04.30.09
Expert Advice
This is a copy of the article written by Dave Posey, an expert in the field of hardwood flooring and reprinted by permission.
1. Did you know that after using a sanding belt in one direction, it can be turned around to run the opposite direction to get longer life from the belt?
2. When using Bostik’s glue for your wood flooring, make sure to use the proper trowel size for the wood flooring. Always follow the adhesive’s guidelines not the wood flooring guidelines. Use blue tape on the bottom of the trowel for easy adhesive removal. At the end of the day just remove the blue tape and clean the notches.
3. Basic’s StreetShoe has a coverage rate of 700 sq ft per gallon and can be re-catalyzed. Adding up to 12 ounces of water per gallon to any of Basic’s water-based products increases flow and dry times. Knowing how to get the most out of your finishes can save you thousands every year.
4. Did you know you can get into the dust control game with just the CAV 12? It will easily work with edgers and buffers and give any jobsite an inexpensive increase in dust control.
5. Did you know by using double-sided sanding discs on buffers, you can get a smooth flat floor with no dish out? Using double-sided discs also avoids swirl marks left by a traditional hard plate.
6. Is the dust collection starting to fall off? Try changing the dust bag. The bag is the dust control and once it is clogged, its performance drops significantly. It is a small investment with big results.
7. Try buffing stain in with a carpet pad made just for that purpose. A carpet pad will use about half of the stain and will dry twice as fast. This also helps avoid bleed back issues, the piles of rags, and it’s easier and faster because staining is done standing up. Do not use just any piece of carpet because stain buffing carpet pads have not of the treatments, inks or dyes regular carpeting has, giving a cleaner application.
8. You cannot tell if a concrete slab is wet by looking at it, touching it, or assuming it is
because it’s old. A moisture test must be done. The only two tests that are allowed by ASTM standards and that will stand up in court are a calcium chloride test and a relative
humidity test. The new Wagner Rapid RH test can give an accurate measurement with the quickest results. Within an hour, a digital result can show the general contractor or homeowner where the moisture is at in their slab. Proper testing provides peace of mind and shows due diligence in heading off future problems.
9. Are you having issues with floors staining evenly? Try “water popping” the floor first. Water popping raises the grain of the wood, allowing the stain to penetrate evenly into the grain. It will also be considerably darker than a floor that is not water popped. Water popping also helps hide swirl marks and sanding scratches as well. Use a quick drying stain like bona Drifast or DuraSeal quick coat stains for a consistent even color.
10. When using water-based finish products to help avoid grain raise, use an oil-based sealer like Bona DriFast or DuraSeal Quick Dry oil-based sealer. Using one of these for the first coat not only gives the deep color of oil-based products, but also helps to seal the wood against grain raise on successive coats of finish.
11. Did you know the number-one complaint to the National Wood Flooring Association help line, or by Floor Style technical experts, is moisture related? Buying and using a quality wood moisture meter, like the Wagner 220, can save time and money. Strip flooring must have no more than a four-percent moisture content difference than the subfloor. Plank flooring must have no more than a two percent difference. Taking pictures of the measurements and keeping good records for each job can save thousands of dollars in the future. Contractors have lost their business over moisture issues and poor record keeping.
