Bona Traffic HD Polyurethane Water Based Floor Lacquer
There is no doubt, Bona is one of the largest and most well known brands of wood care products in the world. Since its inception in 1919, the Bona brand has made innovative products that were way ahead of their time. While the solvent products were popular, Bona was making some of the most durable and most cost effective floor lacquers and wood floor finishes out there. When the water based technology was developed, the Bona brand was there to bring it to a different level. A small Swedish brand was challenging the biggest brands of wood care products with unexpected success. Nowadays Bona is synonymous with premium quality and innovation. There, right at the top of the list stands the world`s no 1 water based floor lacquer. The amazing Bona Traffic HD.
What Makes A Good Floor Lacquer, Good?
For a contractor to use a new floor lacquer and to renounce a brand that he has known for years, the new product has to be better than the old one. Better can mean a lot of things for a lot of people but for a contractor, a better product has to do the following things:
Coverage
A professional floor refinishing company or floor sanding company that is using a good quality floor lacquer, will expect a high coverage area. More surface covered with 1L of floor lacquer, less lacquer used to complete the project hence less expenses and higher profits. Most of the world`s water based floor lacquers are covering around 8 to 12 sq meters per 1L of lacquer subject to surface preparation and the type of wood treated. The amazing Bona Traffic HD will cover over 12 sq meters per 1L of lacquer.
Drying Times
If the coverage is good, then you have got the attention of the floor refinishing contractor. The drying times are also essential. You want a product that dries within 1-2 hours after the initial application. There is little to do between coatings so the floor refinishing contractor has to pay its staff to do pretty much nothing while the floor is drying. But if the floor is ready for the final coat within 1 hour, then the contractor will definitely consider it. The new Bona Traffic HD claims to be the world`s fastest drying floor lacquer and up to now, this claim was never disputed. Thousands of floor sanding contractors are using this spectacular floor lacquer on a daily basis.
Durability
Now that the coverage is ideal and the product dries faster than any other water based floor lacquer out there, there is only one more thing needed to fully convince the contractor to use this product. The durability. No floor sanding or floor refinishing contractor wants to deal with complaints or durability issues. The new Bona Traffic HD is promoted as the world toughest water based polyurethane floor lacquer out there. It contains high levels of solids, it will fully dry within 1-2 hours, it will cure within 12 hours and it will achieve its maximum resistance to all traffic within 72 hours. This is not just another water based polyurethane out there, this is the King of all floor lacquers.
Gloss Levels
The gloss levels are usually a matter of personal preferences and are only important for the residential market. Some people just love glossy lacquer while others hate it. That is not a problem because the new Bona Traffic HD is available in raw, extra matt, matt & silk matt finishes. There is a level of sheen for everyone.
Satin 45% I Matt 20% I Extra Matt 10% I Raw 0
Bona Traffic HD Raw I This product has no sheen and no reflection. A surface treated with this kind of floor lacquer will not change colour and it will not have any visible sheen. The new Bona Traffic HD Raw was created to replace the floor oils. The user of this product has to be fully aware that while the protection is still on, visually, this product will not be there. While wet, it looks like the wood will be slightly glossy, but when it dries, it becomes 100% invisible. No primer needed when using the new Bona Traffic HD Raw.
Bona Traffic HD Extra Matt I This level of sheen is the most popular one. The product will slightly glaze the surface but the level of sheen is so low that it looks nearly raw. Applied in a two coats system over a primer or one of Bona`s amazing wood stains, it will really enhance the look of the wood. A top quality water based floor lacquer that works well on high traffic wooden floors or wooden floors used by pets. Outstanding high heel protection and built in anti scratch technology.
Bona Traffic HD Matt I If you are looking for a matt finish but if you also want a floor that is easy to clean and on which the flat mopping system slides nicely, then you should definitely use the new Bona Traffic HD Matt. A fine quality product that is easy to apply, dries fast, provides years of protection and can be refreshed with most of Bona`s refreshers. With a sheen level of only 20%, the new Bona Traffic HD Matt is likely to satisfy people that are looking for a bit of sheen but not too much. It allows the natural ventilation of the wood and it does not yellow over time.
Bona Traffic HD Silk Matt I this is a water based floor lacquer that is highly popular with the residential market. This product has a good level of sheen and it looks amazing when used to seal oak floors or dark types of wood fibres. It can be applied over all Bona wood stains, bona primers or directly on the wood without a primer. A fine quality water based polyurethane floor lacquer that will provide around 10 years of durability when the right maintenance is respected. The lacquer comes with a hardener that creates a catalytic reaction that hardens up its composition.
Excellent Flow And Leveling Qualities
While surface preparation is important, when using the new Bona Traffic HD you get some flexibility. It is literally impossible to use the new Bona Traffic HD wrong. Whatever way you apply it , it will dry perfectly and if you miss some patches, no worries, you can touch it up later on. Small scratches or imperfections created during the process of floor sanding will be leveled up after the first coat of lacquer. The product has a thick composition that works like a self leveling compound, equalizing and leveling the surface. This is one of the main reasons why so many professional floor sanding and floor refinishing contractors adorr this outstanding product.
Even better, while some products are compatible with some types of wood fibres and are not that compatible with others, the new Bona Traffic HD can be used on pretty much any type of surface that was primed, stained or sealed with any type of sealer. It works a treat when applied over oil based wood stains as well, classic or new furniture, doors, frames, walls,etc.
Market Leader Solid Content
The solid content makes or breaks a lacquer. The higher the solid content, the higher the durability and the elasticity of the lacquer. A great solid content is 15 to 25% , a product with a solid content of 30 over is considered top of the range. The amazing Bona Traffic HD has a solid content of 32%. There is no corner cutting and there is no nonsense. This product will level up the surface nicely and it will harden up in a matter of hours to create an extremely durable coating that in some cases can extend up to 15 years.
Two Pack Composition
The incredible Bona Traffic HD is sold in two distinct bottles. Firstly, the main bottle contains the lacquer itself. A milky thick composition that dries up 100% clear. Then there is the hardener that comes in a 500 ml bottle. For the maximum strength to happen, the two bottles have to be mixed up together. The hardener has to be added to the main bottle or to the bucket where the product is added and mixed together for a few seconds until the hardener is distributed evenly. From that point on, the user has around 2 hours to use the product before the lacquer starts hardening inside the bucket. The hardener creates a catalytic reaction that makes this incredible product so durable. Even if the new Bona Traffic HD is a water based floor lacquer, this product is fully compatible with all the oil based wood stains from Bona and most other brands.
High Resistance To Scruff Marks
Not all lacquers are the same and not all of them are designed to last for as long and stay intact even when used by thousands of people on a daily basis. Due to its high polymer content, the new Bona Traffic HD is one of the most durable water based floor lacquer ever manufactured. It does not mark as easily as other water based floor lacquers, it does not stain as easily, it does not scratch easily even when heavy items are being dragged on it and it has a superior resistance to chemicals. This is the main reason this professional water based polyurethane floor lacquer is usually used for sealing wooden floors in airports, sport rooms, restaurants, schools, public buildings, shopping centres and other types of intense traffic hardwood floors.
Non Yellowing Sealer
Another great characteristic of a great quality floor lacquer is its looks. How it looks at the start of the project and how it looks within a few years after the floor was sealed. There is nothing worse than to have your hardwood floors sealed with a few coats of clear water based floor lacquer that over a period of a few years ends up a dark yellow or brown colour. That usually happens when the sealer used reacts with the UV light, cleaning products and other chemicals. When you buy the amazing Bona Traffic HD, you are guaranteed to have the same finish without any colour changes for a good few years. While all water based floor lacquers are likely to get damaged by highly active, acidic or toxic cleaning products, the new Bona Traffic HD will get damaged way less. But under a normal maintenance routine, this product will not be changing colours and it will provide its full protection for long periods of time.
Certification
The new Bona Traffic HD is fully certified for indoor use, certified for its low emissions and certified as food safe. Some lacquers that contain high levels of solvents or other harmful chemicals will release fumes and odours for many years after it was applied to the floors. Other low quality water based floor lacquers can actually affect the quality of the food being prepared on worktops after they have been sealed with the product and that could affect the home owner’s health. The new Bona Traffic HD is fully certified for indoor use, is as green as it gets, it has a green tick, 100% food safe so it can be used to seal wood worktops, tables and other areas where the food is being served or cooked. A professional polyurethane water based floor lacquer that is highly recommended by all interior designers and all well known architects. It is fully certified to be used on wooden floors where the children and pets are playing as well.
The hallmark of an incredible sealer
While doing a major refurbishment or a home renovation, the floors are usually the last project to be done. In most cases the home owners have reached the bottom of their bag there is no more money to spend. This is when the biggest mistakes happen. The market is infested with cheap and polluting floor lacquers that can claim to do a lot but in most cases fail to live up to their promises. When using the new Bona Traffic HD in two coats over a primer, the end user should expect to get between 10-15 years of protection. By using a low cost and low solid content floor lacquer, the durability will drop to below 5 years. This low durability will come at a high cost. First of all, the floor will require another refinishing within a few years after the initial refinishing. Second, the floor will get damaged very easily and it will never look right. Then there is the orange finish that you were trying to avoid, looking more yellow than ever!
Why do all that when such an amazing water based floor lacquer that does none of the above is available at your finger tips?
How To Apply It
Even if you are a great expert, there are many people out there that have not used this product before and haven`t got the slightest clue how to use it. So we will detail the entire process step by step.
Step 1
Surface preparation is essential. Before mixing up the lacquer with the hardener, the user has to be sure that the surface is sanded, sealant free, primed and ready for varnishing. Any pre-existing sealers that are missed, will be very visible when the new coat of floor lacquer goes over it. The new Bona Traffic HD can also be used as an overcoat over pre-existing finishes (not over oils) but the surfaces have to be screened slightly to make sure that there are some rough patches so the new coat of lacquer has something to attach to. Applying the new Bona Traffic HD over a very glossy surface will not work well and in a pretty short period of time it will exfoliate. Any other old or new wood surface has to be sanded with all grits, starting from 40 usually up to about 100 grit. You do not want to go any higher than 100 grit for the basic sanding to avoid creating too smooth a surface that has little or patchy absorbency. Now that the floor is sanded and vacuumed, you need to move to step two.
Step 2
Depending on the type of finish required, now is the time to apply the primer or the wood stain. The new Bona Traffic HD is compatible with all water based floor primers and all oil based wood stains from Bona. You should prime the surface with 1 thick coat of floor primer and allow it to dry for a few hours before varnishing it. The same rule applies to wood staining. Stain the wood with a thick coat of Bona Craft Oil 2k and allow it to dry for the recommended period of time. The wood stain has to be buffed in until the wood has absorbed it in full and is all evenly coloured and patch free. It is very important to take your time and allow the full drying time before applying the first coat of Bona Traffic HD. If you are likely to use a primer like Bona White, Bona Natural, Bona Intense or Bona Amberseal, then you can sand the surface again after the first coat of primer to create a perfect smooth surface. This final sanding is not a sanding needed to remove any wood, but to level up imperfections, dull patches and other issues. Do not sand the surface after it is stained. Now that the surface is primed or stained, you should move to step three.
Step 3
Do you have enough lacquer to cover the entire surface? You better make sure so you won`t end up with about half of the floor done and half undone. Remember, the estimated coverage area is anywhere between 8 to 12 sq meters per 1L of floor lacquer. The coverage area depends on how well the surface has been prepared, the type of wood and the users talent. So, to be safe, calculate a coverage area of about 10 sq meters per 1L. If you have 25 sq meters of floor that has to be sealed with 2 coats of the amazing Bona Traffic HD, one 5L bottle should do the job in two coats assuming that the surface was either primed or stained.
You will need a varnishing brush, a roller, roller frame, roller handle and a square bucket. Usually a window cleaning bucket. Only mix what you need for that particular job. Anything that is mixed and not used within 2 hours will be useless after two hours. The minute the hardener reaches the lacquer, a reaction happens and the process of fully drying will start within about 2 hours even inside the bucket.
Apply the hardener to the lacquer and stir it for a good while to make sure that the hardener is evenly distributed and mixed in well. Use a small varnishing brush to apply the floor lacquer around the edges and around all the narrow spaces where the varnishing roller cannot fit. You do not need to soak the surface. For the larger area please use the varnishing brush to roll it up and down while moving along with the fiber of the wood. While the lacquer is wet, it might darken up the wood colour but when it fully dries, it will dry into a natural finish.
Within 2-3 hours, weather dependent or heating depending, the first coat of lacquer should have fully dried. Touch the entire surface to make sure that there are no rough patches or imperfections. If some areas still feel rough, sand it lightly with 220-320 grit sanding paper and vacuum the surface well. Apply the last coat of floor lacquer and do not walk on the surface for at least 2 hours after the last application. While you can walk on the floor within a few hours, try to keep pets away and do not move any furniture onto it for about 24 hours. The finish will fully cure within 72 hours.
How Long Will It Last?
Unlike the old solvent based floor lacquers, the new water based floor lacquers will require more care and more specific maintenance. The floor can be used just as you used to use it when it was sealed with a solvent finish, but there are few additional things that you need to keep in mind.
- The water based finishes are likely to react in contact with bleach based cleaning products or acidic cleaning solutions. Such reactions could soften up the finish or could discolour the finish to create cloudy finishes. Use Bona Wood Floor Cleaner, Bona Cleaner or the amazing Bona Wood Floor Spray Mop to deep clean and maintain your floors.
- The water based floor lacquers that are exposed to a lot of traffic and use, will require some refreshing once or twice per year. You can use the amazing Bona Hardwood Refresher or Bona Wood Floor Polish to top up the finish.
- Do not use a normal mop head to avoid oversoaking the wood and cause expansion within the floorboards. A flat mopping system is the ideal floor cleaning system.
- Do not drag heavy items on the newly varnished floors, cut your pet nails and try not to put any rugs on the floor.
- If you start noticing water marks on your floors or if some discolorations are clearly visible, you should stop whatever you are doing and call a floor refinishing contractor to find a solution before it is too late.
Now that you have read all the information listed above, you can make an educated decision while looking for a good quality polyurethane floor lacquer. But you know that the new Bona Traffic HD is exactly the product you are looking for.