How to sand and coat flooring
Flooring clears and staining application guide
1. Before you start
The starting point is to decide what kind of finish you want? Once decided, refer to the Cabots Complete Colour & Project Guide to determine which product you need, and the Product Calculator to determine how much you will need to complete the job. Remember that the timber type will affect how much product is required e.g. softwoods can reduce coverage rates by up to 50%. Also, remember to collect the appropriate equipment before you start.
Refer to the Cabots Complete Colour & Project Guide.
2. Which product where? How do I add stain?
| Product over | Clear Finishes | Using Wood Stains to stain | Using '2-in-1s' to stain | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Based | Water Based | Oil Based | Oil Based | Water Based | ||
| New or Refurbished Timber | • CFP/CFP Plus | • Clear Floor | • Interior Stain – maximum 10% mixed with CFP (eg. 100ml in 1L CFP) | • Seal with CFP • Top coat with CFP |
• Seal with Clear Floor • Interior Varnish Stain • Top coat with Clear Floor |
|
3. Preparation
A professional looking finish depends on how well you prepare the timber. Inadequate preparation, especially sanding, can result in a rough, patchy finish. Most of all, timber needs careful sanding to remove scratches etc, as all imperfections are magnified when coated.
Clean: The surface must be dry and free from any traces of dust, dirt, wax, grease and oil.
Fill: All nail heads must be punched below the surface of the floor and holes filled with Cabot’s Wood Tone Putty in a colour to match the colour of the timber. Note: do not use linseed oil putty. It is recommended that putty be applied after the first coat of clear (Cabot's CFP or Clear Floor) and before staining (if staining is required).
Sand: Remove the old coating completely if it is damaged, failing or if you are staining the floor. For floor coatings that are in good condition, a light sand to roughen the old coating, preparing it for good product adhesion is sufficient. See table below for paper grade guide for each product.
Pre-finished Timber Floors: Remove wax based polishes with clean rags dampened with mineral turps. Thoroughly wash the surface with a floor cleaning detergent or polish remover and allow to dry. Surfaces must be fine sanded thoroughly with 240 grade paper or with a 150 grit screen back disc until a uniform matt surface is achieved. Vacuum and wipe off all dust.
Clean: Sweep and vacuum thoroughly after sanding and wash the floor with mineral turpentine (for oil based finishes) or methylated spirits (for water based finishes). Allow to dry completely before proceeding.
| PREPARATION | CFP | CLEAR FLOOR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Floor | New Floor | Old Floor | New Floor | |
| 1. Coarse Sand | 80 grade | - | 80 grade | - |
| 2. Fine Sand | 120 grade | 120 grade | 280 grade | 280 grade |
| 3. Sand Between Coats | 240 grade | 240 grade | 320 grade | 320 grade |
4. Applying the floor finish
| Steps | Application for CFP or Clear Floor |
|---|---|
| Apply | Stir thoroughly before and during use. Apply the first coat working along the full length of the boards, cutting in as you go. Work 3-4 boards at a time in the direction of the timber’s grain. Keep wet edge to prevent lap marks. Note: Clear Floor is fast drying, therefore make sure there is sufficient finish on your applicator or brush to maintain a wet edge. If using a pad applicator (recommended), maintain a firm, even pressure. If using a brush, flow the product out along the timber with an even wrist action and avoid overloading the brush. Avoid excessive build up of the finish on the surface, or going over the same area repeatedly, which can trap air and result in small bubbles. |
| Dry | CFP: Allow to dry a minimum of 24 hours, then sand floor using fine 240 grade sand paper to remove timber grain raise. Apply at least 3 coats over bare timber surfaces.
CLEAR FLOOR: Allow to dry a minimum of 3 hours then sand with 320 grade sand paper. Apply at least 3 coats over bare timber surfaces. |
| Stain | Apply one coat of the chosen clear as a sealer first. Sand to remove grain raise and de-nib the surface. Apply the second coat with the stain mixed in, or the 2-in-1 product directly to the floor - see table above. Allow to dry (follow dry times for individual clear products). Lightly sand between all coats. Continue with at least two more clear coats to seal the surface and minimise wear. We recommend testing coloured product on an off-cut of the same timber used in the floor before application. |
| Sand | Thoroughly vacuum all sanding dust and apply additional coats as required, sanding lightly between coats. |
Note: Drying times are dependent on weather conditions. Please see can for details
