Hardwood Floors December 2018/January 2019

AT THE SITE Finish Performance Discrepancies (Continued)

• Wood bruises originate from a previous force or trauma to the surface of the boards that is not normally noticeable during the installation or handling of the product. This damage can become exposed with an increase in moisture, such as with the introduction SURFACE IMPRESSIONS: A shape or pattern imprinted on the face of the board, which resembles an item or object that had been in direct contact with it. Some examples of surface impressions may include the following:

FINISH ADHESION FAILURE: Occurs when there is a loss of film-finish adhesion to the flooring surface or between coating layers. Finish adhesion failure is broken into two categories: chipping/ flaking finish and peeling finish.

of water through water- popping, water-based finishes, water-based stains, or similar reactive conditioners.

• Chipping/flaking finish is the condition that occurs when a dried film of finish separates from the previously applied finish in the form of chips or flakes. Some of the more common causes for finish chipping or flaking may include: • Poor adhesion between coats of finish as a result of contamination, poor abrasion, improper preparation, incompatible finishes, or even using different types of finishes on subsequent coats. • With some more-brittle/less-elastic finishes used on some factory-finished floors, a gain or loss in moisture, and subsequent dimensional changes within the wood can result in finish chipping or shearing away from the wood. • Excessive finish on the edge of factory-finished flooring (also known as cornicing) can chip as the boards are being driven together during installation. • Use of steammops to clean wood floors can cause the finish to chip away from the seams or voids in the wood. • Peeling finish is the

• Various rug types or backing materials that can leave an imprint in the floor finish system, or plasticizer migration from some non-slip backing pads used under area rugs can leave a waffle-like pattern etched into the finish system. Area rugs or non-slip area rug pads that are incompatible with the wood floor finish systems or have been placed over uncured finishes can leave discoloring stains, blushing of the finishes, or impressions in the finish as well as the wood. • Floor protection systems (corrugated cardboard, paper, pads, etc.) laid over the wood floor before the finish is fully cured (per manufacturer instructions) can leave imprints within and on the finish system. Floor protection systems with any sort of grit or debris caught between the protection and floor can leave impressions in the finished floor. • Factory-finished flooring packaging material has been known to transfer to the face of the flooring boards.

condition that occurs when a dried film of finish separates from the underneath surface in the form of large pieces or sheets. Some of the more common causes for finish peeling may include:

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