2. 
   hammer1 | Oct 28, 2003 10:23pm | #2

   CZ

   Peoples recommendations are based on experience as well as hearsay. Companies do 1000's of floors but they may have experience in only a few types or brands of finish. Pick brains but before choosing, research specific products, read labels and understand manufacturers instructions. Some products may have serious health consequences for the applicator, cat-polys for example. Please beware the sages who mix their own special concoctions and don't expect too much from the web either. Free advice is worth what you paid for it.

1. 
   cz | Oct 29, 2003 12:49am | #3

   Hammer,

   Thanks for your input. Everything you said makes good sense. We would really like to use wax, but don't want to make a big mistake by making that choice. I'm hoping to hear from someone who has actually waxed a floor and lived to tell about it.

   CZ

1. 
   HeavyDuty | Nov 02, 2003 06:53am | #7

   I did. When I was a teenager living at home I was resposible for looking after our teak floor. It was laid in a basket weave pattern and we had to do it about once every couple of months. We had to use our feet and steel wool to clean off the old wax and refresh the wood, then we put on paste floor wax, let dry and polished with a weighted manual polisher. Not too appealing to a teenager when you could have done a lot of other interesting stuff than waxing the floor.

3. 
   NCLaquer | Oct 29, 2003 06:38am | #4

   I am having difficulty understanding why you might want to avoid a film finish.  I have personal experience with wax only wood floors and heavy use or not, the maintenance is substantial. 

   If you are trying to preserve the beauty, which I can certainly understand, try experimenting with several film finish options (water based/oil based urethanes in different sheens) on a piece of scrap to get an idea of the look.   To avoid yellowing in the long term, and given the low traffic, I would lean toward water based.  To minimize any resulting muting of the walnut beauty, I would suggest two coats maximum.

4. 
   HeavyDuty | Oct 29, 2003 07:37am | #5

   Depending on the look you want to achieve, you may want to shellac and wax or just wax your floor if you see the floor as furniture. High maintainence, minimun durability. For practicality, most prefer film finish. Oil is in between, easily repaired if needed. Why would oil attract bacteria? Never heard of it as an issue.

5. 
   mathiasraulf | Oct 29, 2003 02:02pm | #6

   Hi, in Germany we use a combination Oil-wax product, that comes as a fluid, is spread thinly with a wide brush and hardens out within 12 - 24 hrs.. We use four coats, with a 320grit scuff sanding after the 2nd or 3rd coat. Take away all dust at all times. This finish is called ASUSO Hartöl-Wachs, is alcohol and water resistant and comes in matte and semi-gloss. You can buff it up with a machine. I have only-waxed a floor on demand of the customer- look at my website (Galerie-Fußböden-pic. 2/14;4-14) It is an antique french floor we installed in Bavaria. This client has several people for maintenance: Machine polishing every 2nd, 3rd day. Water will show as white specks or rings... He was told all this. The floor is more than sexy...but only for someone willing to work hard at it. The hard-oil wax is maintenance free - just vacuuming and water mopping (little water on the mop). Applying wax on a large area is hazardous to your health...use a fume gas-mask. The solvents are cancerogenous. Mathias

   http://www.raulfcarpenters.com

   
   

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   Edited 10/29/2003 7:04:46 AM ET by Matt