Hardwood Floors August/September 2018

The Race to the Finish (Continued) By Kjell Nymark

excellent clarity and depth, are extremely durable, and easily maintained. e solvents used in this type of nish are dangerous, and require adequate ventilation, the use of a respirator, and other safety precautions. is nish falls within the wood coating category and may have levels around 550-700g/L. Although conversion varnishes and moisture-cured urethanes are higher in VOCs at the time of application, an argument can be made that, due to their durability, this type of oor nish will not require re nishing as o en as other types of nish. Oil-modi ed polyurethane (OMU) is one of the most widely used nishes. is type of nish is amber in color and forms a thick lm build that enhances the depth and color of the ooring. It will continue to amber out from the e ects of

Choosing a nish becomes a real balancing act with many factors to consider. Typically, the end-user’s main concerns are appearance, longevity, maintenance, and air quality. ere are many types of nishes that may be bene cial in some respect and a hindrance in others. Conversion varnish, a lm-forming nish that is durable and easily maintained, o ers incredible clarity and enhances the color of the oor. Conversion varnish and varnish nishes fall within their own category for VOC regulations in most states. VOC levels may fall within the limit of 725g/L. VOC restrictions have limited the use of these nishes in some parts of the U.S. Moisture-cured urethanes are usually applied in commercial se ings such as roller rinks and gymnasiums. ey o er

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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