Attitudes to Flooring

Installing wood flooring has never been simpler. Modern damp proofing and adhesive products allow a quick and safe installation which should last a lifetime. However, the end user is going to be more focused on the exposed timber surface, which can take many forms depending on the surface treatment used. This treatment will be responsible for not only the aesthetic qualities of the flooring but will determine the wear resistance and subsequent aftercare the floor will require.

In cases involving existing floors, sometimes a variety of treatments have been used over years with varying degrees of success. Invariably the surface treatment has been unable to cope with the demands placed upon it, or the surface has been provided with an insufficient level of maintenance leading to deterioration and the exposure of bare timber in the more heavily trafficked areas of the floor. This is often the point in time when a full refurbishment of the floor becomes necessary. In addition to the expense, the main issue within public, commercial or retail spaces is the removal of the floors from use while the work is undertaken, and the level of disruption this generates.

Traditionally, floors within busy, high traffic environments such as airports and stations have been treated with penetrating oil. Although this offers limited protection to the timber surface (the treatment resides in the top layer of the wood where it hardens), the surface can be easily maintained by the periodic application of more oil to the surface. This preserves the saturation of oil in the surface which gives the floor its appearance (a rich colour), wear properties and resistance to liquid spills. As this re- introduction of oil can be made very simply, using a buffing machine to apply the oil and a cloth underneath to buff off the excess, it means that areas of the floor do not have to be removed from use.

Where lacquer (varnish) treatments have been used, which seal the surface and therefore offer a high level of protection/durability, dealing with areas which have worn back to bare wood are less simple to address. The damaged area must be clean (sanded) and the primer and varnish reapplied to the same specification as used elsewhere. The products have to dry and cure to a state which will be able to cope with the trafficking regime. This all takes time - which is seldom available.

An alternative to this remedial approach is a preventative one. On a new or recently refurnished lacquered floor, measures such as providing effective barrier mats at points of entry, and considering the implications of design, can have a highly beneficial effect at mitigating the damage caused by the trafficking of abrasive particles of grit and dirt onto the floor. Frequent dry cleaning (sweeping/dry mopping) and the use of a pH neutral cleaner as required is essential. During cleaning the surface can be checked for signs of wear, light scratches etc. In addition to frequent cleaning, the surface should receive a periodic deep clean. The regularity of this process depends on the nature of the floor’s use. In museums this may occur quarterly or more frequently if necessary. The periodic ‘deep clean’ should be by scrubber-drier to get the surface as clean as possible. This prevents dirt becoming trapped between layers of the maintainer which leads to floors becoming discoloured over time. Following the deep clean, the surface can be treated with a maintenance product (polish or similar) to restore the appearance and sheen of the floor whilst offering further protection to the surface. The next step to preserve the surface involves applying a further varnish coat. This would be made at 12-18 month intervals in a heavily trafficked environment. In order to overcoat the surface, all maintenance products must be removed. This is achieved by abrading the surface with BONA fine diamond abrasives which serve to provide a physical key for the next coat in addition to the mechanical cleaning. Following the removal of all dust a varnish coat can be applied; a process which can be completed overnight, allowing the floors to be used the following day. Once the frequency of these treatments is fine-tuned, it should be possible to avoid a full scale refurbishment and the floor should never require sanding back to bare wood again. With this system in place the floors should always be in the best possible condition with minimal disruption to the operation of the location. The high costs of full refurbishment and excessive downtime are eliminated with a more predictable outlay for the maintenance and periodic overcoating.

For more information, contact Bona Far East & Pacific Pte Ltd at Tel (+65) 6377 1158, email [email protected] or visit

www.bona.com.