Testing Hardwood Floor Finish

To test the finish you ll need a little mineral oil baby oil and three solvents.
Testing hardwood floor finish. So i found myself in the closet. Wax is the traditional time tested finish for hardwood floors making it a great choice for antique floors in historic homes. Testing for oil or wax. Choose a low traffic area that has been cleaned thoroughly.
Testing hardwood floor finishes in an old house part 2 the commonly accepted hardwood floor finish tests and paired solvents. Let it sit for a few seconds and then rub it into the area. I knew pretty well. Before polyurethane became a household word floor finishers applied wax varnish.
Part 2 of this article including video of testing floor finishes in a closet testing hardwood floor finishes part 2. Testing hardwood floor finishes in a closet. Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours. If the finish dissolves congratulations you ve got a waxed floor.
Put a couple drops of mineral spirits naphtha or turpentine on the surface you want to test. If nothing happens move on to the next test. Paint thinner and let them sit for 2 3 minutes on the. Testing for grease based residue like wax or oil soap 1.
Behind a door is a good spot because this area is usually. How to know the finish of my hardwood floors a variety of finishing materials. If you can feel the wood grain the finish is probably a penetrating finish. To begin put a few drops of mineral oil on your cleaned spot.
If the finish bubbles up it is most likely a surface finish. Select an inconspicuous area of the floor surface and apply a small amount of paint remover. A few weeks back jeff b i wrote this little spiel on diy home inspections for him contacted me. He was asking for advice on his wood floors and more specifically testing hardwood floor finishes.
It comes in both paste and liquid forms. It offers a low sheen non toxic finish and is a great choice for those who are environmentally conscious or those who are simply worried about chemicals in their home. Denatured alcohol lacquer thinner and xylene. Using these solvents requires gloves and good ventilation and it doesn t hurt to have on a pair of safety glasses either.
Hardwood floor finishes have varying levels of ease durability even glossiness. Listed in order of aggressiveness of paired.