Wooden floors in the home should always be additionally protected, in order to avoid damages of various kinds. When installing a parquet or any other type of wooden floor, it is imperative to protect it with a layer of epoxy resin, or some polymer substance, such as polyurethane. This layer seals the floor, but also adds to its durability and protects it from external influences and physical damage.
Of course, renewal is necessary and it is done every few years so that the durability of the floor can be maximized. Wood is a natural material, which means that it is porous and can rot, but with the help of the polyurethane coating, such awkward situations can easily be avoided.
Almost everyone who has a wood floor often asks the question about polyurethane coats and how long they would last. Of course, contractors can guarantee the durability of the protective layer between 5 and 15 years, depending on the lifestyle of those who live there.
For example, don’t be surprised if you get a question about your living habits, such as how often you use the floor, whether you have children or pets, how often you clean it, and whether you have carpets.
These are important factors to assess the durability of the performance. Regular maintenance is required, and it depends on how often the epoxy or polyurethane coating needs to be reapplied.
Contents
Why it’s important to waterproof the floors?
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Polymeric solutions work on wood, but also on many other materials. According to Hychem, the newest technologies should be used, for the highest performance, and fulfilling the industry standards.
Protecting your floors, especially those in your home, should be your priority at all times. The reasons are mostly aesthetic, but of course, they are also practical enough, so that you can maintain the home more easily.
Therefore, make sure that you always choose permanent floor coat solutions, especially if you do not use carpets in the home or you often have guests who enter your house with the shoes they wear outside. Protecting your floors will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Your lifestyle plays a key role in how you maintain your home. If you have children who are constantly running and playing, you may need to renew your polymer layer every 4 to 5 years. But if you live a quiet life, it is quite enough to wait 10-15 years for applying a new layer of polyurethane.
The good thing with polymers is that they create a waterproof seal all over the surface, which means your floors won’t get moldy and stinky. We all know that wood is an organic material that if not treated properly, can decompose, or welcome worms and insects to completely ruin it. That’s why you need to consider covering it with polyurethane every few years, depending on the needs.
Many people don’t reapply these polymer solutions over their wooden floors, because they don’t think it’s necessary. But that’s a huge mistake, and you need to do that every five years with extremely often use of the floors or every 15 years for those who prefer a quiet life.
The importance of regular floor maintenance
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People rarely pay attention to their hardwood floors, especially when they are covered in rugs and carpets. But, even then, the floor requires regular maintenance. That means, you will have to remove the carpets twice a year, so you can remove the buildup and dust. As you do that, consider putting a protecting finish all over it.
Recoating seems like an easy thing to do, though. But, it’s not just putting a layer of polyurethane all the time. As you clean the floor regularly, you need to inspect it carefully to see if there are scratches, or if it looks dull.
Also, polyurethane extends the lifespan of the flooring and increases the period between two coat sessions. But first, deep cleaning.
If you clean the floors regularly, you are already aware that there is no need for recoating every year. But, you will also get a clear image of how often you need to do it. Water-based polyurethane is great for busy homes since it dries out in just a few hours.
We suggest hiring professionals, so they can inspect the hardwood floor and decide if they need to remove the current coat, polish the tiles, and then put water- or oil-based polyurethane. Sometimes the older the previous coat is, the waxy it gets. That means it’s a little sticky, and it needs regular re-coating (once the old layer is removed).
The difference between drying and curing time
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If you have had this activity at home, you surely know that you will not be able to walk barefoot on the floor right away. As we mentioned, there is a polyurethane that is water-based and the other is oil-based. Curing time is the period when the polymer layer is completely dry and solid on your wooden floor or parquet.
For example, if you use water-based polyurethane, the curing time is about three days, although you may notice that it has dried even on the same day if conditions allow. But it takes about 10 days to cure the oil polymer coats.
In terms of drying time, for water-based solvents, it takes 5 hours, while for oil-based ones you need to wait for the night to pass. Often, after this period you should apply another coat of polyurethane to maximize the floor’s protection.
Conclusion
Taking care of the floors is important, and you need to consider recoating as an important part of the protection. Make sure you use quality products. Hire professionals to get you covered with this one. Don’t try to handle polyurethane, epoxy, or any other material alone, because you can easily burn yourself or inhale the dangerous fumes.
Follow the instructions from this article. Stick to the recoating periods, depending on your general lifestyle. And probably that would be all you need to know about polyurethane protection all over your wooden floor.
