Floor and Floor Treatments

Floor And Floor Treatments 3 (1+2)

Lesson :09 Floor Treatment with Sealers and Floor Finishes

Wood

Clear floor finishes are used on wood to preserve its natural appearance. Paints for wood should be relatively flexible to with­stand the natural tendency for wood to expand and contract, especially across the grain, when there is any significant change in temperature. Wood stains and also available in various colors such as blue, red and green. These are various chemical dyes and water based or spirit based stains. The spirit based contains oil if it going to be used on sealed floor compatibility should be considered.

On the other hand water based stains are safest to use and which can be sealed without chemical reaction. It can be made thin and lighter. If water based stained floor is not sealed they will be washed off. Wood will also absorb moisture if not protected on the back and edges. These problems are much less significant in the interior environment but must be considered when painting wood in the exterior environment.

Concrete:

Floors made of concrete tend to be alkaline, especially when new, and absorb moisture if situated below ground or directly on the ground. Therefore, coatings for these surfaces should be alkali resistant and have low water sensitivity.

Application technique: The application of floor finishes is similar to the procedures used for interior and exterior paints. Many paints can be applied with a paint roller using an extension handle long enough to allow rolling without stooping. Clear finishes may be applied by using a soft pad, such as one made of lambs wool, attached to a long handle.

Nonslip Floor Paints: Two types of nonslip paints are used:

1. Premixed Paints: The paint either has the abrasive pigment already mixed or the pigment is mixed before use. It is applied by brush or roller in a similar manner to general floor paints except with more care to be sure that the abrasive pigment is thoroughly mixed and evenly distributed.
2. Broadcast Type: The abrasive is pigment is supplied separately but is not added to the paint before use. The paint itself is applied in the normal manner and then the abrasive broadcast is applied over the wet paint to form a film