A general overview of common problems associated with a site finished floor…
As as a seasoned flooring inspector, I’m all too familiar with most of the problems related to on site finished hardwood flooring. I would love to tell you that most finish related problems have nothing to do with the installer, but that’s not reality. Instead, I’m going to share a few of the more common issues with floor finishes and their causes.
- Applicator streaks are visible lines or brush strokes in the finish. These are usually caused by the installer reusing an old applicator, letting the finish setup too long or the finish not being applied evenly.
- Bubbles dried into the finish can be caused by oily or soapy contaminates not be removed from the floor prior to finish application. Bubbles can also be caused by applying finish when either the finish or the floor itself is too warm or too cold.
- Cloudy finish is usually caused by applying a coat of finish before the previous coat is completely dry. Less often, this problem arises from finishes that are expired or have been subjected to extreme temperatures before application.
- Cratering is an effect where the finish has tiny dimples resembling moon craters. These can sometime have debris in them, but not always. Craters are caused by contamination of the finish, or poor floor prep between coats of finish.
- Excessive wear is a problem that usually occurs in the high traffic areas, where literal paths of finish are worn off the wood. This is a problem whose cause is often hard to pinpoint, because it usually shows up several years after the floor has been finished, when warranties have expired. Excessive wear usually occurs when too few coats of finish are applied to the floor, or even worse (and probably more commonly), when an unscrupulous installer thins the finish in an effort to cut costs.
- Peeling is when a layer of finish literally peels off the floor in sheets or sections. The problem is caused by inadequate floor preparation or contamination between coats of finish. This is most commonly seen in maintenance “screen and coats.”
- Orange peel is when the top layer of finish has a slightly dimpled or rippled appearance, resembling the skin of an orange. This is caused by an installer rolling out a finish that is not designed to be rolled on.
- Uneven sheen is caused by using an expired finish, mixing finishes of different sheen, or using a finish that has not been properly mixed.
This list is hardly exhaustive, but it will give you a good starting place for troubleshooting problems with your floor’s finish. Regardless of the cause, the correction to most of most of these problems is the same, either a screen and coat or a completely re-sanding and reapplication of finish.
Once your floor is installed, finished, and looking great, there are still other issues that can arise. I’ll be writing more on those topics in the future. In the meantime, you can read more at AskAFloorGuy.com.
About the Guest Author
Rob McNealy is a flooring inspector experienced in diagnosing problems with all types of flooring. He’s available to answer your flooring questions at AskAFloorGuy.com.
Search Flooring by Brands
Search for all our Brands
West Coast Flooring Center, San Diego Flooring Leader. We are an authorized Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, Carpet, Vinyl Hardware and Cabinets Dealer for Top Brands. You are welcome to come to our new showroom or shop at home/office with our Mobile Office. Free Floor design at your desire location and floor sample. Schedule Now!!
Search Flooring by Categories
Area Rugs | Carpet | Countertops | Green Floors | Hardwood | Laminate | Natural Stone | Tile | Vinyl
