Hardwood Floors October/November 2017

AT THE SITE

Recoating a Previously Finished Floor (Continued)

FINISH ADHESION OPTIONS A er the oor has been thoroughly cleaned, the contaminants have been removed, you have tested for compatibility, and you determine that recoating is your best option, you must next consider the best adhesion method for your oor. ere are two basic ways a new nish will adhere to an existing nish: through mechanical adhesion or chemical adhesion. Mechanical adhesion involves lightly abrading the top surface of the nish using abrasive pads or abrasive paper/screens, then applying another topcoat. Mechanical adhesion methods may not always be the best option for recoating all existing oors including some factory nished oors with high abrasion nishes; beveled edge oors; sculpted or reclaimed oors with high and low elevations where the abrasive may not physically scratch all surfaces; and oors that have been previously coated with natural oil nishes. Chemical adhesion systems involve using chemical solutions in order to promote adhesion to the existing surface, then applying another topcoat. When using these chemical adhesion systems, use a complete system developed and approved by the nish manufacturer.

Steps for mechanical abrasion:

1. Test the floor for contaminants and finish compatibility before accepting and scheduling the job. 2. Load all tools, equipment, finishes, abrasives, etc., in the area of the floor where work will be performed to avoid potentially tracking in contaminants from outside and to

5. Lightly abrade the old finish according to the finish manufacturer’s recommendation for abrasive type and grit choice. Use a rotary sander or multi-head sander with the recommended abrasive, always moving with the direction of the grain. Thoroughly abrade the entire floor without leaving noticeable scratches, which may be visible after the finish is applied. Lightly abrade all edges of the floor by hand with the same abrasive used in the field. 6. Vacuum and tack the floor until all dust has been removed from the surface per NWFA Sanding and Finishing Guidelines.

allow the finish to get to room temperature. 3. Inspect the floor for damage and areas of potential concern. 4. Clean the floor in accordance with the finish manufacturer’s recommendations.

Steps for chemical adhesion system:

1. Test the floor for contaminants and finish compatibility before accepting and scheduling the job. 2. Load all tools, equipment, finishes, etc., in the area of the floor where work will be performed to avoid potentially tracking in contaminants from outside and to allow the finish to get to room temperature. Vacuum the floor. 3. Inspect the floor for damage and areas of potential concern.

4. Clean the floor according to the finish manufacturer’s recommendations. 5. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the chemical adhesion promoting product. Allow the adhesion promoting product to dry in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 6. Apply the surface finish at the proper cover rate using the manufacturer’s recommended applicator and procedure.

A recoat is a great option to o er your customers, especially in cases where the oor doesn’t have deep gouges and the nish hasn’t completely worn through. A recoat can restore the beauty of their oor without the need to displace them for the resanding process. One of the best customers to have is a repeat customer. O ering a routine maintenance coat is one simple way to keep in front of your customers. Not to mention the maintenance coat business is one that is untapped in the wood ooring industry. Once you gain the con dence to test for and deal with all of the potential causes for failure, the maintenance coat service is one that can add a nice source of business to your portfolio.

Brett Miller is VP of Education & Certification at the National Wood Flooring Association in St. Louis.He can be reached at brett.miller@nwfa.org.

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