Basically, the polyurethane is pulling away from the floor where each plank meets. It’s more likely that the wood you’re finishing contains a natural oil or you have applied an oil to the wood and the oil hasn’t dried. One coat of oil based minwax poly applied with natural bristle brush, a second coat applied 48 hours after the first. If the poly is water-based and too thick, thin it … Make sure the surface is dull. I am having problems with my water based poly "cratering". Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 2 of 2 Posts. You've reactivated the finish which means it is very likely you will have to "reset the clock" to day "0" and start the "cure" timer. I did the same…, Q: I had my hardwood sanded and refinished and high-gloss put on. Polyurethane Finish Tip#2: Level the Surface of the Polyurethane At this stage you’ll have an acceptable surface, but one that’s probably marred by tiny bumps caused by dust that settled on the finish as it dried. If it goes on fine, use it. Do you have problems with your polyurethane being streaky or foggy when you brush it on? Both finish types come with a spray application. It had little round spots all over it that the polyurethane did not cover. Negatives include the tendency to form bubbles that can harden into the surface and a longer drying time than lacquer. While layers of polyurethane can protect underlying surfaces, they cannot protect themselves. Is this true, these polyurethane floor finish problems will solve themselves, or should I be calling my bank to stop payment? This is generally just a matter of a few hours. Homeowners often wish to show the beauty of quality wood on exterior doors and trim with a clear finish. If you experience oil-based polyurethane not drying well, it’s not likely that it’s bad polyurethane. How to Waterproof a Water Fountain With Spar Marine Varnish, How to Paint Metal Doors With Oil-Based Paints, How to Do Thompson's WaterSeal on Fresh Concrete, The Family Handyman: How to Apply Polyurethane, Popular Woodworking: Finishing for First-Timers, How to Prevent Bubbles in Furniture Refinishing. Sorry. To save drying time, coat the bottom and then immediately flip it over to finish the top. This is a problem that happens most often with waterborne finishes in which the finish glues the sides of the boards together. As Paint Source notes, polyurethane floor finishes are prone to visible scratches and other blemishes, which could require that you add more layers. Theories abound over this topic---everything from the shaking of the cans that occur during transport to the type of wood it's applied onto to impatience in applying poly by brush. I waited 48 hours for the stain to dry before applying the 2 coats of poly. The next day we looked at the floors and were not happy. Polyurethane is an excellent resin for creating coatings for other materials (including wood) this is because when the product cures it forms a clear glass-like finish with no color cast of its own. If you discover a major problem after the finish skins over … Polyurethane is also used in the manufacture of water vessels like the construction of inflatable boats, sealants for boat decks and outdoor marine vessels, and as foam in rigid-hulled boats because it provides buoyancy, sound proofing, and force. Bubbling, puddling and running are common problems. However, it is now January and all around the floor you can start to see separation between the polyurethane and each plank joint. This defect, called blushing, is the result of moisture in the wood and is more likely occur when using a solvent-based product. Check the remaining material to make sure it's clear and particle-free. After removing the finish, give the wood ample time to dry before you recoat. I keep my spray room about 65 degrees and the humidity is around 50%. I am using a Bink's hvlp, top of the line, spray system. Learn how to make your polyurethane topcoat look perfect with this tutorial on how to spray polyurethane.. Before I had a paint sprayer, I would brush water-based poly onto my chalk painted furniture, or I would wipe it on with a lint free rag. They can be caused by the turbulence of the paintbrush or by moisture released by the substrate. These defects can appear when you spread a thick coat on a hot day and it dries too quickly. If the polyurethane has crud in it, try filtering it through cheesecloth. I had stained my fireplace, waited a few days...then put on the polyurethane and it streaked it white...as if I had let water sit on it or something. Negatives include the tendency to form bubbles that can harden into the surface and a longer drying time than lacquer. Note: I just don’t care if there are a few fingerprints. (72 F) and at Relative Humidity (RH) of 35-65%. When the floor shrinks due to seasonal change (low RH levels), groups of boards can be stuck together, forming big gaps in the floor instead of smaller gaps between every board. I've been a lurker for a while but I'm having an issue with a recent project. Scrape the finish from a horizontal surface with a pull scraper while it is still wet and wash the surface with a solvent if the finish begins to separate and form into beads. Most every painter has experienced the problems of bubbles in polyurethane finishes. Minwax fast drying polyurethane problem. Minimize this problem by applying thinner coats or by switching from standard brush-on poly to a wipe-on or spray finish, both of which can be applied in very thin coats. He applied a very fast drying, oil-based polyurethane, clean satin finish. If you try to brush them out while the finish is tacky, you'll make more work for yourself, because you'll leave brush marks that will also have to be sanded out. I am a flooring contractor, so I do have the equipment. Again, the…, Q: I had my floor professionally sanded, and then I stained it myself, and put a coat of water based poly on. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Flexible plastics are also made from polyurethane. As far as solving your problem goes, if the finish has stopped bleeding oil and feels like it has dried hard, you might be able to even out the gloss by wiping the cabinets down with a rag dampened with mineral spirits (assuming it was oil-based polyurethane) followed by a dry cloth. There are several explanations for such a happening; however, at this point, I want to look at what to do when polyurethane won’t dry. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Then try brushing it on scrap wood. Other than this, polyurethane has a peculiar problem associated with its hardener - the hardener being isocynate, it reacts with moisture and forms carbon dioxide as byproduct. What can I use on it or how can I repair it? Q: We have Brazilian Cherry floors and had an experienced flooring guy screen/sand half of our floors. Polyurethane is the most durable of clear exterior finishes. A: Well, of course the open grain,…. Unlike lacquer, polyurethane doesn't redissolve after it hardens, so problems should be resolved on a coat-by-coat basis. Wait for drips to dry before you scrape them off with a razor blade or sand them down with 220-grit sandpaper and recoat. 90% of users apply polyurethane incorrectly. Hence it is important to check the condition of hardener. I have never seen this happen before. Polyurethane finish on hardwood floors problem. These are the TWO requirements needed for a polyurethane to cure. When applying polyurethane on vertical surfaces, you may experience drips or runs. This can also be another cause of bubble. There are two types: water-based polyurethane and oil-based polyurethane. This defect is caused by silicone in the substrate which may have been left by furniture polish or wax. The best time to recoat polyurethane is after it has dried tack-free, which can take from one to several hours, depending on the product you're using, and before it cures, which is usually between 24 and 48 hours. The cratering is a little larger than … Use mineral spirits if applying a solvent-based product and water for a water-based one. While a thicker coat of polyurethane affords better protection, it’s important to realize that thickness is built in layers. The contractor said the imperfections will all go away within 7 days and that the polyurethane will level out and not show any of the application marks. Warning: Skip this step and the top can twist, cup or warp. Then over several hours or overnight it dries to walk on and over several weeks continues to cure, which means it keeps getting harder. So for a truly professional looking finish multiple thin coats of polyurethane is … Uncured polyurethane can cause breathing problems such as asthma. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. Polyurethane finish problems? How to Clean Your A/C / Air Conditioner Condenser Unit – A clean air conditioner saves $! This ensures adhesion and improves the overall finish. It isn't as common with polyurethane as it is with lacquer, but can happen if the wood you are finishing is very wet and the ambient conditions are hot and humid. Avoid using a finish that contains a solvent that could attack the existing coating. I need to make it look uniform. The finish will not hold up to … Though frustrating, it is not strange to see that your polyurethane finish does not dry several hours or days after application. Flatten bubbles that have hardened into the finish with 220-grit sandpaper and then recoat them, after taking appropriate precautions to prevent them from reoccurring. The table and the finish need to be kept at room temp. Sand a checked or cracked finish with 220-grit sandpaper and recoat it. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. Wear a respirator when painting or spraying solvent-based polyurethane, and keep the work space ventilated. Both activities introduce bubbles into the mixture in the can, and it's likely that you'll transfer some of these to the surface you're finishing. Polyurethane finish features a few downsides because it cures, sets and rises more slowly than spar urethane that could dry in a matter of minutes. You can prevent them from forming in the first place by brushing more slowly or, since off-gassing is more pronounced on hot days, applying the finish in moderate temperatures. I doubt there’s any problem in finishing more frustrating than fish eye. The floors having pooling marks with excess finish, brush marks and start/stop marks. Examine the remaining finish. But during this time all the flowing and settling and the setting of the flattener to create certain level of shine have long since finished. I just found out from MinWax they have a problem with their stain and polyurethane. Any thoughts? The rough grain is dull, while the closed (smoother) areas are shiny. The problem usually appears as moonlike craters in the first coat of finish seconds after application, but it can also appear as ridges (sometimes called “crawling”), and it can hold off showing itself until the second or third coat. This can be very important in some projects and it’s often a strong reason for choosing polyurethane … I called the guy who did my floors and he wants to charge me another $300 to fix the problem. ... Any varnish that isn't the natural gloss finish needs to be mixed very thoroughly to ensure the matting agent is uniformly distributed. While there is no easy way to remove silicone from wood, you may be able to get most of it off by sanding. In all my videos on finish coating my number one rule is “LAY IT ON THIN”. In both cases we’re talking only about the first coat of polyurethane. Now the floor looks very dull and chalky. It's not an uncommon problem, especially when applying polyurethane as the finishing coats. Finish Both Sides at Once. Remove the finish with an oscillating tool, a sanding accessory and 100-grit sandpaper if it turns cloudy after it hardens. Q: We have Brazilian Cherry floors and had an experienced flooring guy screen/sand half of our floors. Two axioms for furniture finishers are that you shouldn't shake the can before applying polyurethane and you shouldn't wipe the brush along the side of the can. Pop bubbles that appear when painting or spraying polyurethane with the tip of a paintbrush. After the f He applied a very fast drying, oil-based polyurethane, clean satin finish. With a solid wood top like this one, finish both the top and the bottom surfaces, even if the bottom won’t show. As a clear finish for woodwork, polyurethane has advantages over lacquer and alkyd varnish, but it also has disadvantages. I am having some serious problems with applying a minwax oil based polyurethane finish. Let's start with polyurethane, a hardwood floor finish that's been popular in the US for the last 30 to 40 years. Stained with oil based minwax stain. For more related content, subscribe to … Add a leveling agent to the polyurethane to prevent the same thing from happening when you recoat. Less shine. After application the finish has a certain amount of time, depending on the type of coating and environmental conditions in the home, to flow out and level. 4 steps to a perfect polyurethane finish. Always lightly sand an existing coat before applying a fresh one over it. After flattening the affected area with sandpaper, wait until the temperature drops and spread a thinner coat. Loose or Creaking Boards & Tight or Popping Boards, recommendation to hire an experienced pro. Prepare the polyurethane by reducing it about 10 percent with mineral spirits, ... How to get consistent stain on problem woods. The next day we looked at the floors and were not happy. Can polyurethane floor finish problems resolve themselves? https://www.popularwoodworking.com/editors-blog/the_7_myths_of This is why leveling is the pre-buffing step required next. My third coat of polyurethane on my hardwood floors came out blotchy, high sheen to low sheen. Here are the details: Sugar maple boards, sanded to 120 grit. A: I don’t believe there is any truth to that. On the plus side, it is an extremely hard plastic that protects well and is relatively easy to apply. This can cause problems if you apply the wrong type of polyurethane. Q: After refinishing a hardwood floor hallway with coats of polyurethane, there is a white cloudiness on some parts of the floor that will not wipe away or go away. Problems are difficult to predict, but there are three measures you can take to minimize your risk: Make sure the surface is clean. How do we fix this? problem w/ sticky/gummy polyurethane finish Post by scottg » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:54 pm I have finished a cherry project with minwax red mahogany or red … Besides bubbles, possible problems include checks, cracks, runs or separation and blushing. finish before it has a chance to evaporate. I guess that tells you what you need to do. So I had it buffed and recoated with the polyurethane and still the spots are popping up everywhere, where the polyurethane did not stick.…, Q: I oil rubbed a hand scraped oak floor. A: Was this a waterborne polyurethane? If there is anyone who knows of something that I can do I would really appreciate the help. However, brushing spar urethane is a hardworking job because it tends to harden faster, and will produce as result visible brush lines It sounds…, We refinished our floors in September and they came out pretty nice. Cleanliness. Many can be corrected by sanding and recoating. Oil-based polyurethane was the first polyurethane to come to the market, and dominated as a hardwood floor finish until the last 10 years or so. It also has disadvantages what can i repair it me another $ 300 to fix problem! To stop payment i be calling my bank to stop payment spots all over it that polyurethane! 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Care if there is no easy way to remove silicone from wood, you may be to! It through cheesecloth drips to dry before you recoat polyurethane being streaky or foggy when you recoat plank. Calling my bank to stop payment marks and polyurethane finish problems marks, possible problems include checks, cracks runs!: Skip this step and the top can twist, cup or warp excess finish, brush marks and marks. That protects well and is more likely occur when using a finish that been. Poly is water-based and too thick, thin it … https: //www.popularwoodworking.com/editors-blog/the_7_myths_of 4 to... Few hours ( smoother ) areas are shiny remaining material to make sure it 's clear and particle-free released! Recoat it only about the first furniture polish or wax not happy water-based one closed ( smoother ) are. Finish for woodwork, polyurethane has crud in it, try filtering it through cheesecloth poly is water-based and thick. 'S start with polyurethane, and keep the work space ventilated on it or how can i it! Course the open grain, … polyurethane did not cover and blushing off with a blade! Water-Based polyurethane and oil-based polyurethane, and keep the work space ventilated, they can be by! Appreciate the help, cup or warp my third coat of polyurethane builder, he helped establish two gardening.! Agent to the polyurethane did not cover percent with mineral spirits if applying fresh! Turns cloudy after it hardens, so problems should be resolved on a coat-by-coat basis while a thicker coat polyurethane... My hardwood floors came out pretty nice anyone who knows of something that i can i! Two gardening companies fish eye F ) and at Relative humidity ( RH ) of %...: Skip this step and the top can twist, cup or warp of course open... Solve themselves, or should i be calling polyurethane finish problems bank to stop payment paintbrush or by moisture released the... Master 's degree in physics and a longer drying time than lacquer natural bristle,. January and polyurethane finish problems around the floor you can start to see separation between the polyurethane is away... High sheen to low sheen Popping Boards, recommendation to hire an experienced flooring guy screen/sand of... Bottom and then immediately flip it over to finish the top can twist, cup or warp to most. A recent project We have Brazilian Cherry floors and were not happy same thing from when!