Hello,
I need some advice re: installing wood floors .
1) The subfloor under the carpet looks like 3/4″ OSB and is in good shape. This stuff is hard to nail into, so my question is, will there be a problem nailing the solid oak strips to this? Please, please don’t tell me that I need to replace this with plywood:).
2) I talked with an installer who said that he liked to finish the oak with an oil-based sealer first then 2 coats of water based polyurethane. Can you do that?? What are your recommendations for finishing solid oak T&G floors. I have 2 dogs, live in snow/mud country, and LIVE in this house (vs showcasing the house!) so I need something durable.
3) I have looked at some of the prefinished wood flooring and would love to use this but I have a concern.
– I have read that the finish is much more durable than a polyurethane finish that I can apply. My worry is that when I need to refinish heavy traffic areas, will it be possible to use polyurethane and blend it in with the factory finish?
Thanks very much for your help. Any suggestions will be most greatly appreciated.
Deb
Replies
Deb
just a note on your wood flooring project. We live in a 4 season environment and also have 2 large dogs. I put down a prefinished bamboo floor about 4 years ago; bamboo will not discolor when it gets wet (oak can turn black when the moisture gets under the finish) and the water borne poly finish has held up well.
your subfloor is fine. Be sure to put down a layer of tarpaper between floor and OSB. Our hardwood floor is finished with poly and we have dogs- we can see scratches in the top coat from them.
Edited 11/20/2002 2:10:34 PM ET by DEP4PCB
might i suggest streetshoe or glitsa as a finish, i used the glitsa on my floors three years ago with three young children and a dalmatian and am very happy with it. from what i understand about wood floor finishes is the oil based ones are harder and more durable, but yellow over time. and the water based products don't yellow as much but are not as durable and need annual refinishing. these products i suggested are water born so they don't yellow, but are extremely hard and durable.
the only thing is that the glitsa is really nasty stuff, easy to work with but the odor is dangerously overwhelming, you have to wear a very good respirator and leave the house for 24 hours, but the result is great. i understand the streetshoe is less toxic and just as durable although i have never used that product.
for convenience i would consider a refinished solid plank floor (not the laminates), the companies that produce these floors (such as bruce) can control the finishing process at the factory much better than you can in a house, then you don't have the sanding and finishing to worry about. i have done several of these type floors and really like the ease of installation.
by the way as far as using tar paper (roofing felt) i would only use it if you are on a slab or a damp crawl space, it's preferred if you let the wood breath through the seasons from underneath but to prevent squeaks I used butcher paper under my hardwood, you know the reddish stuff, home depot has it in the wood flooring isle. one other point stack the flooring in the room where you are going to install it and remove any plastic packaging 4 or 5 days before you start, that way the wood will acclimate to it's environment.
http://www.glitsa.com/
Dude,
Glitsa aint easy to apply, it's damned near the most difficult finish in the biz...no...it is the most difficult finish in the biz. Roof paper under hardwood floors is prefered by most full time installers (required if you are an NWFA member). Waterborne products are just as durable as omu. Some waterborne products are far superior to omu and mcu...'BonaKemi Traffic' for one. What's left as a surface finish after evaporation of either solvent or water (the carrier) is the same thing: poly. Solids content tends to be less with waterborne versus omu, hence manufacturers allow 4 coats of waterborne as opposed to 3 coats omu.Ditch
I've put in prefinished 3/4" oak floors in my house over the last 15 years. The first one I put in was in the hallway that connects the everything to everything (main entrance, living room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom), about 18 feet long. The floor has held up pretty well with only a few scratches. I don't have dogs, so I can't comment on that, but we (family of 4 & cat) use it quite a bit. I haven't felt the need to refinish yet. As far as blending in worn areas to unworn, I would just refinish the room. Area rugs or orientals placed in high traffic area will keep your urge to refinish the floor down.
Rich
Edited 11/20/2002 5:29:25 PM ET by Rich