Finishing

Unfinished boards generally need a light sanding with a finishing orbital sander and 120-150 grit paper. Vacuum to remove all dust and then using a finish of your choice, seal the floor. We stock all types of sealant and they are as follows:

Rapid Hard Wax Oil: a base of natural sustainable material raw materials such as linseed, sunflower and jojoba oils, bees, carnauba and candelilla waxes. It is quick drying (2 coats in 4 hours) and more importantly cures in 24 hours.

Treatex: very similar to Rapid Hard Wax Oil.

Oil Wood 119 Traffic & Super OP: 10% sheen, a new 3rd generation lacquer, a superb finish that has all the beauty of Oil but with the durability of a top grade lacquer. It is easy to apply using a brush, applicator, foam roller, paint pad or cloth, you will need to lightly abrade between coats with either 240 grit sandpaper or screen back disk, apply 2nd coat with cloth or paint pad. 2 coats are sufficient in a domestic situation, 3 for commercial use. For a more matt look, use lighter coats, for a glossier finish apply slightly heavier coats.

Bona Traffic: A 2 pack waterborne 100% polyurethane floor lacquer, ideal for commercial and domestic areas subject to extremely high l evels of use or where a very matt finish is required. Coverage = approximately 45-50m2 per 4.5ltr + .5ltr pack. Apply with a BonaKemi roller or other suitable applicator which must be dry when used.

Bona Mega: Single pack waterborne 100% polyurethane oxygen cross linking wood floor lacquer, ideal for commercial and domestic areas subject to heavy wear. Coverage approximately 45-50m2 per 5ltr can.

Maintenance

Always have a dust-attracting mat at entrance sites; this will prevent any sharp stones or dirt scratching the floor.

In a domestic situation a California Mop is an easy use “must have”; it will keep floors clean and dust free. Always vacuum, sweep or dry mop the floor before you clean with a maintenance product. Use felt pads on the feet of furniture to protect the floor from excessive scratching. We do have a comprehensive list of maintenance products in stock and we will give you all the advice, help and products you will need to keep your floors looking good.

In a commercial location a full maintenance schedule is available, in many situations the manufacturer of product sealing the timber will talk to and train the cleaning staff. Felt pads or other forms of protection need to be used on the feet or base of furniture to protect from excessive scratching of the floor. Heavy scratching will break seal of the lacquer causing damage to the timber by the ingress of dirt and moisture from cleaning. If you maintain your floor, the original seal should remain intact and so should alleviate the need for re-sanding and sealing. This can be achieved through using polishes on lacquered floors and regular oiling/cleaning of oiled floors.