FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which Coating system is the best to use?

The best coating system will depend upon a number of factors and will vary from job to job. Refer to the table below for further guidelines on which factors must be considered and recommended systems for these situations.

Solvent Based Polyurethane Oil Based Coating Water Based Coating
Substrate to be Coated Timber, Parquetry, Cork & Concrete Timber & Parquetry Timber, Parquetry & Cork
Appearance on Timber Deep protective wear layer Enhances grain appearance Protective wear layer
Colour on Timber Rich & Dark Deep & Dark Colour Natural Colour
Gloss Level Available Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin & Matt Gloss & Satin Gloss, Satin & Matt
Durability Excellent Moderate Very Good
Time Between Coat 8 Hours (shorter with DURAPOL Accelerator Additive) 24 Hours 2-4 Hours
Disruption to Occupants High Moderate Minimal
Recoat Time Frame 4-8 Years 2-3 Years 5-6 Years
Maintenance Regular Cleaning Regular Cleaning/Recoat When Needed Regular Cleaning & Maintenance
Suitable Applications Commercial Domestic Domestic & Sports Floors Commercial, Domestic & Sports Floors

 

Technical Bulletin

Why would I use a 2pk polyurethane instead of a simple pack moisture cure?

POLYTHANE Polyurethane coatings have better chemical resistance than DURAPOL moisture cure coatings and are more suited for commercial environments such as hair dressing salons where there is the possibility of the floor coming into contact with chemicals. Where possible in these situations use mats under the chair and always be cautious where the possibility of chemical spills are present. No coating is indestructible!

Can I put water based products over polyurethane/oil modified/2pk polyurethane products?

Yes. AQUAPRO water based products can be applied over other Polycure coatings such as NATUROIL, DURAPOL and POLYTHANE coatings. The floor must be cleaned, dried and thoroughly sanded before application, refer to the product data sheet for further application information.

Can I use DURAPOL coatings on concrete?

Yes. DURAPOL 1044 Cork, Timber & Concrete Gloss is ideal for use on interior concrete. Refer to the product data sheet for further information on product application. Note: The concrete must be fully cured, (minimum 28 days if fresh) thoroughly dry and free from all contaminates.

My son/daughter are asthmatics, what is the best coating system to use in our home?

The AQUAPRO water based product range is low VOC and low odour, however Polycure recommends that you always check any health issues with your Doctor before applying coatings. Product SDS’ are available from link to Chemwatch in the SDS menu item on this site.

Is MC polyurethane OK to use on a new floor?

This decision has to be made by the home owner and Floor sander after consultation with the Timber Supplier and installer. If approved by the timber supplier and the floor has been acclimatised and installed correctly a DURAPOL moisture cure coating can be applied, ideally over FASTASEAL 3030 Sealer. However if the timber manufacturer does not recommend the use of moisture cure coatings on new timber, Polycure NATUROIL oil based coatings should be used. For further information refer to the table below:

Solvent Based Polyurethane Oil Based Coating Water Based Coating
Substrate to be Coated Timber, Parquetry, Cork & Concrete Timber & Parquetry Timber, Parquetry & Cork
Appearance on Timber Deep protective wear layer Enhances grain appearance Protective wear layer
Colour on Timber Rich & Dark Deep & Dark Colour Natural Colour
Gloss Level Available Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin & Matt Gloss & Satin Gloss, Satin & Matt
Durability Excellent Moderate Very Good
Time Between Coat 8 Hours (shorter with DURAPOL Accelerator Additive) 24 Hours 2-4 Hours
Disruption to Occupants High Moderate Minimal
Recoat Time Frame 4-8 Years 2-3 Years 5-6 Years
Maintenance Regular Cleaning Regular Cleaning/Recoat When Needed Regular Cleaning & Maintenance
Suitable Applications Commercial Domestic Domestic & Sports Floors Commercial, Domestic & Sports Floors

 

Technical Bulletin

What coating system do you recommend on an old floor?

If the floor has little movement and no issues with moisture, a DURAPOL moisture cure coating would be recommended. If the timber floor demonstrates movement and, or has issues with moisture, one of Polycure’s NATUROIL oil based coating would be recommended. Refer to the relevant product data sheet for details on recoating.

Which is better, single pack or 2 pk water based?

AQUAPRO single pack coatings exhibit excellent chemical and abrasion resistance, however where further chemical and abrasion resistance is required AQUAPRO 8270 2K Advance is recommended especially in commercial environments such as restaurants, hotel lobbies, schools, community halls, art galleries etc.

I have pets/children, what coating do you recommend?

DURAPOL moisture cure and POLYTHANE polyurethane coatings are extremely durable and are recommended where the maximum time between recoats is desired, however no coating will withstand excessive wear and tear such a dogs claws. If dogs are kept inside, to minimise the scratches keep dogs claws trimmed and where possible use a low gloss moisture cure product which will be less likely to highlight scratches in the floor. For further information on the wearing of coatings click on the Technical Bulletin button. No coating is industructable!

Technical Bulletin

PRODUCT CATALOGUE

Complete Products Catalogue

PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDES

AQUAPRO PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

DURAPOL PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

FASTASEAL PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

NATUROIL PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

NATUROIL SPORTS PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

POLYCURE STAIN PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

POLYTHANE PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE

APPLICATION

What type of brush or roller should I use?

Use a good quality brush to cut in around edges and skirting boards and a good quality roller for the bulk of the area. The type of roller will vary by product type, refer to the appropriate product data sheet for further information.

Can I use oil modified products in Winter?

Yes, but it is recommended that NATUROIL 1499 Accelerator is added to speed up the drying time. Cold and damp environments will have an effect on drying time. In cold temperatures the coating may have to be left longer to dry between coats. Failure to do so may cause issues with the next coat i.e. frying.

How long should I keep clients out of the house after the final coat?

To minimise the risk of scratching and scuffing after the floor has been coated, the following guidelines should be followed:

Walking on floor with socks or stockings: After 24 hours.

Replacing furniture: After 2-3 days (longer if possible).

Replacing mats and rugs: After 3-4 weeks.

Damp mopping: After 2-4 weeks.

Provide ventilation to the coated areas after 24 hr dry to remove the evaporating solvents.

My curtains have a terrible smell about them after I had my floors coated a week ago. What can I do?

Ideally remove curtains before coating the floor, however if they have not been removed washing them and allowing them to air dry should eliminate the odour.

What causes poor adhesion and delamination?

There are 3 main causes of delamination; Contamination of the underlying surface, Suitability of coating for surface being coated and inadequate surface preparation.Click on the technical bulletin for DELAMINATION – further explanations of each of these main causes and how they can be prevented.

 

DELAMINATION

Why is the coating taking a long time to dry?

There are a number of factors that will affect the drying time of coatings. High film weights and pooling or ponding of the coating on the floor will slow the drying time. Low temperatures will affect drying time, where possible use accelerators to speed up drying (refer to individual product data sheets) where accelerators are not available, longer time between coats must be allowed.

Surface contaminants such as oils and waxes in the timber can slow drying time especially in Brush Box, Blackbutt, Tallowwood and Spotted Gum therefore, allow extra drying time between coats which must be calculated into the project time. Applying thinner coats and increasing air flow after the coating has been drying for approximately 2 hours may also help to speed up drying time.

When applying the second coat of NATUROIL the film is wrinkling (frying)?

NATUROIL oil finishes dry by a process called oxidation. The oxidation process is accelerated by the incorporation of driers in the coating. The drying starts at the surface and gradually progresses to the bottom layer of the film. Frying refers to the softening, swelling and wrinkling of the dry coating by solvents upon recoat. All oxidative drying coatings are prone to “frying” also referred to as “lifting”.

Like all oxidative drying coatings, NATUROIL has a recoat window. If NATUROIL is coated soon after application (e.g. within 4-6 hours – if dry enough to walk on) or after it is fully cured (e.g. after one week) frying is unlikely to occur. Frying is most likely to occur during the period 12 to 72 hours after application. Open grain timber will increase the risk of frying due to semi-dried oil deep in the grain.

The following points will maximise the potential for frying upon recoat: High film weights (coating applied too thick) Low temperatures High humidity Addition of strong solvents Pooling or ponding of the coating on the floor Open grain timber Closing all doors and windows thereby reducing airflow Sanding with too coarse grade of sandpaper or screenback and scratching and/or sanding back through earlier coating layers thereby enabling solvents to penetrate the coating and attack the semi-dried NATUROIL base coats.

To minimise the potential for frying: Apply a uniform even coat to the floor and avoid pouring or ponding coating on the floor as per the instructions on the can or data sheet. Avoid the application of excessively high film weights Allow longer time to dry between coats especially during cold and/or humid conditions Add NATUROIL 1499 Accelerator in cool and damp environments Clean rollers with mineral turps and not strong solvents designed for cleaning polyurethane coatings and thoroughly dry.

I have just had my floor coated and the food in my fridge and freezer smells funny. Is it safe to eat and if not, what caused the food to be contaminated?

It is unusual for the chemicals to get into a fridge or freezer unless there is a problem with the seal. However, Polycure recommends removing all food and clothing items in all rooms connected to the coated areas. All food, fabrics and all absorbent items need to be removed to prevent the potential for them to be contaminated with solvent.

How long does it take for the smell of the coating to go away?

This will depend upon the type of coating, for example solvent based coatings have a much stronger odour than water based coatings. It also depends upon the ventilation and air movement in the room. As soon as the coating is dry it is recommended that doors and windows are opened to increase air movement.

POLYCURE TIPS & INSIGHTS

RECOATING TIMBER, PARQUETRY OR CORK

  1. Clean floor with AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate or AQUACARE 8430
    Floor Clean & Degreaser.
  2. Sand floor with120-150 grade sandpaper or screen back on a flexible pad to ensure
    floor is uniformly dull with no sanding scratches, nibs or fur. Vacuum thoroughly.
    Take care to avoid scratching the surface.
  3. Apply the chosen coating per the directions on the product datasheet.
  4. Optional: Apply a second coat of the chosen coating.Warning: All coatings provide protection for the substrate; however, no coating is
    indestructible, and all coatings will mark or scratch. Sharp objects including sand and grit
    will scratch the surface of any coated floor. In high traffic commercial environments such
    as hairdressing salons, night clubs or taverns several factors need to be considered when
    choosing a coating system such as the amount of traffic, moisture, alcohol and chemicals
    likely to come into contact with the floor. A thorough cleaning and maintenance program
    must be implemented after the coating system has thoroughly dried to help to maintain the
    coating.

MAINTENANCE

After your floor has been coated, be sure to follow the guidelines below to minimise the risk of scratching and scuffing.
• Walking on floor with socks or stockings 24 hours.
• Replacing furniture 2-3 days (longer if possible).
• Replacing mats and rugs 3-4 weeks.
• Damp mopping 2-4 weeks.

When the floor is dry enough to walk on (normally 24 hours), open all the doors and windows to circulate the air.

This is important to ensure proper curing of the coating.
PLEASE CONTACT POLYCURE’S TECHNICAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT OR YOUR
LOCAL POLYCURE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FOR FURTHER FREE ADVICE.

ONGOING CARE

Place doors mats outside all entrances and ideally a soft mat inside each entrance
to help remove sand, grit and small stones from shoes. When sand and grit is
walked over the floor it is abrasive and acts like sandpaper and causes damage.
• If possible, use mats in high traffic area’s e.g., near the sink and/or oven and hot
plates.
• Use floor protectors on furniture legs.
• Keep pet claws trimmed to minimise scratching.
• Regularly sweep the floor with an antistatic mop to prevent the build-up of grit. Be
careful with vacuum cleaners as the cleaning heads and bristles could scratch the
floor.
• Remove any spills immediately and spot clean as required.
• Avoid direct sunlight where possible. Use blinds and curtains to reduce fading and
discolouration of timber.
• Wash the floor with a pH neutral cleaner designed for timber floors such as
AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate.
• Do not use methylated spirits.
• Do not use too much water whilst mopping (damp mop only) as too much moisture
can damage the timber.
• Do not use polishes or household cleaners – particularly those that contain
ammonia – as they may damage the floor coating.
• Avoid dragging furniture over timber floors.
• Avoid walking on the floor with stilettos at all times as these can dent the floor.

SANDING

Sand thoroughly between coats to ensure sound inter-coat adhesion.
2. Always use correct sandpaper or screen back to sand the coated or uncoated
timber. The wrong grit can cause scratching.
3. Ensure the sandpaper and screen backs are replaced regularly so that they
continue to “cut” the raw or coated floor. If they will burnish the floor which will
compromise the inter-coat adhesion between coats and result in delamination.

EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AT APPLICATION

Always apply coatings at the temperature recommended on the product data sheet.
2. In cold conditions the viscosity/thickness will increase which can cause the coating
to dry with an uneven appearance (orange Peel).
3. Placing the can in the sun or in hot water to heat the coating or adding Polycure
thinners will reduce the viscosity, which will result in improved flow and levelling.
4. In hot conditions, high temperature floors will cause the coating to skin and result in
bubbling. This is due to the coating surface drying and air being trapped in the
coating. Adding Wet Edge Extender will improve flow and levelling and reduce the
risk of bubbling.
5. As a rule, if the floor is too hot to touch or walk on with socks, it is too hot to coat.
6. Draughts from doorways, windows and any open areas will cause the coating to dry
quickly resulting in bubbling.
7. To reduce these issues only apply coatings in areas that are not affected by
draughts or seal openings and gaps with tape

WHICH PRODUCT SHOULD YOU USE