Hardwood Floor Consultant Portland, OR

Screen and Coating a Hardwood Floor

2010-08-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is one of those things that a lot of hardwood floor contractors don't push. Oh, there are some that rely almost completely on the screen and coat market but for the most part contractors seem to stay away from it.
What is a screen and coat? In the simplest terms it is re-doing the final coat of finish on your hardwood floors. The floor should be cleaned using a buffer, pad, and some type of professional cleaner or floor prep solution followed by abrading the existing finish with a screen or abrasive pad. The floor is then vacuumed, tacked, and a new coat of finish is applied. A screen and coat is a fraction of the cost of refinishing.
What does a screen and coat do or don't do? It will get rid of surface scratches, scuffs,light wear patterns, and other minor imperfections. A screen and coat will add a new protective layer to your hardwood floor and improve the overall appearance of the surface finish. It will not get rid of dents, dings, gouges, or deep scratches that have penetrated the finish coats. Also, if dirt has already wore through the existing finish then a screen and coat would not work.
In most instances a floor can be screened and coated as long as you have not used a wax or any type of cleaner that contains a wax as this will prevent the new finish from adhering to the old finish properly. If you have taken care of your hardwood floors but they are starting to show some wear from normal use often a screen and coat can bring your floors back to life and renew the protective properties of the finish coat. Most hardwood floor finishes will need a screen and coat every three to five years depending on the use and maintenance of the floor, some may be even longer.
If your hardwood floor is showing wear in the main walk ways or is just looking tired a screen and coat may be just what it needs. A screen and coat could bring your floor back to life, add a new protective layer, and prevent you from having to completely refinish them.

Types of finish

2010-03-31T12:07:00.000-07:00

OIL MODIFIED: petroleum based with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film-forming ingredients that produce a durable, moisture-resistant surface coating. These finishes are available in different (satin to gloss) sheen levels.

Has a slow drying time
Amber in color
Moderate odor

Oil Modified is more commonly known as polyurethane or poly. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. I would rate this type of finish as "good". It is not the best type of finish on the market but it has its place and I would normally only use this finish to match an existing finish or because it was requested by the homeowner.

WATER BASED: a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film-forming ingredients that produce a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. These finishes are available in different (matte to gloss) gloss levels.

Has a fast drying time
Clear to Amber in color
Mild odor

Water based finishes are very popular due to their low odor and durability. Water base finishes have improved tremendously over the last 10 years and are extremely durable.These finishes can be difficult to use and the correct coverage amount must be used. The finish coat is not the place to cut costs. Water base finishes are one of the most expensive finishes on the market; if a good quality two-part finish is used. The price can be over $100/per gallon. A water base finish can work well on "most" hardwood floors. We use water base finishes a lot in existing homes where the homeowner does not want to have to leave the home.

CONVERSION VARNISH or ACID CURE: These are durable and moisture-resistant.

Fast drying time
Clear to Slight Amber in color
Matte to gloss sheen level
Very strong odor
Also called ‘Swedish Finishes"

These finishes are very durable and look good. They can be difficult to apply and have a strong odor and dangerous chemicals that require a respirator when applying. The conversion varnish creates a "natural" look on most wood floors and really highlights the grain of the wood. If it was not for the toxic fumes I would use this finish a lot more often. We use the conversion varnish whenever we can (read when fumes are not an issue) with great results.

PENETRATING OILS: This type of finish is an oil resin blend that is burnished into the wood.

Has a longer dry time than most finishes. Up to 12 hours or more.
Clear to Slight Amber in color
Matte to satin sheen level
Very low odor
Most of these finishes have the lowest VOC of any type of finish.
Some of these are wax/oil hybrid meaning they contain wax.

This finish is more labor intensive and time consuming than traditional surface finishes. Penetrating Oils have a nice satin/silky look that give the wood an appearance of a hand rubbed finish. They are generally a matte sheen and because they are a penetrating finish the floor does not get that built up look that most finishes have. This type of finish generally requires some type of regular maintenance, usually having another coat of oil buffed in on a yearly or every other year basis. This type of finish has a unique look and is not suitable for every floor. I really like the look of this finish and use it whenever we can.

Dust Containment Trailer

2010-01-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

I know I said my next post was going to be about the various types of finish available but I have decided to post a link to a youtube video we jut put up about our dust containment trailer. This particular dust containment system is by far the most effective in the wood flooring industry. I have used all of the portable systems, and they work good, but this is the best. We are one of the only (I'm not sure if there are any other units at all) companies running this trailer mounted dust containment system in the Portland,OR metro area.

Which hardwood floor finish is the best?

2010-01-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

I hear this question quite a bit. More often than not it is coupled with which finish is the hardest? This is truly a difficult, if not almost impossible, question to answer. Everyone that works with wood floors has a different opinion on the subject. For a contractor the answer to this question can come from a number of things including: cost, ease or difficulty of use, how well the finish performs, and how good the finish looks.
My answer to this question is that there is no perfect finish. As much as this may sound like a cop out, it is totally true. Every job is different and can have so many different variables that the answer to this question could be different for every job. What type of specie of wood? Is the floor distressed? What kind of use will the floor get? Commercial? Residential? And most importantly, what is the homeowner looking for?
This is why it is important for hardwood floor contractors to be proficient in the use of as many different types of finish as possible. I have tried every type of finish that is on the market and very often different manufacturers of each type. Contractors should be knowledgeable about all types of finish and that knowledge needs to come from actually using it and not just what they have heard from other sources.
A few things to keep in mind when deciding on a wood floor finish. First, and most important, there is no such thing as a scratch proof finish. Period. Always keep in mind that it is a hardwood floor and it will get scratches. If a contractor gives you much lower price than other contractors there is usually a reason. One of the easiest ways for a contractor to cut costs is to use a cheap finish which can be as much as a third of the cost of a quality finish. Find out what kind of finish your contractor is specifying and make sure that is what is actually used. As the homeowner or business owner it is up to you to decide how you want your floor to look and the type of finish that you decide to use can have a tremendous impact on the final product.
If you are interested in some technical information on the types of finish available follow this link: http://www.nwfa.org/member/pdf/SandFinish/Chap6.pdf and see what the National Wood Flooring Association has to say. In my next posting I will give my opinion of some of the more widely used finishes.

Who is Tony Summers?

2009-12-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

My goal in creating this blog is to educate folks about hardwood floors-both the many options that are available as well as what you can do with wood floors as a design element. For consumers trying to make a decision about installing a new wood floor, or even what type of finish to use in refinishing an existing floor, can be overwhelming with all of the products and information that is out there. I would like to talk about a number of different issues, ideas, and techniques I have come across as both a hardwood floor contractor and an inspector/consultant.

So, who is this Tony Summers and why should I listen to him, you ask? I have been in the wood floor industry since 1998 and have owned my own contracting business since 2000. Once I started working with hardwood flooring I set out to learn as much as possible about the trade and everything that goes into it. I have been an active member of the National Wood Flooring Association since 2000. I have attended a number of NWFA schools including the Wood Flooring Basics school, Intermediate school, and Advanced school as well as various industry sponsored schools. I have attended four annual NWFA Convention/Education meetings and served as a member of the NWFA Education Committee for two years. I have become certified through the NWFA as an Inspector, Installer, and Sand & Finisher. Also, over the last few years I have served as an instructor at a number of NWFA schools. I also read everything I can about hardwood floors, refinishing, finishing, and sanding techniques including books, magazines, and technical publications.

So what does all this crap really mean? It simply means that I care about what I do and I strive to be the best I can at it. I think that education is a key component to being a professional no matter what field an individual is in. I would like to pass along a little of my knowledge to others whether your a homeowner, remodeler, builder, or another flooring craftsman.

If you are working on a project or considering a project that involves wood floors or stairs and you have a question about design, installation methods, or finish please feel free to contact me at tony@centrexhardwood.com.