Timber floor polishing is a misconstrued term. The application of a protective finish to a timber floor should be more accurately referred to as ‘coating’ or ‘finishing’. The truth is no timber floor coating actually polishes the floor. Timber floor coatings provide a finish which can be of gloss appearance, however polishing is a maintenance process done after the application of the floor coating. Find out more about the Difference between coating and polishing a Timber Floor
“When can we use our floor?” is a common question. The bad news is if you’re using solvent based finishes you’ll need to vacate either the part of your house that has been re-coated, or even move out completely, sometimes for days. The good news is if you’re using water-based finishes you don’t have to move out at all, just wait for the coating to cure properly before you can walk on the floor and bring back in furniture etc. That’s usually around 24hrs but can vary according to the finish used, temperature, humidity and other conditions. Find out more about How soon you can use your floor after coating.
It is a consumer’s choice to either use a solvent, or a water-based floor finish. Solvent-based timber floor coatings are toxic, carry serious health risks and are harmful to the environment. Water-based coatings are non-toxic and environmentally responsible. Bona pioneered the development of water-based floor finishes in 1979 and is now the recognised world leader in non-toxic water-based coatings for timber floors. Read more about Solvent-based vs water-based finishes here…
The myth that solvent based floor finishes wear better is not correct. Today’s polyurethane technology means that the best water-based polyurethane finishes provide wear resistance superior to that of a solvent-based product – and are 100% polyurethane based without toxic fumes. Water-based finishes are a preferred choice for commercial premises due to their wear resistant properties and non-toxic composition. Minimal disturbance is required as there are no toxic fumes or health risks.
Bona are the world leader in high quality durable floor finishes and since the early 1990’s ceased production completely of toxic solvent based finishes, now exclusively producing water-based finishes only. This is in line with EU regulations which ban the use of toxic solvent based finishes in EU countries.
Bona coatings have been used to coat more than 2 billion m2 of flooring worldwide. They have been sold in Australia for over 20 years and used to coat flooring at Old Parliament House, Parliament House, The National Gallery National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, the National Gallery Vic, State Library Vic and Melbourne Museum, Adelaide Oval and the main auditorium stage at Sydney Opera House plus countless other commercial and residential projects.
The difference in product cost between using a water-based finish and a solvent finish is usually about $4 – $6 per m². This is a small difference when the many benefits of a non-toxic water-based finish are taken into account. For example, there is no need to move out during the finishing of the floor. If you are only having floors in part of your house being coated then you can use the remainder of the house. Similarly there are no lingering odours or solvents as there would be with a solvent-based finish so you can reoccupy the coated areas quickly with no fear of being exposed to dangerous chemicals.
It is always difficult to be able to advise what specification is needed for a floor without having information regarding the expected traffic levels, the required appearance with regard to colour / sheen / depth of the finish, the expected floor care regime and the budget considerations. In general terms, the Bona finishes we use are all suitable for heavy domestic use, but the different types have varying performance levels. For instance, if you have a young family with pets and expect that your floors will be subject to very heavy wear then you may wish to use one of our commercial finishes, such as Bona Traffic GO or Traffic HD, whereas if the floor has typical residential use then Bona Mega or Mega EVO would be more suitable.
Whichever specification you decide upon there’s a few things that you should make sure of. Every floor needs a primer, followed by 2 applications of a compatible finish. Cross matching different primers and finishes wil not work. Similarly using a different finish for the middle coat compared to the final coat can bring issues and compromise your floor. If you are unsure as to which product to use on your floor always speak to your contractor first. An expert contractor tradesman will always recommend the appropriate level of finish wear to suit the application.
We always recommend the use of a quality primer such as Bona Classic UX, Intense, or Classic. Firstly, you save money because a primer costs less than a top coat. More importantly apart from the savings there are sound technical reasons to use a dedicated primer. Primers ensure the floor has an even look without discolouration or a patchy appearance and minimise any possibility of edge bonding occurring with your floor. You also save time because primer products dry faster than top-coats.
Caring for a timber floor is simple. To begin with take preventative measures to minimize the floor getting dirty by using door mats and cleaning up spillage as soon as possible. Make sure that all furniture has felt pads and non-marking feet. Use a neutral detergent floor cleaning solution to regularly clean the floor. Sanding and Recoating may be necessary every 7 – 9 years if the floor has been subject to heavy wear but in many houses this timescale can be extended significantly.
To ensure that coated timber floors stay in good condition we use and recommend Bona floor care products. Bona make a range of dedicated cleaning products for timber floors. They are Swedish made and non-toxic Greenguard Certified and are widely available through more than 500 Australia wide retailers. Head here to find Bona Floor Care Retailers.
The subject of the effects of light on a timber floor is quite involved and not easily summarized in a single paragraph. Head here to read more about The Effects of Sunlight on Coated Timber Floors
Dogs and pets in general are great. We all recognize the benefits that owning a dog brings to our families and our lives in different ways, but dog ownership also effects what happens around the house, in particular the effect it has on your timber floor. Head here for more information on How to deal with the interaction between your dog and your timber floor.