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Comment
Cancork Floor Inc.

@colleenelynuik...White Line Syndrome is most commonly "seen" on dark floors. Not because of the floor or the finish...but because of the "dark" shows off the "white line" much better. White line syndrome is quite rare...there are two different types of "white line syndrome" (fun isn't it?). The "real" white line syndrome (WLS#1) is quite rare. So rare that many inspectors have been brought in to diagnose WLS#1 only to discover that it is #2. OK...so WLS#1 is when the wood floor SHRINKS SO QUICKLY that the FINISH (any finish...not just Bona) STRETCHES and turns white. Like an elastic band that is stretched JUST to the point of breaking...it turns white, and then snaps. Same thing with polyurethane/urethane/acrylic finishes. They will STRETCH to the point of breaking...but they turn WHITE before that happens. This stretching occurs BETWEEN planks. A DARK FLOOR has more contrast to show "white". WLS#1 is almost always due to INDOOR LIVING CONDITIONS (aka. the homeowner has to look themselves in the mirror and admit their home is FAR TOO DRY). On occasion it is due to improper acclimation AND dry conditions put together. Again...this is VERY RARE!!!!! White Line Syndrome #2 (WSL#2) is FAR MORE COMMON!!! And is not something the flooring professionals like to talk about. This "faux" WLS is when the finish starts to LIFT off of the planks. It isn't "sticking" to the wood underneath. This is most visible at the seams. Because the EDGES of the planks are the areas where "proper prep" is REALLY difficult to reach. So contaminants are left on the edges of the planks. Contaminants PREVENT adhesion....see where I'm going with this? So the adhesion STARTS to fail at the edges, appears white, but eventually SPREADS OVER the top of the plank. It starts out as a "line" and then moves to a "flake" presentation. This is almost ALWAYS the fault of the finisher...and leads to some heated discussions between the homeowner and the flooring professionals. The professionals will try to say (normally out of lack of information) that the "White Line Syndrome" is due to household conditions (very dry). The homeowner will say it is improper prep from the professional. The argument becomes WLS#1 (very rare) vs. WLS#2 (the most common form). An NWFA Certified Inspector will help sort this out. Bona does not cause white line syndrome. The indoor living conditions or the professional installer causes White Line Syndrome. Either way, the "white" can be seen BETTER on dark floors. @me...you cannot buy Bona over the counter. Your flooring professional would have to purchase it for you from their supplier.

Q

Reply to: @colleenelynuik...White Line Syndrome is most commonly "seen" on dark floors. Not because of the floor or the finish...but because of the "dark" shows off the "white line" much better. White line syndrome is quite rare...there are two different types of "white line syndrome" (fun isn't it?). The "real" white line syndrome (WLS#1) is quite rare. So rare that many inspectors have been brought in to diagnose WLS#1 only to discover that it is #2. OK...so WLS#1 is when the wood floor SHRINKS SO QUICKLY that the FINISH (any finish...not just Bona) STRETCHES and turns white. Like an elastic band that is stretched JUST to the point of breaking...it turns white, and then snaps. Same thing with polyurethane/urethane/acrylic finishes. They will STRETCH to the point of breaking...but they turn WHITE before that happens. This stretching occurs BETWEEN planks. A DARK FLOOR has more contrast to show "white". WLS#1 is almost always due to INDOOR LIVING CONDITIONS (aka. the homeowner has to look themselves in the mirror and admit their home is FAR TOO DRY). On occasion it is due to improper acclimation AND dry conditions put together. Again...this is VERY RARE!!!!! White Line Syndrome #2 (WSL#2) is FAR MORE COMMON!!! And is not something the flooring professionals like to talk about. This "faux" WLS is when the finish starts to LIFT off of the planks. It isn't "sticking" to the wood underneath. This is most visible at the seams. Because the EDGES of the planks are the areas where "proper prep" is REALLY difficult to reach. So contaminants are left on the edges of the planks. Contaminants PREVENT adhesion....see where I'm going with this? So the adhesion STARTS to fail at the edges, appears white, but eventually SPREADS OVER the top of the plank. It starts out as a "line" and then moves to a "flake" presentation. This is almost ALWAYS the fault of the finisher...and leads to some heated discussions between the homeowner and the flooring professionals. The professionals will try to say (normally out of lack of information) that the "White Line Syndrome" is due to household conditions (very dry). The homeowner will say it is improper prep from the professional. The argument becomes WLS#1 (very rare) vs. WLS#2 (the most common form). An NWFA Certified Inspector will help sort this out. Bona does not cause white line syndrome. The indoor living conditions or the professional installer causes White Line Syndrome. Either way, the "white" can be seen BETTER on dark floors. @me...you cannot buy Bona over the counter. Your flooring professional would have to purchase it for you from their supplier.

Q

Comment
Dan A

Honestly @jeanreidy, I really don't think the difference between satin and semi will make a noticeable difference as far as the depth of color, etc. It's really just the sheen. Ultimately, as I couldn't decide, I went with a 50/50 mix of satin and semi, and it looks great IMO. It's great that you're doing three coats, just wait as long as possible before you place furniture down over the final coat. And be sure to abraid that second coat before the final round. Honestly, if you're intending to do a final coat well after those first two, you should consider doing two more, as it's easiest to do them back-to-back. (Then again, I'm not a professional installer!) But we're very happy with the semi/satin mix and the floors are holding up well. Every time I see what I'm thinking is a scratch, it's just a smudge that gets wiped off. Sure, you can scratch this stuff -- finishes aren't made the way they used to, especially in CA where the formulations are highly regulated -- but if you take decent care, you should be very happy. Good luck.

Q

Reply to: Honestly @jeanreidy, I really don't think the difference between satin and semi will make a noticeable difference as far as the depth of color, etc. It's really just the sheen. Ultimately, as I couldn't decide, I went with a 50/50 mix of satin and semi, and it looks great IMO. It's great that you're doing three coats, just wait as long as possible before you place furniture down over the final coat. And be sure to abraid that second coat before the final round. Honestly, if you're intending to do a final coat well after those first two, you should consider doing two more, as it's easiest to do them back-to-back. (Then again, I'm not a professional installer!) But we're very happy with the semi/satin mix and the floors are holding up well. Every time I see what I'm thinking is a scratch, it's just a smudge that gets wiped off. Sure, you can scratch this stuff -- finishes aren't made the way they used to, especially in CA where the formulations are highly regulated -- but if you take decent care, you should be very happy. Good luck.

Q

Comment
Select Hardwood Floor Co.

Well, now that you folks have single-handedly solved the problem... you probably could be the "poster children" for what to look out for in finish sheens. For a long time, the mass producers of junk-in-the-box prefinished flooring, as well as some people in the sand & finish end of the business... have "pushed" the perception that the "duller the finish, the better it will wear"... when in actuality, the main reason it's a preference is because it allows for more... shall we say: "indiscretions" in product quality, & in some cases, workmanship. There's definitely a place for Satin, Matte, or even Ultra-Matte finishes, but they should be considered on a case by case basis, & chosen because they will work well in the décor they're being used in. The flooring "professional" should be able to assist in making suggestions as well as be capable of arriving at the best formula.

Q

Reply to: Well, now that you folks have single-handedly solved the problem... you probably could be the "poster children" for what to look out for in finish sheens. For a long time, the mass producers of junk-in-the-box prefinished flooring, as well as some people in the sand & finish end of the business... have "pushed" the perception that the "duller the finish, the better it will wear"... when in actuality, the main reason it's a preference is because it allows for more... shall we say: "indiscretions" in product quality, & in some cases, workmanship. There's definitely a place for Satin, Matte, or even Ultra-Matte finishes, but they should be considered on a case by case basis, & chosen because they will work well in the décor they're being used in. The flooring "professional" should be able to assist in making suggestions as well as be capable of arriving at the best formula.

Q

Comment
Dan A

So we refinished the floor (from Bona Traffic Matte) and we couldn't be happier. Now that we moved in, we had to do half the house at a time (moving furniture to one side so we could finish the other), and being able to see a side-by-side comparison, it was truly night and day. We went with regular Traffic in Semi-Gloss, and it looks incredible. Gone is that incessant dirty haze. Gone are the footprints any time someone in shoes walks on them. Gone is that scratchy feeling underfoot. We're thrilled. For what it's worth, we had them do a small test in Satin and Semi, and I suspect, because of my previous experience with Matte, I just went as far away as possible. Again, we're extremely happy with the Semi, but if I did it again -- which I will not! -- I'd likely go with a 50/50 mix of Semi and Satin as some others have mentioned. So, for anyone here considering using Bona Traffic in Matte, DON'T DO IT!

Q

Reply to: So we refinished the floor (from Bona Traffic Matte) and we couldn't be happier. Now that we moved in, we had to do half the house at a time (moving furniture to one side so we could finish the other), and being able to see a side-by-side comparison, it was truly night and day. We went with regular Traffic in Semi-Gloss, and it looks incredible. Gone is that incessant dirty haze. Gone are the footprints any time someone in shoes walks on them. Gone is that scratchy feeling underfoot. We're thrilled. For what it's worth, we had them do a small test in Satin and Semi, and I suspect, because of my previous experience with Matte, I just went as far away as possible. Again, we're extremely happy with the Semi, but if I did it again -- which I will not! -- I'd likely go with a 50/50 mix of Semi and Satin as some others have mentioned. So, for anyone here considering using Bona Traffic in Matte, DON'T DO IT!

Q

Comment
BMC49

I was just reading about your floor experience. I've been working with hardwood all my life. I've been a hardwood flooring contractor for over 45 years, I started at 16 with my dad and took his business over in my 20's and I'm still at it. I've worked with every type of wood and wood finish on the market - oil and water base. When new products come out I sit in on the training to see how the product stands up and see if it really is better than the last finish they produced. Bona has some good finishes but it's a very overpriced product for what you get and not necessarily the best on the market either - just my professional opinion. I'm still in awe that your contractor charged you as much as he did for only 650 sq. ft. with only 2 coats! I never leave a floor without at least 4 coats, especially high traffic areas like kitchens and main rooms. I would love to know how your floor finish has held up. You made a good choice not going with Waterlox - it's a dangerous product - just read the label - and the fumes would have landed your husband back in the hospital for weeks after putting it on the floor. I also hope your contractor advised you on how to care for your newly refinished floor - please, no Murphy's!! Leaves a dulling film and completely ruins the finish, not to mention it makes my work a nightmare... although, without it on the market, I wouldn't have so much work! Both Bruce Flooring and Bona make excellent cleaning solutions to use with a Swiffer mop or their own applicator. Now I'm going to talk to my wife about moving!! :)

Q

Reply to: I was just reading about your floor experience. I've been working with hardwood all my life. I've been a hardwood flooring contractor for over 45 years, I started at 16 with my dad and took his business over in my 20's and I'm still at it. I've worked with every type of wood and wood finish on the market - oil and water base. When new products come out I sit in on the training to see how the product stands up and see if it really is better than the last finish they produced. Bona has some good finishes but it's a very overpriced product for what you get and not necessarily the best on the market either - just my professional opinion. I'm still in awe that your contractor charged you as much as he did for only 650 sq. ft. with only 2 coats! I never leave a floor without at least 4 coats, especially high traffic areas like kitchens and main rooms. I would love to know how your floor finish has held up. You made a good choice not going with Waterlox - it's a dangerous product - just read the label - and the fumes would have landed your husband back in the hospital for weeks after putting it on the floor. I also hope your contractor advised you on how to care for your newly refinished floor - please, no Murphy's!! Leaves a dulling film and completely ruins the finish, not to mention it makes my work a nightmare... although, without it on the market, I wouldn't have so much work! Both Bruce Flooring and Bona make excellent cleaning solutions to use with a Swiffer mop or their own applicator. Now I'm going to talk to my wife about moving!! :)

Q