Caring For Your Wood Floor With Bona Mega One

Caring For Your Wood Floor With Bona Mega One

With more home and business owners installing wood floors for their establishments, their popularity continues to grow. It’s easy to see why. For the décor, wood flooring brings a natural elegance to the space. Its characteristic charm and feel accentuates the ambience, making the space feel inviting. Each setup is unique – after all, there are numerous wood species to choose from, each with their colour and grain patterns. You can go with installations with factory patterns or solid hardwood floors with the shades, swirl patterns and grain that are characteristic to the tree itself. Add this to the wide array of wood stains and finishing agents that can be applied onto the installation – and the home and business owners can have the setup that meets their individual tastes. The wood floors are also easy to clean. Unlike carpets that lock in dirt in the fibres, or the grout in for tiled floors that quickly builds up grime, dirt on wood floors remains on the surface, and can be quickly swept, vacuumed or mopped off. The ease of maintenance enables you to continue enjoying the beauty of the wood floor for longer – but there is a catch. The surface needs to be protected. Due to the barrage of abuse that the wood floor receives on a daily basis – from foot traffic, occasional spills, pets dashing around, heavy furniture, all through to the UV radiation from the sun, protective coatings need to be applied onto the installation in order to preserve their beauty and structural integrity – which is where quality lacquers like the Bona Mega One come on. 

The durability of wood floors is without question. They are some of the strongest flooring options, especially for the solid wood floors. They can take on the load from heavy foot traffic, and last as long as the building itself. However, this is only achievable when active measures are taken to ward off the wear and tear effects of everyday life – from treating it with protective agents like the Bona Mega One to the routine cleaning that is carried out to get rid of the dirt and grime. Moreover, one of the benefits of wood floors is the opportunity to sand and refinish the surface when it gets all old and forlorn. Simply sand through to the bare wood to remove the old finishes, and apply the new treatment – which is far more cost effective than pulling up the boards. That way you get more value for the decades that the wood flooring will be in place. In fact, these installations add to the value of the home – meaning that when time comes for you to put the property on the market, you will get more bang for your buck. The flooring is versatile, adapting to the different interior design themes that will be set up. This is further enhanced by the attributes of the finish coats that are applied, such as with the different variations in gloss levels that you get with the Bona Mega One, and cases where you can mix different attachments to get your preferred result – like using the Bona Waterborne Primer with this particular lacquer. Let’s delve into what you can expect from this formulation. 

Value You Get From Bona Mega One

• High performance lacquer 

The build characteristics of the Bona Mega One enable it to bring superior protection to your floor. The 1-component polyurethane topcoat sets a durable layer of protection on the surface of the floor – in fact going beyond the industrial average in aspects ranging from scuff and taber resistance to chemical resistance when compared to 6 of the leading 1-component finishes that are available. This sets it apart as a formulation that will provide your floor with prolonged life. 

• Enhancing the natural appeal of the floor

With this waterborne lacquer, you get to bring out that warm wood colouration, enhancing the ambience of the space. The Bona Mega One is especially ideal for use on light wood surfaces, and in situations where you want to achieve a creative effect, in which case you can even combine it with formulations like Bona White or Bona Decor Paint. This will depend on your particular taste and style preferences. It’s worth noting that this is a non-yellowing formulation – meaning that there won’t be that dreaded yellow tint forming over time due to exposure to sunlight. This preserves the beauty that you will have obtained from the finish coats that have been applied. 

• Great for contractors and busy environments 

Personnel carrying out the floor treatment process using Bona Mega One have plenty of ways to benefit from its formulation. For starters, it is simple to use, where you simply pour it out onto the floor without having to apply a primer to the surface, or mix the lacquer with any other agent. Its enhanced sanding properties enable the mid-abrasion to be carried out without causing clogging, meaning that the abrasives being used for the task get to last for longer. A fast drying product, mid-abrasion can be carried out just one hour after the initial coat is applied, speeding up the application process. 

These attributes of Bega Mega One make it particularly beneficial to both heavy traffic environments and light commercial areas where fast application and reduced downtime are a priority.

• Budget-friendly formulation

When it comes to costs, Bona Mega One leads as an economical choice due to a myriad of reasons. For starters, it has a pocket-friendly price tag, for the 1-litre bottles and 5-litre containers. You can get sufficient supply to be used depending on the size of the floor area that is to be covered in your premises. This affordable pricing is especially as a result of the scale of operations that have been achieved by Bona, the brand, where heavy investments over the course of the last century have seen it set up high-efficiency facilities for the development of its products. Then there is the protection itself that you get from the lacquer. Here, the durability of the Bona Mega One coats that are applied onto the floor translates into fewer resources being taken up for the floor maintenance and renovation projects – including increasing the duration before the next floor staining and refinishing task.

The contractors also benefit from the formulation of the Bona Mega One. For instance, the sanding properties make the mid-abrasion easier – meaning that there will be less of a strain on the sanding equipment. This is particularly handy since you want the equipment that you use to serve you for longer. 

A Brand You Can Trust

Bona has been a trusted provider of floor care products for decades. Since the company’s launch in 1919, it has grown into an industry leader, now boasting of a presence in 90 countries and massive sales – like 2020’s 3.1 billion SEK. Let’s look at what makes this brand tick, and why people have confidence in its products such as the Bona Mega One that we’re covering here. 

The brand’s story traces its roots to a small grocery store in Malmö (Sweden), where its founder -Wilhelm Edner- dealt in different goods, one of them being bonvax. When this agent was applied on wood floors, it resulted in a polished and protected surface. Edner saw how much potential this would have, which prompted him to incorporate the Bona AB company. Since its early days, Bona has gone ahead to invest heavily in the development of new floor maintenance formulations that have set it apart as a brand that provides quality and value to its clients. For instance, in 1953 it introduced the D-503 Floor sealer that provides enhanced protection due its higher wear resistance, particularly targeting consumers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Bona launched waterborne finishes – an alternative to the conventional solvent-based treatments, which were safer while still providing the required protection. Today, the waterborne finishes from the band are some of the top-selling formulations – including the Bona Mega One that we’re looking into here. By the 1980s the company had already established subsidiaries in China, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, all through to China, and went ahead to establish a solid regional foothold when it founded BonaKemi Asia Pacific Pte Ltd in 2000. By 2002 the company already had a vast range of products being retailed in the US market, while still pushing forward with its innovative processes that saw the brand launch a dust containment system in 2006 to protect contractors and building owners from toxic dust that is generated during floor sanding processes. Operating across the globe and developing a loyal customer base, there has been a continued growth in the demand for the brands’ products, which saw it get an impressive 3.1 billion SEK for its 2020 sales.

With formulations like the Bona Mega One, you can rest assured that you’re relying on a brand that has been proven to deliver. A company with a verifiable track-record that spans over the course of a century, and whose products have been used in homes, commercial buildings, airports, museums, all through to public places. The wide range of treatments are relied upon by professional contractors for installation and maintenance crews to cleaning companies. The family-owned company has also extended beyond wood floors, and also provides formulations that are used in caring for other types of floors, like laminate, tine and stone installations. 

How To Use The Bona Mega One

• Preparing the floor

To get optimal results with the treatment, the floor itself needs to be properly prepared. This calls for a thorough cleaning, sanding or even dewaxing depending on the current state of the floor, and whether there were other coats that had been spread out on it. This treatment process needs to start with the bare wood itself. Sand away those old coats, following the required grit sequence. Units such as the Bona Belt or Bona Flexisand are used here. Do not overbuff the surface – remember the goal here is simply to get rid of existing treatments, not make the floor too smooth such that the lacquers to be applied won’t bond well with it. 

For the new floor installations, they should be allowed to acclimate to the end-use environment. This is due to the changes that would result due to variations in the atmospheric conditions of the premises – so the new floors should be given some time – usually three days, to get to an equilibrium between the moisture content of the wood, and the air of its surrounding environment. This is part of the process to prevent future problems like excessive gaps, buckling, cupping, warping and the like – and should even be carried out before the wood planks themselves are nailed into place. 

After the sanding and cleaning, allow the floor to dry, then proceed on with the Bona Mega One treatment. 

• Application 

There are two general ways of treating your wood floor with this lacquer. 

1. In the first approach, one layer of a primer is applied, followed by two coats of the Bona Mega One. 

Here, light sanding will be required after the primer coat has been applied. Use grit 150 for the sanding. 

2. With the second alternative, simply apply 3 full coats of the lacquer. 

Before you use the Bona Mega One, allow it to reach the room temperature, then proceed with these steps:

1. Insert the filter, then shake the container thoroughly.
2. Use a Bona Roller to spread the first coat of the lacquer onto the floor. This should be with a smooth flowing motion, alternating between going across and following the wood grain. 
3. Allow the first coat to dry. 
4. Lightly sand the surface. You can use Bona Diamond Abrasives of grit 120, and ensure that you have vacuumed away the sanding dust that is generated. 
5. Apply the next layer.

If an additional coat is to be applied, then a longer drying time will be required compared to the period taken in step 3 above.

6. Give the floor at least 8 hours before allowing light foot traffic back onto the area.

You should allow 5 days before you cover the floor with items like carpets, or carry out any damp mopping. This is to allow the treatment to fully dry and cure. 

Speaking of mopping, remember that wood is a hygroscopic material, and will readily absorb any excess moisture on its surface. This means that drenching a mop in a cleaning solution and sloshing the contents over the floor puts the installation at risk of water damage. Properly wring out the mop, or work with equipment that minimises the amount of liquids used – such as employing microfibre pads whose chemical cleaning action alone is powerful enough to lift dirt from the floor, or spray mops that allow you to mist out a little amount of liquid at a time as you pass over the surface. 

There are some issues that should be noted:

• It’s recommended that you stick to a maximum of two full costs of the lacquer per day. Applying more will bring the risk of excessive wood swelling. 
• For the end grain floors, hardwood floor installations that have underfloor heating, as well as the softwood plank floors – basically floor installations where there will be a side bonding risk, you should apply a primer coat before the Bona Mega One layers. 

Why Your Floor Needs A Lacquer 

While wood floors are actually highly durable, the amount of abuse that is meted to them over time can cause them to deteriorate, unless proper measures are put in place to prevent this. After all, having a strong structure does not automatically make them invincible. Let’s look at some of the issues that are faced by the wood floor, and how treatments like the Bona Mega One come in to protect the installation. 

• Abrasive effects

Wear and tear from everyday life does quite a number on the wood floor. As people walk around the premises, the friction between their shoes and the surface of the floor slowly swears down the surface. You can easily notice the difference when you compare those frequently walked on areas to other sections of the wood floor – such as those under the table or sofas. These faded sections become traffic lanes, which in turn ruin the appeal of the wood floor. Add this to the dirt and debris that is at the bottom of people’s shoes, especially when they track this in from the outdoors. These particles are gritty, and grinding them against the floor surface accelerates the wear.

Applying the protective Bona Mega One on your wood floor provides a barrier that awards off these wear effects. The high performance of this 1-component lacquer goes a long way in preserving the structural integrity of the underlying installation, allowing it to give you more service, while still retaining its aesthetic appeal. 

In addition to the Bona Mega One treatment, taking measures like discouraging the wearing of shoes inside the house, and frequently cleaning the floor to remove the debris and gunk piling up on it, will help protect your wood floor. It’s an all-rounded approach, with the different measures complementing each other to preserve the elegance of your wood floor. 

• Scratches

Are there pets in the household? Homes with cats and dogs running around are at a greater risk of developing scratches on the floor. As the pets move across the surface with their claws drawn out, these dig into the floor, leaving behind marks. What about kids and their toys? Those toy cars zooming over the floor or the toy trains tracks set up on the surface may be cute and all, but they can also create scratches in the process. The greater the rate at which scratches form, the more deteriorated the surface gets dragging down the decor of the premises. Foot wear can also be an issue – such as for those with spiked shoes, which end up leaving behind marks on the floor. Protective lacquers applied onto the surface increase the scratch and scuff resistance of the installation, warding off these effects. 

Regarding your pets, it is recommended that you regularly trim their nails. This is part of the grooming process for your furry friend. You can do this at home with nail clippers that have been specially designed for the task, or take your pet to a professional groomer. Cleaning the wood floor regularly to get rid of the debris that would be grinded against the floor also helps in slowing the build-up of scratches. You can also get a mat that people can wipe their shoes on at the entrance before getting into the facility. 

Since dirt and grit easily get caught up in the castor wheel or rollers of chairs, it is recommended to avoid these kinds of furniture if you have a wood floor, or at least fit castor cups or get a mat and place it under the chair, in order to protect your wood floor installation from scratches. 

• Fading due to the sun

Those beautiful sun rays streaming through the window can affect the hardwood floor. This will depend on the kind of wood species involved, and the finish that has been installed. The exposure to the UV radiation causes some wood species to fade, and others will darken. High quality finishes like the Bona Mega One come in to delay this process. In fact, with the formulation itself being non-yellowing, the colour and hue that results after treating the wood floor gets to last for longer. 

The fading action is not limited to the wood floor. Even furniture and other decor elements are affected. In fact, as much as 40% of the fading that happens indoors can be attributed to UV radiation. Additional measures you can take to address the issue include periodically rearranging the furniture and rugs, applying a window film. or simply angling the window blinds during those hot days to enable the sun’s rays to be directed towards the ceiling or walls instead of directly onto the floor.

• Stains

Liquids that spill on the wood floor will be readily absorbed – from water to those beverages that get accidentally knocked over. Depending on the chemical makeup of the liquid, the effects on the floor will vary. Even water alone can cause water stains that affect the decor. Spills soaking deeper into the wood become difficult stains to remove. From coffee and tea spills to ink blots, beers, juices and even wine – they will all be troublesome to get rid of. A general rule is that the liquids should be quickly blotted up the moment they are spilled onto the floor, and then clean up the residue that remains. Here, be sure you use a product that will break down the stain without negatively affecting the wood tissue – fortunately you can find a wide range of cleaning products under Bona that have been developed for such situations.

Pet stains are an issue as well. With cats and or dogs in the households, urine stains can be caused by a myriad of issues. It can be a behavioural problem, such as social anxiety triggered when the pet owner leaves the premises, or an act of being territorial when there are new pets being allowed into the premises. It can be simply age – from the young kittens and puppies that are yet to properly grasp their training, to the old pets that are slowly losing control of their bladders. Medical issues are a concern as well, such as when the pet gets a urinary tract infection. There are different ways to deal with the behavioural and physiological problems that trigger the peeing accidents in the household, from training measures to making a visit to the vet especially if you suspect a health issue. What about the wood floor? Cleaning agents formulated to specially deal with the pet stains are needed – and having one around is particularly important in order to deal with the affected area as soon as possible – and before your pet marks that area as their go-to spot.

The speed of your reaction whenever there is a spill is integral in determining whether the stain will be effectively removed. Some can soak too deep into the wood tissue that they can only removed through sanding, or applying wood bleach. These are not fates you want for your wood floor – thus the emphasis on being extra vigilante. 

In addition to your own actions during the cleaning, having a protective layer from the Bona Mega One on the installation will minimise the risks that are posed to your wood floor. The stain and chemical resistance from the formulation prevents the liquids from soaking into the wood – giving you time to effectively remove them. Note that having the treatment applied does not mean that you allow spills to dwell on the surface for long.

Taking Care Of Floors Treated With Bona Mega One

Floor maintenance doesn’t stop with the lacquer treatment. Daily use will see dirt and debris building up on the surface, and this needs to be dealt with. For the cleaning, you want to use a product that has been formulated for working on wood floors. Harsh agents from ammonia-based cleaners to vinegar can end up doing more harm than good to your floor. For the floors that have been treated with Bona Mega One, the recommended agent to use is Bona Cleaner or Bona Wood Floor Cleaner. 

One of the benefits of this treatment is that you can overcoat it in regular intervals with additional coats of the Bona Mega One. This is to maintain a strong protective layer. To reduce the frequency of this, applying Bona Freshen Up or Bona Wood Floor Refresher periodically on the floor will go a long way. This restores the floor, while still giving you the opportunity to overcoat it later on without having to sand through to the bare wood. As such, it reduces the costs that go into the floor maintenance process.

Extra Tips For Using The Bona Mega One

• The sanding carried out at the onset of the floor treatment process needs to be thorough. Traces of the old finish remaining on the surface will be detrimental to the quality of the coats being applied. It will prevent the new finish layers from bonding well with the wood floor. The Bona Mega One treatment needs to be applied onto the bare wood. One of the common results of leaving behind residue is the new finish starting to peel off in places. In such situations, one is forced to repeat the floor sanding and refinishing – which ends up consuming more resources. 

Scratches that are left behind during the sanding process are also made more prominent by the finish coats being applied. The scratches are usually as a result of failing to follow the grit sequence required. It can also be due to using sanding pads or abrasive screens that are worn out when carrying out the mid-abrasion in between consecutive layers of lacquer. Prevent things from going down this route by getting the process right from the sanding stage.

After the floor sanding, a thorough round of cleaning is required as well. Dirt, pieces of hair, debris and other contaminants that get trapped by the lacquer coats will dry in the finish, becoming a permanent part of that layer. At this stage, the only recourse will be to resand and refinish the floor.

• Be keen on the environmental conditions during application. Optimal conditions to apply the Bona Mega One are between 18°C and 25°C for the temperature, and 30-60% relative air humidity. When there are high temperatures and low humidity, then this will shorten the drying time. On the other hand, with low temperatures and a high humidity, this will increase the drying time. The minimum temperature for application is 13°C

As you spread the Bona Mega One coats onto the floor with a roller, keep maintaining a ‘wet edge’. This is key to avoid overlaps.

Caring For Your Wood Floor With Bona Mega One