Wood Floor Primers
Some people love using wood floor primers before lacquering a new or newly sanded wooden floor while others don’t. There are a lot of people that do not understand what a wood floor primer is and why it should be used and there are people that are not even aware that the floor primers were invented. Regardless if you are using a primer, if you are not using it or if you have never heard of such a thing, this article will enlighten you and it will save you some money as well if you are a floor refinishing contractor.
So What Is A Floor Primer?
There are two types of wood floor primers. The classic solvent primer that is on its way out and the water based or waterborne wood floor primer that is replacing the solvent one. All floor sanding and floor refinishing contractors in Ireland use one or the other, or both, of these types of wood primers. There are different brands and different compositions, but in the wider picture, there are basically just two types.
The wood floor primer is a cheaper lacquer option that does not have the durability of a lacquer but has a thicker composition that is designed to fill up all the rough patches, all the discolorations and create a perfect smooth base for further coatings. The wood primers are generally cheaper than the lacquer itself and by using it, the user reduces the wood absorbency and increases the coverage of the floor lacquer. Not all floor primers are cheaper than the floor lacquer. Some that have a different purpose, like changing the colour of the floor from one colour to another, could actually cost more than a good quality floor lacquer. The wood floor primers are also divided in two distinct types, single pack and two pack. The two pack ones come with a hardener and are designed to reduce the lacquer consumption by fully sealing the wood floor in 1 coat of primer plus 1 coat of two pack lacquer. Most water based and solvent based floor primers have no protective qualities and should only be used as a primer and not as the main sealer.
Solvent Wood Floor Primer
The solvent floor primer is around for many years. The solvent wood floor primers have improved dramatically over the past few years and nowadays dry much faster and have less odour. The solvent wood floor primers are usually used to create a warm finish on very white or bright types of wooden floors. Some solvent wood floor primers are actually 100% clear, they don`t really change the colour of the wood on the spot but are likely to darken up over a short period of time. These floor primers are less popular now because even if it releases less odours than it used to, they still stink and the fact that it changes colour in contact with the UV light is also a disadvantage. The main advantage of the solvent wood floor primers is the high coverage area and its thick composition that creates a perfect smooth base for further coatings with water based and solvent based products. The expected coverage area of most solvent based wood floor primers is around 12 sq meters per 1L.
Water Based Wood Primers
The water based wood floor primers are the new big hit on the market and are here to stay. These products have gradually gotten better over the years and now have become the no 1 option for anyone looking for a natural looking non yellowing finish. The water based wood floor primers are just amazing to work with because they do not release odours, they do not streak the floor and they dry very fast. While the coverage of most water based wood floor primers is slightly lower than the classic solvent based primers, the finish is way more superior and safe for the user and the floor owners. The water based wood floor primers are compatible with all water based floor lacquers, solvent based floor lacquers and the wood floor polishes. Not all the primers are the same and they are not all designed to do the same job. Some water based floor primers are very thin and are fully absorbed by the wood, other ones are very thick and are glazing the wood surface. The expected coverage area of most water based wood floor primer is around 10 sq meter per 1L.
Coloured Floor Primers
While the purpose of a good quality floor primer is to prime and prepare the surface for sealing with a water based floor lacquer or a solvent based floor lacquer, some floor primers are also designed to brighten up the surface or darken up the surface. Some wood floor primers can be applied in a number of coats until the surface has achieved its unique colour. Below, we will list the most popular wood floor primers that are designed to change the colour of the wood and also to maintain the natural look of the wood:
Chimiver Eco White Wood Floor Primer
This wood floor primer has a great white finish and is the ideal floor primer for dark types of wood or yellow types of wood floors. It fully cancels the colour of the real wood and it creates a cool Scandinavian finish while leaving the fiber of the wood clearly visible. This product is very easy to use and it can be applied in as many coats as needed until the entire floor is as white as it has to be. It looks amazing, it dries fast and it can be overcoated with any water based floor lacquer. The product is not affected by UV light and does not change colour over time. It can also be used on maple and bright types of wood to create a pure white finish. The amazing Chimiver Eco White Wood Floor Primer will cover around 10 sq meter of floor per 1L but it can vary dramatically based on the quality of the sanding.
Bona White Floor Primer
This is a white wash effect or a Scandinavian white primer finish. The amazing Bona White Floor Primer has made history all over the world. A fine quality deep penetrating white primer that can be applied to any type of hardwood and semi solid wooden floor that is sealer free. The product can be applied in as many coats as required. The first coat will give the surface a slight hint of white, the second coat will make it whiter while the third coat will create that cool white wash effect. The product is highly appreciated by the professional floor sanding and floor refinishing trade. Seal the new Bona White Floor Primer with 2 coats of Bona Traffic HD Matt to create a perfect natural finish. The estimated coverage area is between 8 to 10 sq meter per 1L but it can vary from surface to surface and the quality of the floor sanding.
Chimiver EcoRapid Wood Primer
A water based wood floor primer that will maintain the natural aspect of the wood. The amazing Chimiver Ecorapid Wood Primer looks special on fancy types of hardwood floors like walnut, oak, cherry, mahogany and other types of exotic types of wood. It fully penetrates the wood and it will dry streak free. This top class Italian primer contains a good level of acrylic, it fully sinks inside the wood and is 100% matt. It can be overcoated with one of Chimiver`s water based floor lacquers. To be applied in 1 coat system after the wood was sanded and finished with 100 grit sanding paper. It fully dries in a matter of minutes and is fully recoatable within 1-2 hours. Even better, the new Chimiver Ecorapid Wood Primer is not affected by the UV light and is not likely to discolour over time. Loved by the professional floor sanding and floor refinishing industry.
Bona Natural Wood Floor Primer
Another top quality wood floor primer from Bona. This product is 100% clear, has no sheen, has no odour and it is compatible with all types of hardwood and semi solid floors. The surface has to be sanded and all pre-existing finishes fully removed before the new Bona Natural Wood Floor Primer can be applied. It has to be rolled in with a good varnishing roller. The estimated drying time is somewhere between 1-2 hours and it can be overcoated with any water based floor lacquer from Bona or Chimiver. The point of this product is to create a perfect base for further coatings and to reduce the absorbency of the wood. Unlike other wood floor primers from Bona, the new Bona Natural Wood Floor Primer will not alter the original look of the wood at all and it will prevent the natural yellowing of the wood. While the estimated coverage area is somewhere between 8-10 sq meters per 1L, the actual coverage area could be much better if the surface is prepared correctly and if the tradesman is highly skilled. It looks incredible when sealed with Bona Traffic HD Matt or Bona Mega Evo Matt.
Chimiver Ecocrom Wood Floor Primer
A rich coloured and deep penetrating wood floor primer that ticks so many boxes. This high quality wood floor primer is usually used to even up discolorations between the floorboards or to create a cozy finish on very white types of wood surfaces. It can be successfully used to prime and enhance the colour of most types of hardwood floors including white deal, red deal, the classic pine, maple floors, oak floors, walnut floors and cherry wood floors. It does not streak the floor and it dries faster than most other types of floor primers. The new Chimiver Ecocrom Wood Floor Primer has an outstanding coverage area and it can be successfully applied by DIY users and by the professional trades. It really reduces the imperfections of the wood visually and it creates a beautiful warm finish. 100% fumes free, 100% safe and very easy to use. It reduces the wood absorbency dramatically and it creates a perfect base for further coatings. Unlike other types of wood primers, the new Chimiver Ecocrom Wood Floor Primer can be applied in multiple coats until the right tone is achieved.
Tover Fondo Isolante Solvent Wood Primer
Here is one of the most popular solvent based wood floor primers available in Ireland. This professional solvent based wood floor primer has so many advantages that it should have its own article done about it. First of all, the new Tover Fondo Isolante Solvent Wood Primer has way less odour than the classic solvent based wood floor primers, it has an incredible coverage area and due to its thick composition, it creates a smooth, perfectly flat finish in one coat. The new Tover Fondo Isolante Solvent Wood Primer is capable of covering up to 12 sq meters per 1L and it can be overcoated with any water based or solvent based floor lacquer. It creates a rich tone and it equalizes discolorations and imperfections in wood floors. To be applied with a quality roller, to be allowed to fully dry for 1 hour, lightly sanded with 180 or 220 grit sanding screens, vacuumed and sealed with 2 coats of Tover Idrolak DR 97 or any Bona or Chimiver floor lacquer. A product that is mostly used by the professional floor sanding and floor refinishing trade.
Bona Classic Wood Floor Primer
The new range of Bona wood floor primers that will be listed below are designed to slighty alter and enrich the colour of the wood. The new Bona Classic Wood Floor Primer is a waterborne wood floor primer that will give the wood surface a hint of peachy finish. If the user is dealing with a super white maple floor, pine floor or a white deal floor and the colour is way too bright, that issue can be easily sorted with 1 coat of the new Bona Classic Wood Floor Primer. While this product is likely to give the wood floor a hint of colour, it will not dramatically change the look of the wood. It works well on all types of wood surfaces and it can successfully be used to seal residential and commercial wooden floors and furniture. Its main advantage is its filling qualities and its beautiful natural look. After only one coat, the wood will look much warmer, it will feel smoother and it will be ready for overcoating with any water based floor varnish from Bona, Tover or Chimiver. A ready to use product that requires no dilution or any extra mixture. Its estimated coverage area is 8-10 sq meters per 1L but it can do much more or way less, depending on the type of wood or the condition of the surface.
Bona Intense Wood Floor Primer
Another step on the dark finishes. This product will create an even richer colour than the Classic primer. It can be used on all types of wooden floors, regardless of the tone. While applied to a really white type of white deal, it will create a nice warm finish but when applied to an oak or a walnut floor, it can create a much darker finish. The new Bona Intense Wood Floor Primer is one of the most popular waterborne wood floor primers from the Bona range. It looks spectacular, it dries fast and it can be used by pretty much anyone who has access to a varnishing roller. It penetrates the wood in full and it dries in no time. Just like the other Bona primers, the new Bona Intense Wood Floor Primer is relatively odourless, capable of covering up to 10 sq meters of wood per 1L, it is suitable for indoor use and of course, it can be overcoated with any water based wood floor finish from Bona, Chimiver or Tover. Apply the product with a good quality varnishing roller and allow it to fully dry before walking on the surface. After the initial application, the surface could look very dark, but as it dries, the surface will brighten up dramatically. A fine quality wood floor primer from Bona.
Bona Amber Wood Floor Primer
This is the richest colour wood floor primer from Bona. It will not transform your hardwood floor from a natural finish into a really dark finish, but instead it will enrich the surface and if there is discoloration between the floorboards, the product will even up the colours. A low cost and high coverage water based wood floor primer that can really help you to achieve that spectacular finish that you were always looking for. The surface has to be fully sanded and all pre-existing finishes have to be fully removed. For the wood floor primer to penetrate evenly, the wood has to be finished with 80 to 100 grit sandpaper. To be applied in one thick coat and allowed to fully dry for about 1-2 hours, weather depending. The product looks 100% clear when applied but the amber colour will come through as the sealer dries. A pre-testing is highly recommended to make sure that the surface looks great with this water based wood floor primer. While the new Bona Intense Wood Floor Primer is highly recommended by the professional floor sanding and floor refinishing trade, DIY users can also use it without any problems.
Know Your Facts About Wood Floor Primers
All the products listed above are top class quality and are likely to provide unequalled results if used correctly. To avoid messing up your floors and having to re-sand the entire surface again, please read the below recommendations.
The Primer Goes First
All primers are designed to prime the wood. The primer has to be applied to bare wood. If the primer is applied over a pre-existing finish, it will not dry, or if it dries, it might take months to dry and it will not last. So, the surface has to be sealant free. Do not apply wood food primers over pre-existing oils, lacquers, polishes, refreshers, etc.
Has 0 Protective Qualities
The primer is not designed to be used as the main sealer. It does not have the right composition and the level of acrylic needed to last. The primer’s main job is to fully penetrate the wood surface and to seal all the wood pores. By doing so, it prevents the lacquer from being absorbed by the wood and instead of protecting the top of the wood floor, it will leak to the bottom of the wood. Some wood primers are also designed to enhance the colour, but its main job is to reduce wood absorbency, reduce costs and create a base for further coatings.
Do Not Mix Up Primers
Make up your mind about what you want to do and select the most suitable primer. Some primers are impregnators, some are glazers, some are coloured, some are clear, etc. Each type of primer works in a different way. By mixing up a white primer with a dark coloured primer, the surface will end up looking terrible. Use one primer only and use it on its own.
Do Not Use Oils As An Overcoat
All the primers listed above are water based and solvent based. It can only be overcoated with water based or solvent based lacquers. Hardwax oils or floor oils are products that have to sink into the wood to dry. A surface primed with a solvent or a water based wood primer will not permit penetration through it, so the oils or hardwax oils will never dry. This is an issue that many people ignore and the results are terrible.
Do A Small Patch Test
Never ever trust the internet. You need to do a patch test somewhere in a corner before priming the entire surface. Just because some other floor looks the way you might want yours to look, it does not mean that your floor will look the same as the picture from the internet. The same primer can look totally different on a different type of wood. The way the primer was applied, the condition of the wood, humidity levels, etc, could all affect the final look. A primed surface that looks unsatisfactory, has to be sanded again.
Use the most expensive floor lacquers to overcoat a primed surface. A good quality water based two pack floor lacquer is likely to cost anywhere between 150 euro to 280 euro per 5L. The durability of a floor lacquer is determined by its acrylic and polymer content. Less solid content, less durability. A good quality two pack water based floor lacquer that is applied correctly and maintained correctly, is likely to last for 10-15 years. A cheap water based floor lacquer might only last 1-3 years. Buying cheap products will cost you a lot more in the long run. We recommend the range of Bona Lacquers, Tover Lacquers and Chimiver Lacquers.
Wood Floor Primers