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loba wood sealer and finish issues

5 years ago

so my white oak wood stairs tread darkened and yellowed some after using loba ws sealer. it now no longer matches the upstairs engineered wood floor.

first picture is before sealer

second picture shows after sealer, top tread of stairs adjacent to the engineered wood flooring. I haven't put on the loba 2k invisible protect yet.

I don't mind too much that the color is different as long as it doesn't amber too much subsequent to this.

but for future reference, I'm wondering if I did something wrong? was I not supposed to use sealer at all under the loba finish? I was trying to prevent tannin pull. but I think maybe they sold me a sealer that darkens.

thanks...

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Comments (4)

Sindy W
Original Author
5 years ago
wondering if I can mix some clear violet into the finish to tone down the yellow?
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
I'm not seeing any ambering. What I'm seeing is a wood that has been made "wet" from a sealer/finish product. Ambering is much more ORANGE than what you are seeing. To test my theory, go ahead and use a WET (water only) cloth to wipe down a tread. You will notice the wet wood will look identical to your sealed treads. That will be the same colour as your finished oak treads.

Your use of the WS EasyPrime is perfect for white oak. The Loba 2K Invisible Protect does not need a sealer. When you purchased the Invisble Protect, did you indicate that you wanted to use the sealer TOGETHER with the finish???

I would not add anything to your finish. In fact, I suggest you sand off the EasyPrime and start with the Invisible Protect. See if you can get the SUPER PALE finish you are looking for. But be aware. Your treads are different in presentation than your wood floor (both the cut and the width and obviously the selection of heart wood vs sap wood). The colours you are seeing are completely normal and natural to white oak in a "clear finish" (water borne products are normally rated as "clear"). The EasyPrime is showing you the colour you would get under a traditional water based polyurethane. You need to try some Invisible Protect ALONE on a tread to see if you can get a better match to your factory finished floor (which is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BTW).

Loba doesn't normally sell products that amber. You have to SPECIFICALLY request/purchase their AMBERING additive - which you did not do. That means the colour variation is down to the wood itself.

And to be clear, your treads, over their lifetime, will slowly FADE. Yep. Wood traditionally gets LIGHTER when exposed to light. The oil based finishes are the one's that turn a STRONG ORANGE as they age. White oak can fade quite nicely.

I think the WS EasyPrime is giving you the slightly darker look of "wet wood". I would guess the Invisible Protect will give a lighter presentation.

https://www.loba.de/fileadmin/site_structure/produkte/11474/us/BRO_US_11474_2K_InvisibleProctect_AT_Flyer_US.pdf
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Sindy W
Original Author
5 years ago
thanks for the detailed and very helpful response. so if I don't sand off the WS primer sealer it will still be ok to apply the loba 2k invisible protect over it? just that it will maintain this slightly darker look? I don't mind it so much and if I don't get an exact match it's ok. I just don't want it to turn Orange later.

thanks!
Sindy W
Original Author
5 years ago
oh and to answer your question...I did ask if I should use a sealer under the invisible 2k protect. they thought that I did need a separate sealer but weren't 100% sure. salespeople will sell you anything....

I'm ok with the color given that it will fade.
as long as it doesn't Orange.

sounds like the sealer will be ok under the invisible protect. my contractor doesn't really apply anything perfectly so it is good for insurance.

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