Renovating & Refinishing Wooden Floors
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IMPORTANT things to know about preparation
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Preservatives and
woodworm treatments
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The floor may have been treated with these in the past, a test area
(see below) is advised to determine any incompatibility
problems with the coating chosen.
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Wax
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If the floor has been waxed at any time, it should be dewaxed
by rubbing with white spirit and coarse steel wool, and wiping
off the wax solution formed with clean rags or paper kitchen
towels whilst still damp.
Coatings are not compatible with wax.
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Sanding
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To be carried-out after dewaxing and cleaning the floor (because
sanding drives contaminants further down into the wood). A drum
sander should be used working from coarse to medium then fine
sandpaper grades.
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Filling holes, dents
and knots.
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Use
Rustin's Woodstopping
to fill any holes. It is not necessary
to treat knots when using Rustin's Floor Coatings. Gaps between
floorboards or blocks should not be filled with Woodstopping.
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Nails and parquet pins
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Ensure that these are not protruding as they will catch on the
sandpaper.
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Changing the wood colour
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Rustin's Wood Dye
is available in 11 natural wood shades (which
can be mixed to obtain other shades) and is applied to the bare
wood before coating. If a lighter colour is required the wood
can be bleached with
Rustin's Wood Bleach.
To retain the palest/bleached look, use
Rustin's Acrylic Floor Coating
which has the least effect on the colour of the wood. Bleached wood can also be dyed
to another wood shade.
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Using other manufacturers' products with
Rustin's
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It is not advisable to mix and match products (dyes/stains/woodstopping/coating)
between different manufacturers as incompatibility may occur.
If it is necessary to do so then a test area is advised
to determine compatibility. Ideally, use only Rustin's products
with Rustin's Floor Coatings.
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Tannin staining
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Some timbers, especially Oak and Cherry contain a large
amount of Tannin, this can cause a pink staining when coated.
It is rare but cannot be predicted other than by coating a test
area although not all the wood may be affected.
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Steel wool
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Can become embedded in open pored timbers and cause black staining
on Oak.
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Test Area
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Where it is advised to do a test area, this involves applying
all the products (in the correct number of coats) that will be
used, to a small unobtrusive area. The customer must determine
whether the chosen system is satisfactory.
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Coating OTHER surfaces
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Cork, Vinyl and Concrete etc.
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Acrylic Floor Coating can be used to seal concrete, stone (acid
cleaned stone must be neutralised), unsealed terracotta and quarry
tiles. On power floated concrete dilute the first coat 1:1 with
water.
Rustin's Plastic Floor Coating
can be used on vinyl tiles, and
on slate and stone where it gives a 'wet-look'. All Rustin's
Floor Coatings can be used on cork tiles that have not been pre-sealed
or waxed.
All surfaces must be clean.
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Overcoating existing coatings / varnishes
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If overcoating an existing Rustin's Floor Coating, use the same
product as applied originally. If the original coating is unknown
and not being removed by sanding,
Rustin's Polyurethane Floor Sealer
can be used but the floor must be completely wax-free.
For any other combinations of coatings a test area is
advised.
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SELECTION of Floor Coating
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Effect on the colour of the wood
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To enhance the natural beauty of wood use Rustin's Polyurethane
Floor Sealer, Or Rustin's Plastic Floor Coating. For the least
effect on the colour of wood use Rustin's Acrylic Floor Coating
- also ideal for bleached and pale wood.
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Durability
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Maximum durability is achieved with Rustin's Plastic Floor Coating.
Rustin's Acrylic Floor Coating and Rustin's Polyurethane Floor
Sealer also give good durability. These three coatings will typically
last for may years before recoating becomes necessary.
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Rate of drying
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With Rustin's Plastic Floor Coating and Rustin's
Acrylic Floor Coating, 3 coats can be applied in one day because they
are quick-drying.
Typical recoating time is 2 hours. Floors can be used 2 hours
after the last coat has been applied (light traffic). Care should
be taken with Rustin's Plastic Floor Coating for the first 7
days whilst it achieves full cure i.e. spills should be wipes
up within 10 minutes and runners should be used in very
high traffic areas.
Rustin's Polyurethane Floor Sealer requires 4 to 6 hours between
coats.
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Use of floor
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In kitchens and bathrooms water-resistance may be a priority
and halls will require harder wearing coatings than bedrooms.
For example, use Rustin's Plastic Floor Coating for best water-resistance
and maximum durability.
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Maintenance
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All three of Rustin's Floor Coatings are low maintenance, requiring
only a mild detergent solution to clean, and waxing to restore
the shine to gloss finishes. They can be easily overcoated at
any time once the floor is clean, dewaxed, and lightly sanded
to provide a key. Coated floors will typically last for many
years before maintenance is required. Only overcoat with same
coating used originally.
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Odour
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Rustin's Acrylic Floor Coating has the lowest odour.
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Gloss or Satin Finish
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Rustin's Floor Coatings are available in Gloss and Satin
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Oil Finishes
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Rustin's Danish Oil
and
Rustin's Teak Oil
are not intended as
Floor Coatings but are included here due to popular demand. A
minimum of 4 coats should be applied initially with regular maintenance
coats, after cleaning, as appropriate. Allow 4 to 8 hours between
coats depending on ambient conditions. Not recommended for high
traffic or wet areas i.e. kitchens / bathrooms.
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Paint Effects
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Contact our Technical Service Department for advice.
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Which Coating to use?
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If you are still unsure which of Rustin's Floor Coatings is best
for your particular needs you can telephone our Technical Service
Department.
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Important factors for SUCCESS
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Preparation
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Go through the points listed thoroughly, there is no substitute
for good preparation. Surfaces to be treated must be free from
contaminants.
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Coverage Rate
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Always follow the correct coverage rate and number of coats stated
on the product packaging. Measure the floor, calculate the area
to be coated, then work-out how many litres need to be applied
for each coat.
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Drying Time
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Allow the correct drying time between coats, this will vary according
to ambient conditions. Follow the instructions on the packaging.
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