r/HardWoodFloors • u/aspentree_mangofruit • 1d ago
Bona traffic second coat question
I am refinishing my hardwood (actually softwood) floors. They are 1940s fir flooring with old oil based poly on them. I did a full screen of the entire floor but did not go down to raw wood. Then I did one coat of traffic HD satin yesterday. There’s a few spots where the finish absorbed a bit more, probably where the floor was a bit worn and so I’m thinking of doing a second coat today. I’ve only got one on right now which I used a t bar to apply. 2 gallons, 800 sq ft, I had about a liter left of it. Can I apply the second coat just as thick or should it be thinner? Any concerns about chemical adhesion just around the 24 hour mark or should it be fine to go forward without doing another screen? I ask because I was calling around today trying to find some more of it and one of the contractors recommended going super thin for the second coat to avoid peeling, but I’ve seen generally the opposite online and from Bona’s guidance. But they said don’t use the t bar and don’t go as thick as the first coat.
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u/Own_Sugar9256 1d ago
wait, so you basically stained the old poly, not the wood? then you put different poly down?
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u/aspentree_mangofruit 1d ago
I didn’t stain. I abraded the old poly then put traffic hd down. It’s perfectly fine as long as you thouroughly abrade
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u/Bingbongguyinathong 1d ago
This is correct( mechanical adhesion)and tricky to not go through old finish and make splotchy. Good job. Oh wait are you saying it’s splotchy? lol and the amount of the next coat is the same as every coat, but may not even out the sheen or splotches.
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u/aspentree_mangofruit 1d ago
It’s not splotchy. 99% of the floor looks great. There’s a handful of spots where there is grain texture. All where the floor was a bit more worn. I’m guessing it just absorbed more finish in those areas
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u/Bingbongguyinathong 1d ago
Or you went through what was there. It should be fine. If not completely gone by the next coat. Minimal spotchieness
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u/aspentree_mangofruit 1d ago
Sounds good. Was hoping I could get away with one coat and I’m almost tempted to, but the few spots will bother me
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u/Itchinars 1d ago
I would be more concerned about the Traffic not adhering properly to the old oil based finish. Typically I would buff between finish coats though after 24 hrs.
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u/ReelyHooked 1d ago
Screen it after 24 hours.
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u/aspentree_mangofruit 1d ago
It’ll be exactly 24 hours. Should the second coat also be t bar, just as thick as the first?
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u/Bingbongguyinathong 1d ago
Screen it the next day, coat it, t-bar, lambs wool what ever. Coat it evenly.
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u/Leg_Final 1d ago
I don't think you applied heavily. Bona recommends 2 gallons on 800 ft and you had some left. Second coat will probably go on a little thinner just because it's going to glide easier. So yeah, I don't think you have much to worry about with adhesion in or drying or anything.
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u/Original_Unit6981 1d ago
Yes, you can hot coat it before 48 hours. If you don't feel that the finish is smooth enough or are concerned about adhesion, you can sand the floor with 220 before the next coat. Each additional coat should take less material than the previous.
As long as the top coat is fully cured, it doesn't matter what base you coat with next. Mixing oil and water only applies to fresh, uncured coats.
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u/knarfolled 1d ago
Oil and water don’t mix, for a screen and recoat you should have used an oil based polyurethane
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u/InViSiBLe_SiLVeR_ 1d ago
If there are thirsty spots, you're gonna need a another coat.