Refinishing pre-finished hardwood floors
We just installed 3 1/2 wide maple prefinished floors. Because of a milling error there are ridges along the short and long side of most boards – the tongues and groovees are not aligned. We cannot replace the floor in time to meet out move in date. The manufacture has offered to sand the floors and finish them with oil base polyurthane.
I have two qeustions. First, how many coats to get close to the factory finishes durability?
Second, my experience with oil based poly on maple is that it turns yellow. Would water based be better? Again how many coats?
Thanks.
Replies
First off, I`m hoping this is solid wood and not laminated flooring. You`ll be shortening the life of either.....but with laminated, you may only get one more "refinish" out of them.
Oil base poly "yellows" with age on all flooring, not just maple. It may be more noticable on floors without stains though. That being said, oil base is still my preference. Its all part of the patina of the product over time, but thats just a personal opinion.
I specify a minimum of four finish coats on all my flooring jobs. I don`t know what the manufacturer of your flooring claims to be the product lifespan, but I`ve not noticed the prefinished being any more or any less durable than the site finished.
Screw Pete!
Gabe for Governor!
"I don`t know what the manufacturer of your flooring claims to be the product lifespan, but I`ve not noticed the prefinished being any more or any less durable than the site finished."That is very interesting. Given the high tech of the factory applied finishes, I would have assumed that the factory finish would be substantially tougher and more durable.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
I always recomend unfinished flooring to my clients.
I believe its a better product overall. Can`t think of any other products that can be installed and left untouched as the finished product off the top of my head. (You wouldn`t try building furniture with prefinished pieces...and there are a lot more variables in a flooring installation.)
That said, I have installed more than a few of the prefinished. Of those, the ones that I`ve seen down the line have not appeared to hold up any better.
One in particular...for a buddy of mine. After two years it was begining to show signs of wear. Just him and his wife in the house...and the two of them are immaculate. Both leave a pair of slippers by the back door so that they can slip off their shoes as they come through the door. I was over there earlier this weak. Its about time they had it refinished.
I woulda thunk that floor was gonna outlive him.
Screw Pete!
Gabe for Governor!
Water based would stay clearer, but tell the factory that you want the wood to have the same color as it did out of the box and let them select the finish.
What brand was it? Did you notice the defect as it was being laid? Was it hard to get them to accept responsibility?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.