Hardwood Floors October/November 2017

AT THE SITE

By Kelly Ragalie & Tito Boror

A Step-By-Step Guide

to New Color Technologies

In today’s ooring market, there are many new oor stain technologies available to the professional contractor. It’s a daunting task, however, to learn each of the new products, and then determine which is the best for the job. Start with the basics: how are they applied and what are the di erences between application techniques? is can o en guide the contractor with where to start. Some of the answers to these questions are based on experience and skill level, and some might be determined by the customer needs and expectations. Here is a brief look at application methods for the newest color technologies. Before jumping into stain application head rst, it’s important to ensure the oor has been sanded properly for the species and color selected. It’s also important to determine whether the oor should be conditioned or water popped before stain application. Water popping allows the grain to open in order to increase color penetration for a deeper desired color. Once the water popping process is complete, then we can determine which type of color is appropriate for the project. Some of the most-common stains/colorants on the market today allow you to achieve just about any color and/or combination your customer wants. ese are some of the more-common types:

Color Products: WATER BASED STAINS are those made of extremely small pigments in combination with a water-based solution. ese stains are available in many colors and can o en be mixed with one another. ey o en reduce blotchiness in certain species like maple or pine. ese stains must be coated with a compatible nish. ALCOHOL BASED STAINS are a solvent-based product with pigments that are designed to be nished with waterborne nishes. ey are fast-drying, lap-mark-free, and help reduce issues such as side bonding or bleed back. OIL MODIFIED STAINS are generally low odor, wipe on/wipe o , and provide fast dry times allowing for quick application of nish coats. ey are self-sealing, and must be coated with a compatible nish, and are available in a wide variety of colors. OIL SEALER COLORS are sealers with pigments designed to be applied to the oor, allowed to penetrate, and then have the excess removed from the oor. ese products give a rich, deep color, can be mixed, and are o en coated with compatible nish products. PENETRATING OILS are plant, vegetable or other organic-based oils that penetrate into the wood surface, lling the pores with

pigment and oil solids. ese nishes provide deep, rich color options. ese oils are not required to have a coat of lm nish on top; rather, they are both a color and nish in one product. REACTIVE PRODUCTS are those that are chemically designed to react with the tannins in the wood species. ese reactive products o en result in brown or gray tones, depending on the wood species. ese can be unpredictable in nature, as the amount or type of tannins in any species is unknown until application. ese products sometimes come with neutralizers to inhibit continual reaction, and some are mixed with water products to limit the overall color tones. Each manufacturer has speci c product requirements and recommendations. ey require the application of colorants and/or nish products to seal them into the wood. Application: Application of most of these products is commonly known and used throughout the industry. Wipe on/wipe o techniques have been used for years. Newer techniques to the U.S. include trowel application, in which the stain or oil is troweled on by using a exible metal trowel, either in a standing position or on one’s hands and knees. Trowel application can be intimidating for some, but most contractors nd a technique and grow to enjoy the method. Many of

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