Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Feb 11, 2010 5:27 pm I'm really keen for some advice on the best finish to use on the floorboards we are planning to lay in our new home. Whenever I think I've made up my mind on this I speak to someone new and they put things in a totally different light - so perhaps I'm leaving myself open to this dilemma again by posting on this forum! Anyway, I like the "look" that a water-based finish offers - I believe it retains the natural colour and does not yellow the wood. I'm also pretty sure that it'll be easier to keep clean as it's not as glossy as the solvent based ones. However, colour and cleaning are only two parts to the very long equation... I've just been warned off water-based finishes by the flooring guy I was chatting with yesterday. He says he used it on his new floorboards and hasn't been happy with it. He says that the floor is only a year old and he already feels he needs to re-sand and re-finish. He reckons he would only use a solvent-based finish in the future. Does anyone have any experience in this area to comment here? I've also heard that all water-based finishes have a final coat that is solvent based anyway. Is this true? And, my last question. I realise that solvent-based finishes are very toxic and that's why rooms need to be vacated for 3-4 weeks after the coating has been applied but can anyone shed some more light on the environmental impact of both the solvent-based and the water-based finishes? I guess when I think of something as being that strong and fumey in the first place it makes me want to stay clear of it altogether. I have two little boys so I want to be mindful of this sort of thing and I'm always looking to try to choose materials that are "green" (wish I liked bamboo... please don't shout hypocrite at the screen ). Sorry for the long posting. It's my first time so I thought I'd start with a bang. Cheers. Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 2Feb 11, 2010 5:46 pm I don't have the answer rezso but I do know something... Yes 'outgassing' is a problem with most coatings, seems we need to consider the old compromise for everything these days. Once I would have said use an epoxy, that would cure eventually and the outgassing will reduce to minimal... however I now know that may be the case, but looking into Low or No VOC's(volitile organic compounds) are the key. From day 1 they outgas less or no VOC's and may require re-doing but are not going to silently make you sick in the process. Solvent based products are continually outgasing, that is, until they start to break down... this is when they also start to wear out and require re-coating. So then the process starts again. There are some really good products about but they take us back to the 50's & 60's I've mention them before. WAX ...but do require weekly (depending on traffic) buffing a fun chore. Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 3Feb 12, 2010 9:29 am That's really good to know. I think that makes our decision easier. Don't like the thought of being "outgassed" in our own home! Thanks for the advice. Just wondering now whether you have any experience with Stringybark? I really like Tassie Oak but Stringybark seems to be a good alternative as it's harder. Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 4Feb 12, 2010 9:37 am Nope Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 5Feb 12, 2010 9:46 am I have 2 pac on my floors which only comes in gloss finish. I went against most most peoples thought and listened to my floor sander dude. One thing i notice with the gloss it is extremly easy to clean and nothing sticks to it, because it goes so hard and flat, everything just wipes off. A bit like a teflon fry pan. However because it is gloss it needs to be done properly as any inperfections can easily be seen. If fact I would recommend on a gloss floor that you dont have first grade (select) timber as NEW inperfection would stand out. On a standard grade or worse any inperfection will blend in with the natural timber. Also two pac is one of the hardest material finishes you can get, and the hardest to scratch. However the two pac finish can yellow timber. On my blackbutt floor it made it a rich honey color. Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 6Feb 15, 2010 8:35 am Any chance of a pic, pls Borg??? Life's too short too drink bad wine Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 9Feb 17, 2010 1:34 pm We are getting quotes at the moment for Blackbutt flooring. We have been quote on both finishes but even though the water based is more expensive I do prefer it as it keeps the natural colour of the timber. My question is though is waterbase more durable? Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 11Feb 21, 2010 9:04 am JJ305 We are getting quotes at the moment for Blackbutt flooring. We have been quote on both finishes but even though the water based is more expensive I do prefer it as it keeps the natural colour of the timber. My question is though is waterbase more durable? Not sure which is more durable, but I have a feeling that it's the solvent based variety. That said, we've decided to go with a water-based finish because we too like the idea of less yellow and more of the natural colour of the wood on display. Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 12Feb 21, 2010 9:50 am I'll be going with solvent-based coating as those are more durable and abrasion resistant comparing to water or oil based as well as dry much faster (ATFA Information Sheet #7, July 2008, Coating Choices).. I'm intending to apply three layers of the coating - 1st two will be high gloss in order to achieve the visibility of timber as well as these coatings are the most durable. The top layer is going to be satin in order to achieve a soft look. The only negative thing is that it is very toxic when installing. Nothing is ideal.. ... built a Promenade with Clarendon. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25104 20-10-09 - excavation and piering completed ... 12-04-10 - Basins fixed. Connecting to the electrical grid 23-04-10 - PCI 07-05-10 - HANDOVER! Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 13Feb 21, 2010 10:38 am ...and the reason I looked for an alternative. It ^^^^11^^^^^ isn't for everyone but you walk on it straight away and smells of lemons Downside = It needs loving once a month Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 14Feb 21, 2010 12:39 pm Does anyone know or have any experience with supposed leaching with water-based finish ? As in the substance from the finish travels to the surrounding skirting and walls and stains them (supposedly)? And what about oil modified poly - anyone used that? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 15Jul 26, 2011 1:12 pm borg If fact I would recommend on a gloss floor that you dont have first grade (select) timber as NEW inperfection would stand out. On a standard grade or worse any inperfection will blend in with the natural timber. What exactly do you mean by that borg? Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 16Jul 26, 2011 2:58 pm Borg has unfortunately left the forum He means that standard and feature grade timbers already come with some imprefections in the timber itself, so a scratch or a dent in a high gloss finish (or any finish, for that matter) on those 2 grades are a bit more camouflaged than on a perfect and spotless top grade timber. It's because of those little knots and holes and patches and what not (especially in some feature grades) that a new imprefection won't stand out that much. However, top grade timber will draw your attention to scratches more, and especially so in a high gloss finish. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Water-based or Solvent-based finish?? 17Jul 26, 2011 3:39 pm Lex Borg has unfortunately left the forum He means that standard and feature grade timbers already come with some imprefections in the timber itself, so a scratch or a dent in a high gloss finish (or any finish, for that matter) on those 2 grades are a bit more camouflaged than on a perfect and spotless top grade timber. It's because of those little knots and holes and patches and what not (especially in some feature grades) that a new imprefection won't stand out that much. However, top grade timber will draw your attention to scratches more, and especially so in a high gloss finish. 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