Try, try again - floor poly questions (or, to gloss, or not to gloss)

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:37:50 -0400, "PDQ" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Agreed, but it all depends upon how much obscurity was included in the matte finish in the first place.
>
>As a rule, a whole pile of "sheen" goes on first and the final coat is "matte". If there is only 1 coat of matte, there will not be a great deal of obscuring going on. The more matte the more obscurity.
>
>This is the exact reason my first load of "sheen" ended up in the bedrooms and my last load ended up in the kitchen and living room. I'm sure glad I started in the bedrooms rather than the other way around.
>
>P D Q

When I used to use poly on some furniture pieces I made, a friend and
fellow ww'er told me the formula was 2 coats of gloss to give depth
followed by a coat of satin. Remember, this is furniture, which one
presumably doesn't want to look like plastic. He could do wonders
with poly, but put in a lot of effort (more than 3 coats, as well).

Now, floors, a bit different. I used satin before and it had a teeny
bit of shine to it. This stuff today is really flat. I used the
satin because it was on a refinished floor that wasn't pristine.

My kitchen floor is newly laid walnut.

But, I did have some concern whether the single satin coat would
"inhibit" the effect. I hope not, because while it's gonna get a
light sanding, my plan is to lay the gloss right on top of the satin.
Unless I hear otherwise from y'all or in my research elsewhere.

Thanx
Renata

PS I'm looking for experience based replies. I know I can google up
all kinds of stuff.
Thanx


>
><[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:48:12 -0400, "PDQ" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >I do not know if this still holds or not but---
>> >10 years ago, when I did my floor, I was told that matte looked good in bedrooms and such, and Gloss looked better elsewhere.
>> >
>> >I took the installers advice, with 1 caveat, I used 90-100 sheen as the 80-sheen, which is what they told me was gloss did not "pop" the oak. Really made a difference in my kitchen and living rooms.
>> >
>> >There will be no problem putting the high gloss over the matte as it is the final coat (?) that gives the shine.
>> >
>>
>> Except the underlying coats of semi-gloss and satin will obscure the
>> grain somewhat.
>>

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:48:12 -0400, "PDQ" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I do not know if this still holds or not but---
>10 years ago, when I did my floor, I was told that matte looked good in bedrooms and such, and Gloss looked better elsewhere.
>
>I took the installers advice, with 1 caveat, I used 90-100 sheen as the 80-sheen, which is what they told me was gloss did not "pop" the oak. Really made a difference in my kitchen and living rooms.
>
>There will be no problem putting the high gloss over the matte as it is the final coat (?) that gives the shine.
>

Except the underlying coats of semi-gloss and satin will obscure the
grain somewhat.

I do not know if this still holds or not but---
10 years ago, when I did my floor, I was told that matte looked good in =
bedrooms and such, and Gloss looked better elsewhere.

I took the installers advice, with 1 caveat, I used 90-100 sheen as the =
80-sheen, which is what they told me was gloss did not "pop" the oak. =
Really made a difference in my kitchen and living rooms.

There will be no problem putting the high gloss over the matte as it is =
the final coat (?) that gives the shine.

Also, what one gets from the store is not what the professionals get. =
Their poly is a different mix and is much more noxious that what a =
non-professional gets. Results seem different too - at least to me.

P D Q

"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> Posted a question here a couple weeks ago or so regarding floor poly.
>=20
> Given some excellent advice here, I thought I was finished after
> laying down the "final" coat, resorting to a satin finish (over the
> previous coats of problematic semi gloss). Except that I don't like
> the way satin looks in the kitchen. It's a very matte finish.
> Doesn't make the walnut "pop".
>=20
> So, I want to lay the final-final coat, either in semi gloss, or
> straight up gloss.
>=20
> What are the pros and cons (in a kitchen, particularly) of these 2
> finishes. I already have found that semi gloss is a pain to get to
> look right, being mighty picky about overlaps when laying it down and
> showing any little speck that may have found it's way into the finish
> while it was drying.
>=20
> I'm interested in both application differences and stuff like wear,
> appearance, etc. plus any thing that might be of particular note for a
> kitchen. And, any tricks that might be useful.
>=20
> Way back when, having sanded nearly an 1/8" off an existing oak floor
> ('nother house), applying the finish was problem free and fast (using
> the l-w pads). =20
>=20
> Also, I'm finding that using the lamb's wool pad is making it very
> difficult to lay down the manufacturer recommended amount - 800-900
> sq ft/gallon and I'm getting about ~500sq ft/gal. I'm pouring a
> stream of finish in a line down the floor then coming at it with the
> pad. But, I"m thinking maybe I ought go round up one of those T-Bars
> that was recommended here. Agree? Or is there a way to correct this
> using the pads?
>=20
> Thanx
> Renata

Agreed, but it all depends upon how much obscurity was included in the =
matte finish in the first place.

As a rule, a whole pile of "sheen" goes on first and the final coat is =
"matte". If there is only 1 coat of matte, there will not be a great =
deal of obscuring going on. The more matte the more obscurity.

This is the exact reason my first load of "sheen" ended up in the =
bedrooms and my last load ended up in the kitchen and living room. I'm =
sure glad I started in the bedrooms rather than the other way around.

P D Q

<[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:48:12 -0400, "PDQ" <[email protected]> wrote:
>=20
> >I do not know if this still holds or not but---
> >10 years ago, when I did my floor, I was told that matte looked good =
in bedrooms and such, and Gloss looked better elsewhere.
> >
> >I took the installers advice, with 1 caveat, I used 90-100 sheen as =
the 80-sheen, which is what they told me was gloss did not "pop" the =
oak. Really made a difference in my kitchen and living rooms.
> >
> >There will be no problem putting the high gloss over the matte as it =
is the final coat (?) that gives the shine.
> >
>=20
> Except the underlying coats of semi-gloss and satin will obscure the
> grain somewhat.
>