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Wooden floors give elegance to a home that is hard to beat. They make for floors that are strong and durable, and also those that are easy to clean and therefore low on maintenance. They will always look good in any decor, and will rarely fade. Air quality in the home improves, while a wooden floor definitely adds value to your home. Once you have installed a wooden floor, you need to protect it, and here is where polyurethane will act to shield your wood floors. Your floor will then be protected from scratches and the spills that are inevitable in a home, especially if you have children and pets around.
Polyurethane comes in two different varieties and can have a sheen that can be anything from glossy to matte. You need to decide the variety of the polyurethane you want and its sheen level before you start with the work of applying this protective finish to your floor. Polyurethanes can be water-based or oil-based, and both of them will perform the job of protecting your floors. A water-based urethane will be clear and not change the color of your wood in any way. They also dry quickly and will allow you to use the floor within 12 hours of its application. These finishes do not contain any harmful volatile organic compounds and are less likely to catch fire. Cleaning up floors on which this finish has been applied requires just soap and water. It is an expensive finish and not as durable as the other variety, and will have fewer solids that will require you to apply several coats for the needed protection. You may also need to reapply it every two years.
When you use oil-based polyurethane , your wood coloring will get enhanced and the floor will have a soft glow. Their composition makes them thicker, and that is why they take longer to dry. These finishes do emit fumes and this requires you to take proper safety precautions and have the area well-ventilated while you are applying them to your wooden floor. The application of an oil-based polyurethane will fortify the wood and also give it a layer that armors the wood from damage under normal usage conditions. They cost half of what water-based polyurethanes do, and do not require multiple applications.
Now that you have the complete information on the types of polyurethane finishes, you need to make your choice of the product and arrange to procure it. Carefully calculate the area of your floor, and find coverage capacities of the product you buy to help you decide on the amount of finishing material that you need. Always provide for a little extra. To give your wooden floor that polyurethane finish you need to carry to a lot of preparatory work, that can often require more effort and time than the actual application of the finish.
Your first task is to completely clear the floor so that you have ample space to work in. Start the preparatory work by cleaning up the floor by brooming and mopping it or vacuuming it so that you get a clean surface. See that all dust and cobwebs are removed, and the room where you have the wooden floor is well-ventilated and windows left open. Now comes the backbreaking work of removing any old finish or preparing the wooden surface to be ready for the application of the polyurethane.
You now require to sand the wooden floor so that it has a smooth finish. You can rent a sander from your local hardware shop and learn how to operate it before you proceed with the work. You will require different grades of sandpaper starting from the thickest to the finest for use with the sander. When you are using the thicker grade of sandpaper, make sure that you do not allow the sander to work in any area for a long time, as this can score the wood and add blemishes to it. Work your way down to the finest grade of sandpaper till you have a real smooth surface to your wooden floor. Once you have completed the entire area with any grade of sandpaper, clear up the dust and vacuum the floor with a lint-free cloth and mineral spirits. Allow it to dry before you go to the next step.
You are now ready for the application of the polyurethane you have chosen and bought. Open the first can (you will have bought a number of them), and stir the polyurethane using a paint stick to do so. You must not shake the can of polyurethane as this can result in air bubbles forming in it that can mar your applied coat of finish. The application can be carried out with a brush or applicator, whatever you are comfortable in using. Start the work in one corner and go in the direction of the grain of the wood on your floor. Your strokes should be long and should overlap with each other so that no area is left out. Never allow any drips on the areas where the polyurethane is applied. Take extra care at corners so that they blend with the wood boards. Allow the first coat to dry completely before you start on the next coat. The manufacturer’s instructions will give you approximate times for this drying and must be followed. Wooden floors require two or three coats of this finish for adequate protection to your wood surfaces, but all the same check with the flooring manufacturer for better guidance in the matter.
Finishing woodwork for adequate protection requires you to select the right materials, carry out adequate preparation which requires hard work, and the right technique when applying the finish. Practice on scrap wood to get your technique right even if this requires you to spend some time and money on this. Your efforts will pay off when you see the result. Wooden floors are timeless and will look beautiful for years if they are properly protected with the right finishes.
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This content is brought to you by Eric Hawkins.
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