Our floor guy is having trouble finding a flat or matte oil-based poly floor finish to put down on fir for a house we’re building. He’s suggested either waterbased poly, which I don’t think I want on fir because it won’t bring out the depth and color, or tung oil, which I like the looks of but question its durability.
Shellac is not an option, sorry Frenchy–I need to test it on my own house before recommending it to someone else.
Anybody have a hot tip on where to find flat oil-based floor poly?
Replies
If'n it twere me, I get a couple of gallons of the satin poly of your choice. One or more should have been sitting around for a while.
Instead of mixing as directed on the label, I'd pour off about half of the gallon into another bucket, and then mix the devil out of the remainder. The result would be rather flat poly.
You don't think you'd be pouring off some other stuff too, like the stuff that makes it dry?
Isn't poly a rather homgenous material with the flattening agents added? The distructions tell us to mix thoroughly to stir up the particles sitting on the bottom.
So, no, I wouldn't worry about that. But maybe someone else whom knows more could correct me?
You are correct about the "satin" material being on the bottom of the canI don't understand it but gloss poly is really different and DOES NOT even need to be stirred.
Its not oiled based but you could try Bona Traffic, has a great matt finish or if you want a more untreated look you could try Bona Natural.
Why not use Waterlox?
http://www.waterlox.com/ https://www.waterlox.com/site/516/default.aspx
It's a pain and you need multiple coats but durability is amazing.
Jeff
Edited 9/11/2008 10:03 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
I'm not sure what brand our floor guy likes to use, but the options we were giving were matte waterbased poly, satin or semigloss oil-based poly, or tung oil. I don't see a flat or matte finish on the Waterlox site, but it does look like a good product.
Anyway, the clients decided this morning that satin oil poly would be ok.
My recollection is that you control sheen with Waterlox depending on the number of coats.
Jeff
I can see your decision is made, but my 2 cents. Our floors are Jatoba, and we used a very low gloss poly- not matt but still not much reflectivity. We wish we had used a semigloss. The beauty of the grain and color is rather masked with the duller finish. It really sings when its moist with Bona floor cleaner.
Stef
I believe your reply was meant for me (as OP) and I appreciate the response. You have a good point. The idea is to mimic the look of an oil finish, but poly inherently adds thickness that with a matte finish would mask the grain. Our client has decided to go with a satin finish anyway.