Hardwood Floors April/May 2025

• Combination(s) of the causes listed, exacerbated by excessive floor movement, exposure of the floor to too high/low of temperatures/RH.

of a hardener or crosslinker, which can lead to incomplete development of or variableness of film properties like adhesion, chemical resistance, and hardness, which can translate to said variableness in a succeeding coat. These are not mixed or added in the factory; we rely on the contractor to do so on-site, while following manufacturer recommendations. We do NOT want you to have problems (it costs both of us time and money), so the recommendations on the back of the jugs and hardener/ crosslinker bottles are based on our lab and field testing. Further, it is possible for components to separate over time, exacerbated by storage situations of abnormal heating/cooling cycles. This is one reason that manufacturers print a “best used by,” expiration date, etc. on each unit of coating product. In this case, effects could be uneven or higher/lower sheen, issues with flow and leveling, drying and curing, properties development, etc. How critical is it to abide by cure/dry times? Manufacturers provide recommended dry and cure times to allow the finish to achieve maximum performance, including adhesion, flexibility, chemical resistance, hardness, etc. Said dry/cure times are based on lab, then field testing. Believe me, we do NOT want you to have problems, so we do our due diligence ahead-of-time. Remember, these times work in concert with our recommended temperature and RH ranges for storage, floor preparation, coating, use, and maintenance. What causes chipping/flaking finish? There are numerous possible causes of chipping/flaking finish, including: • Poor intercoat adhesion. » Inadequate intercoat abrasion or surface preparation. » Coating too early over a previous coat/lack of adhesion to stain at board edges, either remaining isolated along a seam or, once removed, migrating inward (more so in an overwood situation [see above.]) • Chemical damage. Think old-school nail polish remover (acetone) and others that can first swell or otherwise deform some finishes, after which said finish may flake/chip off; usually confined to the damaged area. • Too large of a difference in the elasticity of adjacent coatings. • Overwood. Overwood places a finish system in a geometric position that it is not designed for: concentrated force perpendicular to the coating system. Even the best coating system, with great adhesion, can fail in this situation.

What can be done if finish is peeling on a floor? The easiest solution is to place a rug (with the proper backing) over it; strange at first, but you get used to

it. Seriously, folks, first identify the cause, then proceed accordingly. For a true spot failure, like pulled tape or a chemical drip, resolution

may be as simple as isolating a board or boards and applying another coat (after proper preparation). Or it may require resanding said boards and building them all the way back up. Obviously, matching the sheen of the surrounding floor can be a challenge, especially with matte finishes in low-angled light conditions. If the cause is something that affects the entire floor, such as inadequate intercoat abrasion, then it is likely that more peeling will occur and unlikely that a buff-and-recoat will not “solve” the problem. How could using the wrong maintenance products affect finish? Using the wrong maintenance products may leave a haze or residue, render the floor slick or sticky, temporarily or permanently alter the sheen, prevent the ability to buff-and recoat, swell the wood via water absorption into the wood and (usually involving conventional wet mops and buckets) cause delamination from the wood or between coats, void a warranty, and other unpleasant consequences. This includes concentrated cleaners not diluted to the proper concentration: one such instance ruined the finish and, given the saturation in the end grain and down the seams, ultimately required complete floor tear-out and replacement. This also includes not following ALL manufacturer guidelines, like not changing out/cleaning mop heads frequently enough. Follow finish manufacturer

recommendations for maintenance. If unsure of the finish manufacturer, refer to NWFA guidelines.

For additional information about

finishes, check out the NWFA's technical publications at NWFA.ORG/TECHNICAL- GUIDELINES/.

94 hardwood floors hardwoodfloorsmag.com

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NWFA