Coating Timber Floors in Winter

Coating Timber Floors in Winter

Tips from LF Bona Specialist, Terry Casey

In winter, with cold and damp conditions, coatings will take longer to dry. In 100% humidity, finishes will take much longer to dry - water can’t evaporate as the air won’t be able to absorb any more water. In addition, cold air can’t hold as much water vapour as warm air, making it even harder to dry.

Often you can’t just wait until summer - Follow these tips to make sure your work still dries properly in less-than-ideal conditions.

• The solution is to increase ventilation and heat in the space.

• Use fans and heaters to circulate air and help reduce dry time.

• If you can’t use either of the above, open windows and doors. The temperature may drop, but ventilation is more important.

• Check spec sheets and follow recommended temperature, humidity guidelines – use a heater or fan in the space if required to meet these.

• Allow extra time for coatings to fully cure - Stains this time of the year will not dry in one day.

• Take care where you store finishes. Don’t leave them in your vehicle overnight if it’s frosty out – this will affect the product.

• Don’t risk guessing substrate moisture content – investing in a good quality moisture meter could save you thousands of dollars.