HELP. Bubbles in Polyurethane finish
msubobcat
16 years ago
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edgerboy
16 years agomsubobcat
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Help - Polyurethane Finish streaky???
Comments (0)My heart pine floors were stained a dark color and finished with three coats of oil based polyurethane. When I look at the floor at an angle I can see differences in the sheen in different areas (The floors were done in satin). It looks like it changes every 6 feet or so. As if it was put down in stages. Any thoughts on how uniform a finish should be and whether anything can be done to minimize this? I don't think it was the stain going on differently because when I look at the room as a whole from a distance the color looks uniform. It is very noticable when you stand over it and look down. In addition, there are circular marks from the sanding that can be seen if you look closely....See MoreOdd smell: possibly polyurethane floor finish from months ago?
Comments (1)I have no good news for you. Unless you know the type and brand of finish that was applied, all is speculation as to the cause of the smell you're noticing. However, you are on the right track for discovery. Assuming that a solvent based finish of some kind was applied, the fact that it was applied thickly could mean that the product is still outgassing. I saw a job where a contractor had mopped on this type of finish and left significant puddles of finish that never fully cured. The room smelled for years after and was only corrected by a complete sanding and then coating with a commercial waterborne polyurethane. Also, wood floors that have been damaged by pet urine will continue to smell regardless of what you do to refinish and restore them. So, if this wood floor was ever pet urine soaked, that could also be a cause. That's all I got....See MoreHelp! Bumps in polyurethane finish on wood floors!!
Comments (3)The B-M Stay Clear is a polyacrylic finish used mainly for wood trim, furniture and - if needed - wood floors. The 'low-nap' application would be more appropriate for things like wood ceilings or walls. As you have discovered the t-bar is MUCH better at coating a floor. If possible, you may want to look at 4 coats if there is ANY possibility this is going to be used by a busy family or with pets (ie. "high" residential use). I'm not fond of using a finish that is designed for wood trim/furniture on wood floors. These finishes are normally not the best when it comes to toughness or wearability. I have no problem with this finish on window sills or trim, but on a floor I would prefer to see something more appropriate. Varathane's Diamond Coat with aluminum oxide would have been a better choice for flooring - and would have possibly been the same price (with the same coverage per gallon = 350-450sf). Please look at your home's "wear" level and decide if you need a 4th coat. This extra coat is common when using a finish that is designed for furniture and trim....See MoreTerrible Fumes from Oil-based polyurethane 4 weeks after finished
Comments (28)The "washboard" floor is a bigger issue than the smell. The cupping in that area is substantial. Wood will show you the DIRECTION that the moisture is coming from. Cupping like yours (the centre of the plank is LOWER than the edges...or the edges are sitting higher than the centres) is and excellent indicator as to where the moisture is coming from. If you imagine the centre of the plank as an arrow head, you can see that the arrow head is pointing "down". That means there is a LARGE SOURCE of moisture sitting BELOW the floor. How that happened or why is another story. But the fact that you have moisture issues BELOW that section of flooring is "clear as day". I'm sorry but you have multiple issues going on here. I would agree that 4 coats is causing a curing delay = LONG TIME getting rid of the smell. And the oozing from between the planks is an indication there is FAR TOO MUCH product on this floor (again, causing curing delays = lingering odours). But the BIG issue is the lack of humidity control in your home. The cupping in your floors indicates there is too much moisture BELOW that area of floor (do you have a basement or crawl space???) that MUST be looked at. Dehumidifiers need to be employed to get the moisture levels DOWN. And the dehumidifiers need to be used in the space BELOW the floor (pay close attention to the area below the cupping planks). The bonus being the finish will dry FASTER and will help reduce the smell FASTER. You can use/rent temporary dehumidifiers running 24/7 (remember to empty the water tanks twice per day or you run the risk of a mini-flood = not helpful) for a quick fix. This will allow you time to find/pay for a permanent solution to the problem. Please, please please investigate the MOISTURE problem BEFORE you try to fix the finish on this floor. If you sand down now, you run the risk of doing ++ damage to the cupped planks....See Morefloorguy
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