Special Advertising Section
Tech spotlight
Job Done Right Who knows better how a product performs in the field than the company that made it? That’s why we invited all advertisers in this issue to offer their most common technical question and the answer—so you can get your job done right.
Dura Seal
Does Dura Seal offer any alternatives to oil-based finishes? Fabulon Water-Based Polyurethane is a high-performance alternative to oil-based finishes. This innovative product applies just as easily as oil-based polyurethanes and retains the traditional look without the need for a hardener. Cleanup is simplified using warm water instead of mineral spirits associated with oil-based products. It is available in gallon cans in three sheens: satin, semi-gloss and gloss; and in 5-gallon containers in two sheens: satin and semi-gloss. www.duraseal.com
Franklin International
Must I always use a moisture control system on a concrete subfloor? Franklin International recommends that you always use a reliable moisture control system to control moisture in concrete subfloors before installing wood flooring. Like wood, concrete can absorb and release water under various conditions. Slab testing provides a snapshot of the current moisture content; it doesn’t foretell future levels. Why risk damage to your installations? Franklin International offers several systems that, when used correctly, warrant your installations against moisture damage. Plus, our new Titebond 771Step offers the convenience of a single-step system that serves as a powerful adhesive and protects against moisture and sound.
The Garrison Collection
What is the easiest way to install solid wood flooring on concrete? We believe our solid 3⁄4-inch thick, 5-inchwide EZ-Click flooring is the finest, easiest to install and most complete floor system, plus it doesn’t require nailing or stapling. It has a new innovative silicone rubber clip system designed to set an automatic expansion gap between each row for easy installation and maximum stability. We say it “EZ-ly” installs directly on concrete or raised foundation, over foam, cork or Ecore. www.thegarrisoncollection.com
Dreamstime.com
www.titebond.com
www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com
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Tech spotlight
Special Advertising Section
Lenmar Inc.
How much time should I leave between finish coats? If the finish has had time to cure, the coating needs to be abraded in some way for the next coat of finish to adhere. The amount of abrasion needed is directly related to amount of curing that has taken place. A good rule of thumb is: the longer the cure time, the more aggressively it will need to be abraded in order to achieve good adhesion with the next coat.
Intrading Hardwoods & Lumber
www.lenmar-coatings.com
Lignomat USA Ltd.
How is a pinless moisture meter with selectable depth more useful? All pinless meters indicate the average moisture within the floor planks. In addition, only dual-depth pinless meters such as the Ligno-Scanner SDM can pinpoint moisture differences between the surface and the core within the same plank. Plus, hardwood floors and bamboo floors less than 3⁄4 inch thick can be measured more accurately with the 1⁄4-inch depth setting. The 1⁄4-inch setting for installed floors gives true measurements without including the subfloor or the concrete underneath. When taking readings on both settings after installing the floor at any time, you can go back to see if the moisture distribution has changed since installation.
What are the main characteristics of the Brazilian species amêndola? Amêndola unites beauty, durability and resistance, and it has remarkable features like being a natural thermal insulator, providing a comfortable and pleasant interaction. Its grain is similar to most of the popular exotic species from Brazil, but it has a more competitive price since it is not widely known today. With applications for diverse types of coverings including flooring, decking, wall siding, stairs and others, we believe amêndola is a very versatile species that reacts well to stains and special coatings. www.intradingco.com
www.lignomat.com
Mullican Flooring
MP Global Products
Can fiber underlayment protect wood and wood-like floors from spills and accidental leakage? Yes. A well-designed moisture management system can wick away subfloor or incidental perimeter moisture that might otherwise ruin the finished flooring if the source of the leak or other intruding water is stopped. Moisture management also reduces the possibility of mold growth. The vapor barrier and absorbent padding of VersaWalk, our new universal underlayment, work together to absorb and allow dispersion of up to 1 gallon of moisture per 24 hours per 300 square feet even if accumulation continues for up to seven days.
What should the moisture content (MC) be in a subfloor for a hardwood flooring installation to be successful, and what effect will relative humidity have on the flooring? Generally speaking, the moisture content in wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed 14%, and the difference between the MC in flooring and subflooring shouldn’t be more than 4%. It’s also a good idea to check with your local distributor for variances related to local climate. Room temperature should be a minimum of 60 degrees with relative humidity between 35% and 55%. www.mullicanflooring.com
NWFA
When I’m on the job site and encounter a problem, where can I turn for answers? The NWFA is the wood flooring professional’s first call for all their technical needs. Our experienced advisors are on-hand Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Central), to help you resolve your most difficult technical issues right when they’re happening. We tackle 200-plus technical calls each week and can help you resolve your job-site problems quickly so you can get back to work. www.nwfa.org
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www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com
Special Advertising Section
Tech spotlight
Poloplaz
Owens Flooring by Colonial Craft
After I apply Poloplaz’s Zenith finish, when can I get back on my floors? In four hours you can walk on the floors and in 48 hours you can move furniture back and have full use of the floors. Zenith is a premium two-component waterborne finish from PoloPlaz. With exceptional wear resistance, easy application, and long wet edge, Zenith is perfectly suited for any commercial or residential wood floor. Zenith is also VOC-compliant in every state and great for LEED projects. www.poloplaz.com
Do we need to sand Owens Flooring by Colonial Craft’s unfinished Plankfloor? We use the highest quality raw materials and combine them with the tightest specifications and quality control procedures in order to make flooring with almost no over-wood. We’ve also recently added our own ISOcertified test lab to ensure these standards are maintained. Our product is sanded once at the factory, so the normal three-pass sanding procedure is not necessary. As little as one pass with a big machine (drum or belt sander), or even just screening the floor with a buffer, will likely do the job. Just clean up the installation marks, glue, footprints, etc., and you are good to go, saving you time and money.
Premiere Finishing & Coating
Can you use water-base sealers and topcoats to keep VOCs low? No, our line is not set up for them. We could refit the line for water-base coatings if we were willing to foot the expense, however, using them would not reduce our VOCs. All of our clear-coats and most of our stains are 100% solids. They are applied in thin coats that do not require drying or evaporation. They simply turn from a liquid to a solid in about three seconds under UV lights. They basically have no VOCs. However, most water-base coatings contain about 2 lbs. of co-solvent to help them dry. So, going to water-base would actually dramatically increase our VOCs. www.prefinishfloors.com
www.colonialcraft.com
Rust-Oleum Corporation
Royal Adhesives & Sealants
Can the moisture levels in a concrete subfloor change after I install my wood floors? The moisture levels in concrete subfloors are constantly changing. Many times the moisture levels are checked at the time of installation only to rise after the wood flooring is installed. This rise in moisture can cause irreparable damage to your hardwood flooring. That is why we developed Easy Moisture Control (EMC). EMC is designed to be used over concrete subfloors with moderate to heavy moisture levels. EMC protects your wood flooring from subfloor moisture, and it is easy to use—no extra time or labor is needed. www.youtube.com/parabondadhesives
www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com
I have some Nano Shield Floor Finish left over from my last job. Can I use it on another job? Absolutely. While Nano Shield looks and feels like oil and performs like a premium two-component system, it’s a one-component system that doesn’t require a catalyst. As long as you haven’t mixed an additive like Nano Shield Prefin into the finish, there’s no pot life or waste. You can use the leftover finish on your next job with confidence that it will retain its excellent flow and leveling, adhesion, crystal-clear clarity and maximum abrasion-, scratch- and chemical-resistance. And with no waste, you’ll save money. www.rustoleum.com/nanoshield
Timbermate Group
How can I match the putty color to my project? There are three ways. Timbermate mixes with any tint, oil or water-based stain. Installers may use Timbermate Natural Tint with a colorant by matching the color of the filler (when wet) to the wood. Timbermate dries lighter than its color when wet. It returns to its original color once the topcoat is applied. Or, you can apply color when the putty is dry. After that, you should wait to sand until completely dry, then stain and apply the topcoat. Timbermate also offers 13 premixed colors to match the most popular wood species—just finish by sanding and applying the final topcoat. www.timbermategroup.com
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