Keeping The Scratches At Bay with Tover Idrolak DR 97
Keeping The Scratches At Bay with Tover Idrolak DR 97
Scratches on your wood floor can be irksome. They ruin the appeal of the installation, becoming more of an eyesore the more they accumulate on the surface. The scratches can be caused by a myriad of factors, from abrasive dirt particles grinding against the floor surface under people’s shoes, the sharp claws of cats and dogs in the household, kids with their toy cars and train tracks, miniscule movements during the ordinary use of furniture, as well as cases where the heavy units are directly dragged on the floor – it will all contribute to the unsightly scratches. These make the floor look old and forlorn. Add this to fading effects whether it is from foot traffic or the effects of solar radiation on the floor, corrosion from chemicals – it will reduce the life of your wood floor, unless proper measures are put in place to mitigate it. Top of the list is ensuring that you get your floor treated with a durable formulation. A finish coat that wards off the wear effects and comes with chemical resistant properties. That’s where the Tover Idrolak DR 97 comes in.
This two-component waterborne finish has been formulated to deliver enhanced protection to the floor, enabling it to withstand day-to-day abuse, even in high traffic environments. It does this while accentuating the surface, where you get to bring out that natural appeal of the wood floor. Here are more reasons why treating your floor with this waterborne lacquer gives you more value:
- Quick Application
Treating the floor with the Tover Idrolak DR 97 lacquer is a breeze. Simply mix it with the accompanying hardener with a 10:1 ratio, and spread this catalysed finish onto the floor. The mixing should be done in a clean container. Before applying the second coat, give it 4-5 hours to dry, then lightly abrade the surface with 180 grit sandpaper. If needed, a third coat can be applied after 2-3 more hours. This is such as when you’re treating a floor that is exposed to very high levels of wear.
- Don’t pour the finish directly on the floor. Instead, work with tools like microfiber medium hair rollers, where you will be able to apply a uniform coat over the surface.
For the Tover Idrolak DR 97, different finishing cycles can be used. These will be determined by the required aesthetics. For instance, substituting the first coat of the lacquer with a primer such as Idrofondo H20 will give an enhanced natural effect. For a warmer aspect, the Tover Tone-Up can be used. You can even go the mixed cycle route with solvent-based primers, where the Tover Idrolak DR 97 is compatible with formulations like the Fondo Isolante AL and Gran Fondo.
- Easy on your budget
There are different ways you get to save money with the Tover Idrolak DR 97. For starters, it comes with a pocket-friendly price tag, giving you enhanced protection without you having to strain your budget. Secondly, the abrasion and chemical resistance that you get from using the treatment prolongs the duration in between consecutive floor renovation tasks, cutting down your expenses down the road. Add this to the wide coverage rate, where the formulation has a yield of 12 – 14m² per litre, the Tover Idrolak DR 97 ends up giving you more bang for your buck.
Maintaining The Finished Floor
You don’t want dirt and grime accumulating on the treated floor. Sure, the mechanical properties of the lacquer have given it enhanced abrasion resistance, but this does not mean that the routine floor maintenance gets neglected. Vacuuming and mopping will keep the floor in optimal condition.
When cleaning the floor, avoid the common DIY mistake of drenching the surface in water. Since wood is hygroscopic, imbalances in moisture levels with its surrounding environment will cause the floorboards to absorb more moisture, increasing the risk of water damage. Properly wring out the mops that are being used, or work with equipment like spray mops that only mist out a little product at a time.
For the particular cleaning agent to use, it is recommended that you work with products that have been particularly indicated to be safe for wood floors. The manufacturer in this case recommends Pulito Parque, a neutral soap, and the Saniparquet detergent. These will enable you to get rid of the dirt and grime without affecting the Tover Idrolak DR 97 finish.
The periodic maintenance can be carried out with Lux or Lux Matt wax, applied in a water emulsion.
Issues To Note When Treating Your Floor With The Tover Idrolak DR 97
- Be keen on the atmospheric conditions when applying the lacquer. This is as the temperature and humidity will directly affect the drying and curing process. When the temperatures are particularly high, especially over 25°C, then you can dilute the product with 5% Rallenty retardant in order to slow down the drying process.
Also note that this is a frost sensitive formulation. During the application, the temperatures should not go below 10°C. The same limit applies to the storage conditions.
- During the intermediate sanding that’s carried out when adding more coats onto the floor, take care not to “sand through” the preceding coat. The goal here is to simply smoothen the surface, not break through to the underlying wood.
The mixed cycle cases where you use the Tover Idrolak DR 97 with the Fondo Isolante AL, you won’t need to sand the primer coat.
- The lacquer/hardener mixture that is prepared should be used within 4 hours, which is the pot life of the catalysed finish. After this period, even if it is still liquid, do not use it. Instead, prepare another mixture.
- The Tover Idrolak DR 97 should not be mixed with other lacquer.
- Does the building have underfloor heating? Turn this off during the duration of the application and the curing. Allow the product to dry naturally – which should be fast anyway, since it will be dust dry within 1 hour, and the surface will be ready to handle traffic in 24 hours (these timings are at 20 °C temperature and 60% R.H).