I am having my Brazilan Walnut hardwood floors refinsihed by a professional contractor(?). I asked to have an oil base stain, Cabot, applyed to darken the color and that was to be followed by 2 coats of an oil base Polyurethane. The first coat of urethane was installed last Saturday the 19th of November and as of this morning there are spots that are still tacky. I am now thinking that the stain was not dry enough to apply the urethane thus causing this long drying process.
Questions:
1. Should I have them start over because the urethane will never adhear correctly or just give it more time to dry.
2. If I have them start over would you use a drum sander or will a circular buffer with a coarse screen be enough to take off the urethane and thus saving some of the thinkness of the floor.
Tom
Replies
quick questions - is the finish poly compatible with the Cabot? how heavy a coat was applied (really shouldn't be any pooling/puddling)? what temp is the room? how was the floor prepped before finishing - is the Brazilian particularly "oily" or "hard", ie teak,ipe?
odd situation
I don't know of the compatability issue, neither are either of the mfg since they don't test other products. The rooms have been at 80 degrees since Monday and have had fans on they since Wednesday and again this morning they are tacky. The walnut is a hard wood but not IPE hard.
Only option left is to have them redo the floor using a top coat made by the same mfg as the stain after a complete 24 drying time for the stain.
Thanks for your ear.
Tom
Back when I spent more time building furniture, I tried to rush a finish and got a similar problem. The stain instructions said to wait 72 hours before top coating, and I thought the stain felt dry enough after a day and a half, so I coated with poly. After a week of waiting, it was still gummy, so I stripped it all and started again. Don't know if that's your problem, but it sounds similar. Now I wait a little longer than the stain instructions recommend.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Thanks. I am sure that that is the problem.
Odds are 50/50 that waiting, heat, and fans will get it to cure, but the answer you gave about compatability is no-way suficient. every finisher knbows that you ALWAYS test things like this is inconspicuous areas or on sample scraps before proceding. The manufacturers will never coment on another's compatability. It is the installers job to KNOW!
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