Not a fan of polyurethane? Consider a Tung-Oil Based Finish Modern polyurethanes are great: they are easy to apply, easy to maintain, they hold up well, and the waterborne version has minimal solvent fumes. For the first-time do-it-yourselfer, polyurethane is usually a first recommendation—although it does have some drawbacks. Polyurethane works by building up multiple layers of plastic over your wood floor. These layers form a very effective solvent barrier, and they take the brunt of the day-to-day wear on your floor, since the wood is essentially encased in a clear plastic shell. Unfortunately, that plastic shell obscures the texture of the wood grain itself and sets up the unreasonable expectation that hardwood floors should always look as smooth as a lake on a windless morning. But they shouldn’t. Much of the beauty of wood comes from the texture of its grain. There is another option—a compromise that allows you to protect your floors while still appreciating the texture of the wood itself: a tung-oil blend called Waterlox. Even though the name contains the word “water,” this is not a water-based product; it is a penetrating resin-oil finish. Its main component is tung oil, which R. Bruce Hoadly in Understanding Wood describes as “an aromatic, natural drying oil obtained from the nut of the tung tree.” Waterlox solves some of the problems associated with pure tung oil by adding resins that cross-link and harden, forming a better barrier against the cola that will eventually be spilled on your floor. Yet the added resin is not so much that it builds up excessively over the wood grain itself. The fact that Waterlox penetrates into the wood, rather than building a film on top of it, makes it easy to spot-blend additional layers. Polyurethane floors, because they act like layers of Plexiglas over your floor, need to be recoated fully from wall to wall—trying to touch up a small area will leave distinct lap marks.
Maintenance layers of Waterlox, however, can be rubbed selectively on your floor. If you see a small area beginning to show wear, a spot-coat of Waterlox in that area will blend and seamlessly restore the protection in that area. This can be a major benefit if it allows you to leave your grand piano or big-screen television in place and still maintain your floors properly. The main drawback to Waterlox is that it is solvent-based, meaning that your home will smell of evaporating paint thinner during parts of the coating process, which can take three to four days (dry time is up to 24 hours between coats, depending on temperature and humidity). The sheen problem is easily solved by simply waiting for six months. Foot traffic will eventually soften the high gloss of the original sealer to a soft satin. If you can’t wait, you can buy a separate Waterlox Original Satin finish that will give you the lower sheen without the wait. Waterlox also comes in a very high solid-content formulation that is sold as Waterlox Original Marine finish. It is more expensive than their Original Seal product, but it is designed to resist UV rays, freshwater, and saltwater. Modern polyurethanes that are formulated for exterior use (porches, outdoor steps, or thresholds) can be disappointing because they break down and peel, usually after one winter’s worth of exposure, especially here in Minnesota where snow can sit on your steps for four months. Because it is a penetrating finish and can’t “peel,” Waterlox Marie performs better on exterior applications, though we do rub on an extra layer every fall just to be safe.
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Floor Finishing Video Guide
All wood dust and grit resulting from sanding operations must be completely removed.
The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. Very good results can be obtained by using a vacuum sweeper for this purpose. First, it should be run with the grain of the wood; then, a second pass should be made across the grain.