Quick Floor Treatment With the Bona Mega ONE
Quick Floor Treatment With the Bona Mega ONE
While wood floors are some of the sturdiest installations – capable of withstanding high levels of foot traffic and lasting as long as the building in which they have been installed, proper care and maintenance is needed to keep them in top shape. If this is ignored, aspects like the very foot traffic they are capable of withstanding will see them deteriorate. The wear effects seen with the daily usage of these floors is a contributor to their gradual dilapidation. For instance, with footfall the main issue is the friction that is generated as people walk on the floor. This abrades the surface, with those areas that are frequently walked on developing traffic lanes. What of spills? You can’t exactly predict when those occasional accidents will occur. Wine and beer during parties, coffee and tea at the breakfast table, yoghurt and milk accidents for those with kids, nail polish drips, inkblots – these can mess up the floor. Spills should ideally be cleaned up as fast as possible, but having a barrier that keeps them from being readily soaked up into the floor is key, in order to reduce the risks of permanent staining and corrosion caused by harsh chemicals that wind up on the floor. Even the normal cleaning action over time contributes to the wear, especially for those cases that call for intense scrubbing action to deal with stubborn dirt spots and stains. Be that as it may, it is recommended that you stick to cleaners that are particularly suited for the wood floors, in order to minimise the risk involved. Harsh cleaners will add to immediate damage to the surface of the area being worked on. Following the right wood cleaning procedures, and having the floor treated with agents such as the Bona Mega ONE, will ward off these effects, and enable the installation to retain its beauty.
Scratches are also common on wood floors. In fact, it is almost impossible to completely avoid having scratches. They are caused by a myriad of things, from gritty soiling that is grinded against the floor, footwear like spiked shoes, kids racing their toy cars or setting up their toy trains on the floor, all through to pets running around the house with their claws digging into the surface. Without protective treatments, there will be a very fast build-up of the scratches, which in turn ruin the beauty of the floor. For the scratches to be removed, sanding is required. Note that the wood floors have a limited number of times that the sanding can be carried out – with the engineered wood floors being sanded around two or three times depending on the thickness of the wear layer, and the solid wood floors being able to handle about five to seven sanding and refinishing cycles. Strong finishes are needed to protect the underlying floor and increase the duration between the renovation tasks, extending the lifespan on the floor, which is why property owners turn to lacquers like the Bona Mega ONE.
Keeping The Floor Safe
When it comes to floor finishes, there are different kinds of formulations that one can work with. For instance, while shellac has a low cost and is easy to apply, it comes with the downside of having reduced durability, meaning you will be in a position where you’re forced to recoat the floor more often. Since the material is incompatible with other contemporary finishes including polyurethane, you will be restricted to only touching up the floor with more shellac until the existing finish is completely overhauled. Wax finishes, which have been in use for centuries, have a high susceptibility to stains, and before any new coat is applied the existing one needs to be completely removed first. Moisture-cured urethane finishes, despite their high durability and fast drying times, feature high toxin levels, with there being situations where the fumes continue to be gassed off by the treatment for weeks, which puts the persons in the premises at risk. Polyurethanes are some of the most widely used finishes today, and these can be grouped into oil-based and water-based variants. The oil-based polyurethanes have a high durability, but feature longer drying times, and also have the tendency of yellowing over time, which affects the beauty of the floor. Water-based polyurethanes have a quicker drying time in comparison, and offer the floor protection without forming the dreaded yellow tint of their counterparts. The Bona Mega ONE being reviewed here is a waterborne polyurethane.
Get 2-component performance with 1-component convenience
Let’s take two angles when looking at the value that the Bona Mega ONE brings to the floor treatment process.
- End-User Benefits
- Everyday protection
Bona Mega ONE has been developed to meet the floor protection needs in domestic environments, as well as medium traffic commercial areas. By standing up to the everyday wear, this preserves the structural integrity of the floor, and also increases the duration in between the subsequent sanding and renovation tasks. That way, the wood installation lasts for longer, and reduces the costs that go into maintenance operations.
With its chemical resistance, the Bona Mega ONE keeps spills like coffee, wine and ink from ruining the floor. This preserves the natural beauty of the floor and prevents its wood tissue from getting corroded by the different kinds of spills that can wind up on it. Note that it does not mean that you allow spills to go unattended. You should still clean them up as soon as you can. The lacquer buys you time to get those tools needed to mop up the spills, and avoid scenarios where stubborn stains form on the surface.
- Enhanced aesthetics
The Bona Mega ONE brings out the natural beauty and richness of the wood. The colours and wood grain are enhanced more prominently, which improves the decor and adds to the warmth of the space.
Extra tip: Using Bona Mega ONE together with Bona White on light wood species will result in a beautiful light effect. In case you’re working with grey floors, then you can use the lacquer together with Bona Decor Paint, that way you can have your own trendy ambience.
- Reduced disruption
With its fast-drying nature, you are able to restore normalcy much sooner compared to the conventional lacquers. Light traffic can be allowed back onto the floor treated with the Bona Mega ONE in around 8 hours.
Note that you should allow extra curing time before covering the floor with carpets, or putting heavy items on it. This is usually a duration of five days. During this time, you should also avoid wet mopping the floor.
- Non-yellowing formulation
One of the common issues seen with conventional lacquers is that they gradually develop a yellow tint over time. This is due to the effect of the sun’s radiation on the treatments that have been used. The last thing you want is to lose that elegance of the floor to this dreaded hue. With the Bona Mega ONE, that won’t be a cause for concern. With its non-yellowing nature, it gets to retain that resultant aesthetic effect for long.
- Contractor Benefits
- Easy on your tools
Spreading the Bona Mega ONE lacquer over the floor surface is a breeze, and this allows you to ensure you get a uniform coat that serves to protect the floor, and enhance its beauty. What’s more, with its unique properties, there won’t be clogging as you carry out the intermediate light sanding between the subsequent coats being applied. This also means that the abrasives will get to last for longer.
- Reduced drying time
When applying lacquers on your client’s floor, time is of the essence. You want to get the task done quickly, without compromising on the quality of the results. The Bona Mega ONE also aids you here. While there will be two to three coats of the Bona Mega ONE being applied, the lacquers’ intermediate drying time of just 1 hour enables you to get onto the next coat quickly.
- Enhanced sanding properties
Abrading the finish during the intermediate sanding that is carried out in between consecutive coats is a breeze. You get to ensure a smooth surface for the subsequent layers that are to be applied.
GREENGUARD certified
With indoor air pollution being a major concern for building professionals, floor maintenance contractors and environmental bodies, consumers are being more keen on the safety of products used for their indoor air space. The pollutants come from a myriad of sources – building materials, furniture, finishes and even electronics, with aspects like mouldy dirt and poor ventilation exacerbating the situation. Third-party independent certification programs come in to test how much chemicals are gassed off by treatment products. One of the most recognized worldwide is the Greenguard Certification Program.
This program is run by GEI (Greenguard Environmental Institute), which is under UL Environment, a global safety certification company. The logo is recognized as part of sustainable building programs and is accepted in building codes around the world. For a product to come with the Greenguard label, it needs to have passed strict emissions criteria, after having been tested for over 10,000 chemicals. Different programs are taken through this, including the building materials, furnishings products and furniture themselves, cleaning formulations and maintenance products like the Bona Mega ONE, all through to medical equipment for breathing gas. There are two tiers in this program – the GREENGUARD Certification that only allows 500 μg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter of air) of total VOCs, and the GREENGUARD Gold that has a limit of 220 μg/m³ total VOCs.
When a product passes this test, it doesn’t end there. They are taken through annual tests, to ensure that subsequent versions consistently maintain low emissions. With the Bona Mega ONE having been taken through the rigorous tests of the GREENGUARD certifying agency, and coming with the logo to prove it, you can use it with the confidence that the flooring contractor applying the product, as well as the occupants in the building, will be safe.
Quick Treatment With Bona Mega ONE
The application process is a walk in the park – and is actually one of the main draw points of the lacquer. Since you don’t need to mix it with a priming agent or other chemicals for the task, it saves on the time and energy needed for the process.
Before you use it, allow the lacquer to reach room temperature, shake its container thoroughly, and insert the filter. Note that the lacquer should not be applied in temperatures below 13°C. Follow these steps for the application:
- Sand and clean the floor. This is to remove any kinds of contamination that are on the surface, to allow the Bona Mega ONE to bond strongly with the wood itself.
- Pour out the lacquer into the tray or container that will hold the formulation, into which the Bona roller will be dipped.
- With the roller, spread the first layer of the Bona Mega ONE onto the floor.
- Allow one hour of drying time.
- Lightly abrade the surface, and remove the sanding dust. This intermediate sanding is done with fine grits. For instance, you can use Bona Diamond Abrasives Grit 120.
- Apply the next coat of the lacquer.
- Give it at least 8 hours before allowing light traffic back onto the area.
The Bona Mega ONE can be used on floors where side bonding is a risk. These are the likes of softwood plank floors, the hardwood installations that have underfloor heating, as well as end grain floors. However, in these instances, you should use a primer before applying the Bona Mega ONE lacquer. It is also imperative that you ensure that the wood floor in question has acclimated to the environment.
Tips For Working With The Bona Mega ONE
- Before treating the floor with this lacquer – and any other other floor finishing agent actually, it should have been allowed to first acclimatize to its end environment. This is basically giving the untreated wood floors time to adjust to the temperature and humidity conditions of their environment.
- The optimal temperature conditions for applying the Bona Mega ONE are 18-25°C. For the relative humidity, this should be between 30 and 60%. The higher the temperature and lower the humidity, the faster the floor will dry. Conversely, the lower the temperature and higher the humidity, the longer the drying and curing for the treatment will take.
- As you work with the roller to spread the lacquer over the floor surface, alternate between going across the wood grain, and going along with it. This is handy in avoiding scenarios where sections of the floor have accumulated more product than those adjacent to them.
- Maintain a wet edge while using the roller, in order to avoid overlaps.
- It’s recommended that you stick to a maximum of two full Bona Mega ONE coats per day.
From Bona, It’s All About Quality And Reliability
Bona is a leading name in the floor care industry. In fact, the brand’s products are so popular that they have found their way in markets across over 90 countries, recommended by architects, used by builders and installers, professional cleaning contractors, to everyday individual homeowners taking care of their property. The company has also come a long way since its early days in Sweden. Let’s take a walk through its history.
The company’s story starts back in1919 when it was founded by Wilhelm Edner. While his grocery shop was mainly focused on coffee, he also dealt in floor wax for the extra income. The product – bonvax, when applied to floors, provided a protective surface with a polished look. Edner realised that this had lots of potential, and went ahead to start Bona AB which focused primarily on floor care products. Over the course of the next century, the company has grown to become an industry leader, staying true to the requirements of professional contractors, distributors, craftsmen, and end consumers.
This is one brand that places a huge emphasis on sustainable floor care processes. For instance, before the 1970s, the industry heavily relied on solvent-based formulations for treating floors. However, these had their different risks, especially with the impact that the VOCs produced had on the occupants of the building, as well as the personnel applying the products onto the floor. In 1979 though, Bona unveiled waterborne finishes, which brought a paradigm shift in the industry. Not only were these finishes just as effective in protecting floors and enhancing their beauty, but they were also safer to apply. This saw them become widely popular. Bona’s wide range of products is taken through different certification programs by independent third-parties and authorities to ascertain their safety for the indoor airspace, as is seen with the GREENGUARD certification of Bona Mega ONE under review here.
Bona was also one of the floor care companies that pushed for the adoption of dust containment systems during the sanding process. With those layers of old finishes being grinded off the floor, it is a mixture of the chemicals themselves, as well as the wood tissue. While the substances are suitable for protecting the floor, they are potent when they get into the body system, which was a huge problem seen with the carcinogenic wood dust that is produced during the sanding process. By insisting on the usage of dust containment systems for these procedures, it made the task safe for the contractors as they carried out their duties. As such, you can see that the company places great emphasis on the safety of the users of its products. This adds to the confidence when turning to formulations like the Bona Mega ONE.
Just how popular are Bona’s products? They are used across the board – from homes and office spaces, protecting airport and museum floors, all through to treating sports and basketball courts. Whether it is ensuring that the floor surface can withstand the effects of heavy foot traffic, or giving athletes sufficient traction in indoor sporting arenas, or adding to the decor of living or working spaces, there are Bona products for them all. The products are delivered through over 70 distributors around the world, and the company is sustained by a team of more than 500 employees. As recently as 2016, the company had already raked in EUR 234 million in turnover from the sales of its diverse range of products. They are in demand because of their reliability and quality, and you get the same when you choose the Bona Mega ONE to protect your floor.
Taking Care Of Your Treated Surface
When dealing with the routine cleaning, you want to work with products that will be safe for your wood floor. Harsh chemicals that will corrode the Bona Mega ONE treatment will simply lead to wastage of resources, and put the wood floor at risk. For the routine cleaning tasks, it’s recommended that you work with products like the Bona Cleaner, which have been formulated for safe application on wood floors. These enable you to get rid of the dirt and grime without risking the underlying installation.
There are different products and approaches that should not be used when cleaning the wood floor, as they will negatively affect the Bona Mega ONE coats that have been applied, or pose a risk to the structural integrity of the wood itself. These include:
- Ammonia
A potent cleaning agent, ammonia is typically a go-to solution when faced with tough stains. However, its effect on hardwood floors makes it a no-no. Its chemical makeup causes effects from damaging the lacquer to dissolving the lignin in the wood itself.
- Vinegar
The “Vinegar + Water” combination is one of the household cleaning solutions that are widely popular, used on different sources ranging from sinks and windows to walls, microwaves and countertops. However, it should not be used on the wood floors due to it causing the surface to become dull.
- Bleach
This one can discolour your wood floor permanently, so it’s best that you avoid it altogether. Stick to the wood floor cleaners that have strong strain-removal properties as opposed to turning to bleach-based solutions which will ruin the appeal of your installation.
- Lemon juice
Another popular DIY cleaning solution used for stubborn spots, lemon juice is highly acidic, which will be a threat to the beauty and structural integrity of the wood floor, especially when it is used in large quantities. This will result in the lacquer coats being worn down, dulling the floor.
- Excess water
Despite being the “universal cleaning solvent”, treat the amount of water used on the wood floor with caution. This is largely due to the hygroscopic nature of the floorboards, where the wood tissue readily absorbs the excess moisture from its surrounding. When mopping, wring out the unit and use it when it is damp. Soaking the floor in a cleaning solution increases the risk of water damage. Working with tools like microfibre mops where the mechanical cleaning action reduces the need for liquids on the floor, as well as spray mops that give you more control of the amount of cleaning solution misted out onto the surface, will enable you to better care for the floor, and keep that effect obtained from the Bona Mega ONE treatment for longer.
- Steam cleaning
With wood already susceptible to damage from absorbing excess water, using hot steam increases the threat exponentially. Steam cleaning is intended for materials like carpets where it gets to the grime trapped within the fibres. Using it on a hardwood floor will lead to rapid deterioration and increase the chances of wood rot, where you end up being forced to replace the floorboards themselves.
Over the years, the day-to-day wear will dull the surface. However, you don’t have to keep going all out and sanding through to the bare wood and refinish the floor. The Bona Mega ONE treatment can be overcoated at regular intervals. The duration in between these intervals can in turn be extended by making use of products like the Bona Freshen Up, which have been developed to revitalise the floor. That way, you get to restore a new look and feel to the dull floor, while still pushing the sanding further down the road. Not only does this save your time and resources, but it also prolongs the life of the wood floor since the structure is limited on the number of sanding and refinishing cycles it can be successfully taken through.
Picking The Right Lacquer For Your Wood Floor
When selecting a lacquer to use for your floor, its level of VOC emissions is a critical factor to consider. Indoor pollutants are some of the major threats to one’s health, given that they can even be in five times greater concentration compared to the outdoors. The volatile organic compounds, carbon-based chemicals present in different products, gradually break down and dissipate into the indoor air space. They are gassed off by furniture, building materials, and even floor cleaners. These are responsible for that odour you detect from a new mattress, or in a freshly painted room. In fact, there could be over 100 different VOCs in the room, causing effects that will vary based on the level of VOC concentration, how long one has been exposed, the ventilation in the room, as well as how sensitive a person is to the particulates getting gassed off. To determine if a lacquer is safe, standards like those in the UL Greenguard Certification Program are used. When checking out the different products available for the floor treatment, look for such logos on the product label to ascertain that the product you will select will not put the persons in your premises at risk.
The gloss level also comes into focus. This affects the aesthetics of the resultant finish, and the impact that it will have on the decor. Generally, these can be grouped into:
This category reflects light the most, giving it the shiniest surface. A glossy floor is quickly noticed, and gives a classic look to the space. It also blends with the different decor setups. However, there will be plenty of maintenance required here, since these finishes are not known for hiding blemishes. In fact, those tiny scratches and imperfections that are on the floor will be largely pronounced, which is why these kinds of finishes are not typically used for large traffic establishments and busy homes, instead being better suited to low traffic areas.
- Semi-Gloss
These finishes bring a stylish look to the space, reflecting plenty of light – but not as much as the previous high gloss finish. However, they are easier to maintain compared to the alternative since they are better at hiding marks that are on the surface. This kind of finish is suited for the domestic settings and low to medium traffic areas.
- Satin/Silk Matte
For the surfaces that have normal levels of traffic whether it’s at home or the office, the silk matte or satin finishes can be used. They provide enough shine to make the floor look elegant, but don’t reflect as much as the previous two types of finishes, meaning it does a better job of hiding the scratches and imperfections that pop up on the floor over time. This translates to less effort being required during the maintenance.
- Matte
This is a common choice for home and business owners, especially when there are high levels of traffic being handled, where the floor is at a higher risk of scratches, accidents and imperfections being formed. It outdoes the previously mentioned variations when it comes to camouflaging the small blemishes on the floor, meaning the installation takes longer before it begins looking old and worn out.
- Extra Matte
These finishes have the least level of reflection, but make up for it in giving the floor lots of character. In fact, with the treatments you are able to bring more personality to your wood floor.
With the Bona Mega ONE, you can get it in Satin, Semi-Gloss and Extra Matte variants, depending on your particular decor needs.