Finishing and Maintaining your Hardwood Floor

Index

English Timbers unfinished hardwood floors require sanding and sealing after installation.  This method produces a continuous surface seal which is easy to clean and the most natural appearance. It also gives the customer control over the type of finish E.g. Gloss, Matt, Satin, Oiled, Stained etc. The process of sanding and sealing is reasonably rapid provided the correct machines are used. Care should be taken to adopt all safety measures and wear the necessary protective clothing/masks etc. The information below is guideline only and more comprehensive instructions are provided with the floor.

Sanding Wooden Floors

Initial sanding is done with a large floor sander using progressively finer grits for a smooth finish. Edges of the floor are sanded with a rotary edge sander and sometimes with a 4” belt sander. Corners are often scraped and sanded by hand. The overall floor may be finished with a large rotary floor sander. Modern machines have good dust extraction and keep the site reasonably clean. They can all be hired if necessary. Sanding between coats need only be sufficient to flatten any raised grain and remove any nibs. This can be done with a hand held orbital or finishing sander for small areas or a large upright orbital or finishing sander or rotary sander as dictated by area. Be sure to remove all dust from the floor and walls with a powerful vacuum cleaner before applying lacquer. A final wipe over with a damp cloth before using water based seals removes all dust.

Protecting the Surface of the Wooden Floor

It is essential to apply a hard wearing finish to the surface of the flooring to protect the wood and permit easy maintenance. There are a number of different methods:-

By applying a surface coating of acrylic or polyurethane in the form of a water or solvent based lacquer.

By applying a hard wax oil finish which soaks into the top layer of the wood.

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages and these are listed in the appropriate section below.

Water Based Lacquers/Sealers.

The type and grade of lacquer is dictated by the end use and amount of traffic and we recommend the Granwax range of products. These are contract duty and not DIY finishes and as such are high quality, proven products. It is false a economy to buy a good quality floor and use a cheap or unproven finish. Most failures of floor finishes are due to a poor quality lacquer or incorrect application.
We mostly recommend water based lacquers. They are easier to use and comply with current safety regulations. In addition they are faster drying - about 1 to 2 hours between coats, easy to apply and extremely tough and durable.
Provided that the correct finish is chosen and competently applied and the floor is regularly maintained it should remain in excellent condition for many years. If you are in doubt about the type of finish, please call us for advice. The current range of sealers is:-

Granwax Primer is a one part primer coat which, when combined with the Aquathane Super, may be used on a new floor to reduce the raising of the grain which occurs with most water based lacquers.  It helps maintain the pale colour of some of the lighter hardwoods such as White Ash and Ivory Maple and in addition reduces the tendency of new floors to raft  This is the expansion and contraction of areas or rafts of flooring which have been bonded together by the sealer. This can result in one or two accumulative shrinkage gap rather than a number of very small gaps.  Apply one coat under Aquathane Super.

Granwax Aquathane Super is a one part lacquer which has the advantage of being virtually colour neutral. It maintains the colour of the whiter timbers without significant yellowing. It is tough and easy to apply. Suitable for domestic and light/medium commercial flooring. It may be applied with or without the primer. Apply 3 coats for normal use, 4 coats where extra wear is expected. The first coat may be Primer if the light colour of the timber is to be enhanced.

Granwax Ultrafinish is a 100% oxygen cross linking polyurethane which enhances the colour of the wood and will yellow slightly with time. It may be used on darker hardwoods such as Jatoba, Cherry, Walnut & Oak to produce a rich colour where some yellowing is not detrimental. If used on a lighter wood, say White Ash, the colour will be a pleasing cream rather than white and will darken slightly with age. Suitable for domestic and medium/heavy commercial use. Dries and cures rapidly. Apply 3 coats for domestic, light and medium contract use, 4 coats for heavy use.

Granwax Masterfinish is a two part polyurethane lacquer which is designed primarily for contract use. It is available in both a Satin & Matt finish. The matt finish gives the appearance of an oiled floor with a very slight sheen and has the advantage of much less maintenance than the oiled finish. The lacquer dries & cures quickly and is extremely tough and resistant to wear. It is generally colour neutral and does not yellow or darken the timber as would a standard oil finish. Suitable for very heavy commercial floors.  As a guideline, apply 2 coats for domestic, 3 for normal commercial duty & 4 for very heavy traffic.  

Water based lacquers are easy to apply and maintain, non toxic and they preserve the natural colour of the timber better than solvent based sealers or oils. They are applied with a short pile, synthetic lambs wool pad and applicator and lightly sanded between each coat.
The process is quick and easy to master. The drying time between each coat is about 1 to 2 hours and the finished floor will take light foot traffic after about 8 hours.  Masterfinish is fully cured within 72 hours of applying the last coat, others take a bit longer.  All these times quoted assume an ambient temperature of about 20 Centigrade and good ventilation. Full instructions are provided.

The coverage rates for the various products for one coat are:-
Primer - 10 to 12 Sqm. per litre.
Aquathane Super - 14 to 15 Sqm per litre.
Masterfinish - 14 Sq.m per litre.
Please refer to the product data sheets and the Granwax Web Site for best practice.

Maintenance of Hardwood Flooring Sealed with Granwax Lacquers

Firstly provide a barrier mat between any external door and areas of hardwood flooring. This prevents any abrasive material being carried on to the floor. We suggest that one of the more modern mats is used and not the coir fibre type as they are difficult to clean and collect dirt.  
Minimum maintenance would be to vacuum up all dust & clean with a neutral detergent such as E-Zee Wood Floor Cleaner.  Granwax make a range of high quality maintenance products which can be used help keep the floor in fine condition and extend the life of the sealer - Please ask for more info or visit the Granwax website.

General Method for Domestic Wood Floors & Light Duty Commercial Floors.

Vacuum up loose dust regularly. Clean the floor with Jadex Cleaner using a damp cloth or sponge mop. Remove excess moisture and wipe up spills quickly. Hardwood flooring may be maintained by a regular but simple application of an acrylic polish using a lint free cloth or spray and buff technique as and when required.  Any excess build up of polish may be removed with a polish remover.

For larger and commercial wood floors the same products may be used with machine scrubbing and application - please refer to the manufacturers instructions at the time.

Alternatively, when wooden flooring shows signs of wear and reduced lustre, lightly sand with 150 grit or an abrasive pad and apply 1 or 2 coats of the original sealer.

Hardwax Oil Finishes

There are a number of oils & wax oils on the market and after having tested a few, we have decided to recommend the Osmo range of hard wax oils because they produce a high quality, proven finish, they are easy to apply and are environmentally friendly. Unlike the water based sealers, they soak into the surface of the hardwood flooring to create a matt or satin finish which is more natural than a normal polyurethane finish (except for Masterfinish).  However virtually all waxoil finishes require more maintenance. The floor may be buffed to give it a slight sheen.

Advantages are that it is easy to apply, it produces a pleasing natural finish, it is easy to maintain, especially where localized areas are subject to increased wear. There is no need to sand off the old finish. Localized scratches are easily repaired and this makes the finish particularly suitable for areas where pets scratch the surface. Similarly it can be used in commercial areas where pedestrian traffic regularly regularly scratches the surface yet a high quality finish must be maintained. E.g.. Shops. However the maintenance must be regular and thorough and drying times may conflict with the hours of use.

Disadvantages are the long drying times - about 10 to 15 hours between coats and curing times of 2 to 3 weeks.  Increased maintenance is required and there is a darkening effect produced on most wood floors, especially the lighter species.  Please note that a curing time of 2 to 3 weeks means that oiled floors should not really be used within that period.

Osmo Clear Polyx Oil may be used in most areas - usually 2 coats are applied allowing at least 10 hours between coats & 2 to 3 weeks to fully cure. This may be used on most of our wood floors. Coverage is about 12 Sq.m. per litre with 2 coats.

Osmo Polyx Clear Extra Thin has less solid content and more easily penetrates the surface. It should be used for oily or dense woods such as Jatoba and perhaps American White Oak, but may be used as a base coat for any wood flooring. Apply 1 coat of the Extra Thin followed by 2 coats of standard Polyx Oil. Coverage is about 16 Sq.m. per litre with 1 coat.

Osmo Opaque Finishes. We also carry stocks of the White opaque Base coat oil which may be used to produce a limed effect on oak flooring or maintain the lightness of timbers such as Ash or Maple. Apply a thin coat of the white oil followed by 2 coats of the Clear Polyx Oil. Coverage is about 20 Sq.m. Per litre with 1coat.

Osmo Coloured Oils Osmo supply a range of transparent and opaque oils in a variety of colours and shades.

Maintenance of Oiled Hardwood Floors

General dust and dirt may be swept up with a soft broom or the Osmo dust mop. Hardwood flooring should be washed with Osmo Wash & Care using the Osmo Floor Cloth.  In domestic situations the frequency could be every 3 or 4 days or longer depending on usage.  In commercial situations such as a restaurant this would be done every day and mechanized equipment may be used. The flooring may be revitalized from time to time with Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner using the Osmo Active Fibre Cloth or rotary cleaner.  For domestic situations about every 2 months or so & for commercial about every 2 weeks. Where localized areas have become worn or jaded, a coat of the Polyx oil may be applied.  This will again need about 3 weeks to cure. Any oiled floor will need to be re-oiled from time to time depending on usage.  As a guideline say every 12 to 24 months for domestic & every 6 months for commercial.  Allow for drying and curing time. All three types of mop head and the holder may be purchased together in the Opti-Set maintenance kit.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS - There is always a fire risk when using oil finishes. All rags, mops and oil soaked items should be immersed and left in a bucket of water immediately after use. There is always a danger of spontaneous combustion of residues as the oil cures and this is a serious risk. Always follow the manufacturers instructions.

Staining of Wood Floors

Staining is not normally recommended because the stain is only a surface coating. If the surface seal is worn away due to lack of maintenance, the natural colour of the wood will be exposed. However with careful maintenance and perhaps additional coats of surface finish, this can be prevented. We recommend a spirit or alcohol based stain because they dry quickly and are not affected by sealers, but require care and good ventilation during application. They require reasonable skill to apply and professional advice should be sought. Oiled floors may be stained by using a base coat of coloured oil, however the choice of colours and shades is limited.

Special finishes.

There are a number of special finishes which can be applied to achieve unusual effects. Some may be quite complex and difficult to apply Eg. Hand antiquing or sand blasting.

Health & Safety (Refer to COSHH information.)

Always ensure that the recommended manufacturers instructions and safety guidelines are followed & adequate protective clothing is worn where specified.

Revised/Checked 02/12/05

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