| Can finish be applied to my new prefinished floor? |
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Yes, Basic’s TyKote Dust Free Refinishing System was specifically formulated for this purpose. Many prefinished floors use an aluminum oxide coating which can be difficult to recoat with the traditional screen and coat process. TyKote is the only proven system for recoating prefinished floors.
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| What is the difference in between Sanding, Buffing, Recoating? |
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A buff or recoat is a light abrasion to a floor that has previously been finished. Usually when a hardwood floor begins to lose its sheen or dull it should be recoated. Recoating will not remove deep scratches and it will not repair damaged or stained flooring. Sanding removes all of the finish from hardwood floors. Sanding is a much more invasive and costly process but it can make a hardwood floor look brand new.
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| Where can I get Squeaky? |
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Squeaky Cleaner is sold through Hardwood Flooring Distributors nationwide. Consult our Distributor Locator for more information. Also, Squeaky Cleaner may be purchased by an online retailer, Click here for more information.
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| What should I use to clean my hardwood floor? |
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Basic recommends Squeaky Cleaner, our streak free cleaner specifically formulated to clean hardwood floors and not leave a film. Some cleaners sold as hardwood floor cleaners may actually harm your hardwood floors. Never use wax-based or silicone-based polish, paste wax, solvent-based cleaners, or pine-based cleaners on your wood floor. Some waxes or soaps may look nice at first but will make the floor more difficult to clean and may cause problems when the floor requires refinishing.
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| How do I know when my hardwood floor should be refinished? |
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When your floor starts to show signs of wear or dulling it is probably time for a recoat. If you recoat your floors every few years depending on use, you can avoid having to completely resand. Keep your floors clean by using the correct products and you will extend the life of your finish and floor.
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| What maintenance program that you recommend for wood floors? |
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For routine cleaning of floors, sweeping and vacuuming along with use of Basic Squeaky Cleaner will maintain the floor's original appearance. In settings like hair salons and restaurants where contaminants are regularly introduced to the floors, periodic use of Basic I.F.T. will provide the extra cleaning power necessary for these environments. For periodic recoating, using Basic maintenance products can ensure the optimal performance of the Basic TyKote Dustfree Recoating System.
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| How does Basic® StreetShoe's® performance compare to other commercial grade wood coatings? |
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There are two important factors when choosing a wood floor coating for a commercial setting. One is how quickly the coating will provide optimal performance properties and the other is how well it will withstand physical wear and protect the wood from water and other harmful contaminants. The sooner the performance properties are present, the faster you have the protection against physical wear and protection from water and other Contaminants.
Unlike most commercial wood coatings, Basic StreetShoe develops greater than 90% of its final finish properties within a 24 hour period. This is a key distinction for StreetShoe when compared to competitive coatings. Because StreetShoe can provide its outstanding mar and scuff resistance so quickly, your floor is protected and ready for use much faster. This is critical to wood floors in commercial settings where the recoating process happens overnight and the business must open to the public the next day.
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Contractor
Do I have to abrade between coats? |
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For our waterbased finishes, when within a 24 hour recoat window, you do not need to abrade in between coats; although it should be noted that abrading in between coats is recommended to achieve a smoother floor. In addition to promoting adhesion, abrading in between coats removes debris and knocks down grain raise.
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| Can I mix sheens together? |
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This is not recommended. If you do choose to mix finish it is always a good idea to bundle the finish in a clean 5 gallon bucket and mix the combined sheens adequately.
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| Will water based finish yellow? |
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All finishes will yellow or amber. Water based finishes tend to yellow or amber less than oil modified urethane coatings. StreetShoe has a UV coating which inhibits yellowing.
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| How soon can a wood floor be covered so other construction trades can do their work? |
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With StreetShoe, we recommend allowing seven days to maximize cure time. If it must be covered, removing the covering at the end of the work day is helpful to allow the floor to breathe overnight.
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| Does the TyKote® System work on all wood floors? |
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The TyKote System has been proven successful on most pre-finished and unfinished wood floors. It will not work on top of some waxes, such as paste wax and acrylic wax. If you are concerned about a particular floor contact customer service for more assistance.
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| How do I know if the finish is too old to use? |
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Our finishes have a shelf life of one year after the manufacture date. After one year the defoamer in the finish breaks down and other components begin to settle at the bottom of the container. Although we do not recommend it, the finish can actually be used after this time but thoroughly mixing the product becomes much more important.
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| What can I do to bring the color out in a floor? |
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Emulsion and Amberizer can both be used to produce an amberized color in water based finishes.
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| I applied Street Shoe without the catalyst, is this okay? |
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Yes, applying StreetShoe without the XL catalyst is okay. The catalyst gives the finish its ultimate scuff and mar resistance. Apply a final coat with the catalyst and then the final coat will have the ultimate scuff and mar properties.
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| Can I use a different company’s sealer with your StreetShoe topcoat? |
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This system may work fine but the problem is that we cannot test all products on the market and therefore we do not recommend mixing finish from different manufacturers.
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| Can I spray your finishes? |
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Yes, a HVLP sprayer works best. Call us for more information.
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