When refinishing a floor we first will seal the room or house airtight with plastic so as to minimize dust. We then sand the floor down to bare wood, filling all cracks and nail holes and getting the floor as smooth as glass. When that's completed we clean and vacuum your home and apply 1st layer of oil based woodline polyurethane and let it sit overnight. The next day we return we screen and vacuum floor and apply 2nd layer of polyurethane again letting it sit overnight.
This process is repeated for the 3rd coat where you then decide which type of finish you would like to use. The choices are High Gloss, Semi Gloss and Satin which a matte finish. We like to use two coats of gloss followed by one top coat of satin which gives a beautiful finish.
The process is the same for Latex based polyurethane except that we can apply two coats per day with a total of 5 coats. Latex polyurethane drys to give a lighter or blonder look to your floor.
Acclimation of Hardwood Floors to the Jobsite
Acclimation to the installation environment for solid wood floors should never be overlooked. While it's not as important for engineered products due to the stability in the way they are constructed, solid products will expand and contract considerably, given the right conditions.
Far too many times we hear and see jobs that gap months after the installation, or they will swell and buckle. By following some simple guidelines these events should not occur. Unfortunately, many run of the mill installers and builders for that matter, don't know about proper jobsite conditions. In some cases it's often...."get it in and we'll worry about problems later."
Inevitably they learn their lesson with costly repair bills and replacements, not to mention disgruntled customers. Following are some basic guidelines for a problem free installation: before during, and after.
- Solid wood flooring should be delivered to the jobsite and allowed to acclimate to the conditions in which it will be installed or near occupancy levels. Temperature and humidity should be monitored.
- Delivery should be after major projects have been completed and thoroughly dry, such as dry wall and masonry work. Doors and windows must be in. Testing of wood subfloors should be performed and moisture levels should not exceed 12-14%
- Drainage- It's vital the grading should be directed away from the home to prevent unnecessary moisture problems.
- Basements and crawl spaces need proper ventilation. Polyethylene film of 6 mil in thickness must be used as a proper vapor retarder in any crawl spaces or where the soil line lies underneath.
Additional Information
Dangers of Wood Floor Refinishing (PDF Format)
- Celtic FloorCraft does not use lacquer sealer
Flooring Gallery
