I have cherry hardwood floors which were refinished with an oil based polyurathane finish two years ago. Through the Spring I have had contractors working on my house, painting etc. They placed paper on the wood floors for protection, and taped the paper in place with blue painters tape. After about six weeks, they had finished painting, and removed the paper, and tape. Unfortunately when the tape was pulled up the finish came off as well – leaving long, linear marks on the wood floors where the tape had been.
The contractor now tells me that the floors had not been finished properly initially. This makes little sense to me since the floors were well sanded prior to refinishing, and several coats of Poly were applied. I have tried placing blue painters tape on the floors in other places, and when pulled off rapidly some finish comes off. If pulled off slowly however this does not happen.
This contractor does not feel completely responsible for the damage done to the floors by the tape. Nevertheless, the floors had been refinished about two years ago and were wearing well -no marks, chips etc. Unfortunately the marks left by the tape are very conspicuous and the floors will now need refinishing.
Is there anything that I should watch out for on the next refinish? I suspect only a light sanding should be necessary to remove the prior coats of poly since there are no real gouges, or other marks – is this true? Would it be ususal or unusual for tape to pull of the finish on a Varnished floor ? I will appreciate any thoughts or insights.
Thanks,
Dave
Replies
Dave, it would be very unusual for blue tape to pull up a finish. It's made specifically for low-tack and extended use times, like in your case. I would guess that maybe your floor had some wax on it before refinishing which prevented good adhesion of the new finish.
If you haven't already, try posting this in Breaktime (second from left in the row of buttons on the top right of your screen). There you will find the construction guys, this is more of a design-oriented forum.
Anyway, welcome to the Taunton forums!
Mike
Tho Mike's right about the low adhesion, I believe that 3M says 7 days max. 6 weeks might be enuf to do some weird things.
Screening is the name of the process that you mention. Light sanding and reapplication of varnish.
ShelleyinNM
When blue painter's tape is left for more than a week or two, it does damage a finish. on floors, where there is traffic rubbing it in to create better adhesion, it is more likely to peel the surfacce off. I would be leery of it on a floor for more than a week. Sometimes though a week grows into two ior three or five ....so we then take it up slowly with WD -40.
The repair is not terrible though. A light screening will clean and de-gloss the surface and prepare it for another coat of poly. inconvenient, but no killer.
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