The odor is hazardous to people who smell it because exposure to the fumes can cause a burning sensation, blurred vision, and collapsing. Those who live in a residential complex may be affected by the fumes if a nearby neighbor is having their wood floor stained.

Additionally, rags used to apply oil-based stains are at risk for spontaneous combustion if not properly stored or disposed of. As the rags begin to dry, the combination of heat, oxygen, and cloth can lead to an accidental fire, even without a source of ignition. For wood floor stain projects taking place in a residential complex, this can be extremely dangerous to building occupants as well as homeowners. A fire will spread quickly and damage the building, other peoples’ homes, their possessions, and potentially cause death.

The hazards that come from using oil-based stains can be eliminated by simply avoiding them completely. Waterbased stains are the best alternative to oil-based stains because water is used as the primary solvent. Therefore, the number of VOCs are significantly reduced, and fire risks are eliminated. An alternative to oil-based stains is HyperTone™ Stains, a water/oil hybrid that provides unrivaled color penetration with all the benefits of a waterbased stain, including:

• Non-flammability, which allows stain rags to be disposed of or stored without special instruction
• Low odor, which avoids issues with offensive fumes
• Low VOCs, which increase sustainability and improve air quality

HyperTone Stains are extremely versatile with the ability to be used on sport, residential, or commercial wood flooring. Additionally, HyperTone Stains can be mixed to achieve many of the most popular colors in the wood floor industry. With 14 standard colors, which include primary colors, there are countless ways to formulate the perfect color for any wood floor. Click here to view our HyperTone Color Gallery to see swatches of colors created by HyperTone Stains on 4 different wood species.

Wood Dust

Wood dust is accumulated during every wood floor project, from sawing and routing to sanding and other operations. It becomes a potential health problem when the wood dust particles become airborne. Exposure to wood dust has been associated with health issues due to the natural chemicals in the wood and substances in the wood, such as bacteria, molds, or fungi. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, wood dust is considered carcinogenic to humans and causes cancer of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx. Exposure to excessive amounts of wood dust is associated with irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. It also causes dermatitis, the irritation of the skin, and respiratory problems that include decreased lung capacity and allergic reactions.

Dust is extremely small and light weight, which means it can travel quickly and uncontrollably through the air and ventilation. Contractors are exposed immediately to dust as they do a wood floor project, but residents of connected apartments, condos, and townhouses are also at risk for exposure if the proper steps are not taken.

Dust accumulation can be reduced by cutting or shaping the wood outside of the building and by implementing the TyKote^® Dust-Free Refinishing System, an innovative wood floor refinishing system that makes it easier to produce beautiful floors with less mess. A combination of intensive cleaning and recoating provides a very durable and protective finish for hardwood floors in 3 easy steps:

1. Use Intensive Floor Treatment (I.F.T.) to clean heavily soiled areas. Use Squeaky™ Concentrate Floor Cleaner to remove residue and prepare the floor.
2. Apply TyKote Recoating Bonding Agent, which has exclusive properties that act as a bonding agent between the existing floor and the new topcoat.
3. Apply StreetShoe^® NXT for unmatched beauty and durability.

Other Considerations

To ensure the safety of everyone regarding stain and dust exposure, contractors should be educated on the type of wood being used, the type of stain being applied, and all hazards associated. For both stain and dust, it is important to have an appropriately designed industrial ventilation system that has a local ventilation exhaust and high-efficiency particulate filters. The proper personal protective equipment should be worn, which include protective clothing, gloves, and respiratory protection. Contractors should also be trained on how to prepare a space to be safe for building occupants and themselves, which includes ventilation and personal protective equipment.

When it comes to wood floor projects in residential complexes that are in close quarters to neighbors and other residents, it is important to take the proper precautions to ensure everyone’s safety is not compromised. For more information about HyperTone Stains, click here. For more information about the TyKote Dust-Free Refinishing System, click here. To get in touch with a Basic Coatings representative, click here

Once completed, Tony knew he had a challenge on his hands. Instead of the 2 coats of finish helping to blend in the color, it actually made the color discrepancy more noticeable. After some detective work, it was discovered that the homeowner was wrong on the species of existing flooring, and instead of the floor being white oak, it was actually ash. So, as it turns out, the new white oak was actually weaved into existing ash flooring.

The white oak (near) was weaved into existing ash (far).

The homeowner loved the refurbished floor but agreed something had to be done to fix the difference in color. They did not, however, want to have to sand the flooring again, and they were definitely not interested in tearing out all the ash. Tony told us, “They realized that even if they sanded the floor down to bare wood again, the ash would have to be stained/finished differently than the white oak if they wanted things to match up.”

Tony had seen a number of posts from contractors on social media who were tinting Basic Coatings® finishes with HyperTone™ Stains, and he wanted to find out if this new method of applying color could be a suitable solution for this particular challenge. He contacted Basic Coatings, and after discussing his various options, decided to offer tinting the finish to the homeowners. Ultimately, they liked the idea and agreed to move forward with fixing the floor using HyperTone Stains as tint as follows.

Step 1: The white oak was covered with blue tape at all the seams, and the ash was left uncovered/open.
Step 2: HyperTone Stain was mixed into StreetShoe® NXT (in this case, 3 ounces of Tobacco per gallon of finish).	Steps 3 and 4: The first and second coats of tint/finish were applied to the ash portions of the flooring.
Step 5: A top clear coat of finish was applied.	Step 6: The tape was removed.

With how these numbers stack up, who wouldn't use the Basic Coatings® TyKote® Refinishing System with StreetShoe® NXT over a screen and recoat with OMU?

Curious to see how we came up with these figures? Click here to check out the math for yourself.

Wondering how other Basic Coatings® systems compare? Reach out to your Regional Manager to find out!

Some may wonder, “What’s the big deal? It’s just another layer of stain.” The problem is that most stains contain color pigments, dyes, and a very small amount of binder. The first coat is thin enough for the top coat or sealer to penetrate and bond to the wood fiber. If a second coat is applied, it builds the thickness and two things happen. First, the sealer or top coat cannot penetrate through the stain to grab the wood fiber. This causes the second issue, the bond now relies on the strength of the stain to bond the surface coats to the wood. Most stains do not have enough internal strength to hold the entire film surface together, and this can cause peeling of the finish.

One way to avoid picking the wrong color is to do a test area using the actual wood and actual stain color.  It’s not that uncommon to do a couple of samples to give the decision maker a couple options before the real work begins. New Basic Coatings® HyperTone™ Stains consists of 14 oil/water hybrid stain colors that can all be mixed and matched—including black and white—for darker or lighter custom colors.

The proprietary oil/water hybrid technology utilized in HyperTone Stains also facilitates greater pigment penetration for more intense colors. If you don’t like the color of the stain once it’s applied, it’s best to resand and restain the entire floor.

For more information about HyperTone Stains, please click here.

1. Advanced durability: Waterbased finishes and sealers offer the ultimate protection for your wood floor, allowing you to safeguard your beautiful wood floor with long-lasting durability. Tested for abrasion resistance (the ability of the coating to withstand mechanical action such as scuffing or erosion), some waterbased finishes, like StreetShoe® NXT, have proven to be five times more resistant to wear than oil-modified urethane.


2. Greener/low VOCs: All Basic Coatings waterbased sealers and finishes are VOC (volatile organic compounds) compliant and can be used everywhere throughout North America. The lower the VOCs, the lower the odor. In addition to lower odor during installation, because waterbased sealers and finishes cure faster, the lower odor dissipates faster. All Basic Coatings waterbased sealers and finishes are LEED compliant. Furthermore, exposure to increased VOCs can cause health and environmental problems, so limiting them should be a top priority.

3. Design options: Whether you prefer a clear or traditional, warm amber look, Basic Coatings can offer finishes in both options to fit your style.

4. Available choices: No other manufacturer offers more sheen levels than Basic Coatings. Whether you are looking for gloss, semi-gloss, satin, or super matte, we have you covered. We even offer Pure Matte® for the most discriminating tastes. 

5. Speed of application: With the quick dry times of Basic Coatings waterbased finishes and sealers, you can actually apply more coats on the floor faster, ultimately completing jobs sooner!

6. Faster cure: In addition to completing the job sooner, floors are also back in service faster. StreetShoe NXT is the fastest-curing finish on the market, achieving 90% cure in just 24 hours.


7. Safety: Waterbased finishes are not combustible or flammable, and neither are their vapors.

There are a lot of options in floor care, and it can get overwhelming quickly. That’s why Basic Coatings® makes it easy. We’re here to educate, evaluate, and advise you on what’s best for your floors. To learn more about the advantages of waterbased finishes from Basic Coatings, click here.

If you are a distributor of these products or a contractor using these products, you need to be aware of these regulatory changes, or you may face the possibility of fines.

Six states are now following the trend of adopting lower VOC regulations for wood floor coating products.  As VOCs come down, it makes oil-modified urethane products a less viable option for the future.  As manufacturers reformulate to reduce the VOCs of their urethane products, the products became more and more difficult to work with, and coverage rate is reduced. The increase in solid content being added to a current formula is the reason for a thicker formulation but is needed to lower the VOC.

Advances in waterbased technology make products much easier to use and offer a number of advantages over oil-modified urethane.  Waterbased products dry and cure much faster, tend to have lower VOCs, and are in many cases harder and more durable.  There have been many innovative breakthroughs in the waterbased category, making this sustainable option the choice for the future.

Source: NWFA’s online magazine – Hardwood Floors Magazine

The time between applying two coats of finish can affect the floor in a critical way. Many new homeowners, especially first-timers, are busy folks. They tend to be on the go, trying to unpack boxes, manage their families, and renovate their homes as quickly and efficiently as possible. But what is a person to do when they can’t walk on their floors because they’re being refinished? One day can make a huge difference to a mom and dad who need full access to their kitchen to pack their daughter’s lunch.

A customer’s impatience can put a lot of pressure on contractors to finish projects quickly. When refinishing hardwood floors, this can be a major mistake. There are no shortcuts to longer-lasting hardwood floors. By waiting the proper amount of time in between coats, contractors can assure their customers that they are getting the most hardness, the best durability, and the most abrasion resistance the floor finish can possibly give. Detecting when the floor is ready for recoating is fairly simple. Using a moisture meter to ensure the level of remaining moisture on the surface coat is within 1 point of the initial reading means the next coat can be safely applied.

What could go wrong if a coat is applied too early?: a major sacrifice in the hardness, durability, and abrasion resistance of the floor finish.

Hardness is one of several measurements that determines the wear properties and durability of a floor finish. Measuring hardness of a finish is done after the first day and then each day after that for the duration of a week and can be compared to other finishes.

StreetShoe® NXT waterbased wood floor finish is an excellent choice for homeowners concerned about spending so much time off their floors. This Basic Coatings® finish is the industry benchmark for waterbased finishes. Streetshoe reaches 90% of its full cure in the first day.

The research and development team at Basic Coatings is so sure of the superior hardness of StreetShoe NXT, they conducted a head-to-head hardness test against their main competitor, Bona® Traffic®.  Using the Konig Hardness Test, they found that at the end of the first day, Bona Traffic came in at about 36 on the hardness scale, while StreetShoe NXT came in at 65.  At the end of seven days, Bona Traffic came in at about 62, while StreetShoe NXT settled in at 75. Even stacked up against the competition, StreetShoe NXT wins the race for faster cure times and overall hardness when compared to Bona Traffic and Traffic HD.

StreetShoe NXT’s quick cure times and better hardness benefits everyone, because contractors can get customers back to the normal use of their floors sooner.  Newly coated floors can be lightly walked on after several hours. StreetShoe NXT has UV inhibitors which slow down damage caused by UV light.  With a low VOC content of 275, the smell is light and dissipates quickly. Depending on the situation, most customers won’t even have to spend the night out of their homes while the floor is being finished. This waterbased finish is not a combustible product, so contractors and customers can rest assured knowing the vapors are non-flammable.

Basic Coatings offers superior hardness over the competition right out of the gate. For more information on StreetShoe NXT and other superior floor finish products from Basic Coatings, call (800) 441-1934, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

If you are a contractor, it is good to know that a waterbased finish is a smart option when refinishing hardwood floors. Not only do they provide you with a beautiful, clear, and odorless finish, but they also good for the environment since they do no omit high levels of VOCs into the air. The 2–3 hours of drying time is also an added perk of using a waterbased finish. So, the question is, are you a master of waterbased finishes? Read below to find out!

Mixing: Read your labels. Some are shaken; some are stirred, and most have a rest period before use. The label will tell you what application tools are recommended, proper spread rates, and the proper method of applying your next coat of finish.

Airflow: Two hours of aggressive ventilation during the drying process is a good rule of thumb to follow. Remember: never blow directly on the floor as it will cause skimming.

Sunlight: Do not coat your finish in direct sunlight or during that portion of the day. Too much sunlight can cause premature drying, skimming, and streaking.

Temperature: Acclimate your finish to your job sites. Do not leave it in your truck until you are ready to coat.

Expectations: Keep your customer involved in all aspects of the job: kids, pets, dry times,noise, odors, maintenance issues, cleaning kits, soft bottoms on furniture where it will come in contact with floor surface, and most importantly, how the floor is going to feel and look.

Recoats: The life of the floor and the finish depend on maintenance and recoats.

Sales: Sell yourself; then sell your services, degrees, awards, special jobs portfolios, testimonials, and time in the business. Your qualifications should put the customer at ease.

Please contact your Basic Coatings Regional Manager and/or Basic Coatings for more training and information on the benefits of waterbased wood floor finishes.

Adding catalyst is a great choice when using a hardwood finish. While you may not “need” a catalyst, it is recommended to avoid excessive scuffing and scratching. If done correctly, your floor finish in conjunction with a catalyst will leave your floors aesthetically appealing and tough as nails.

We recommend using catalyst in Basic Coatings StreetShoe® NX and PureMatte™. Catalyst is optional in Emulsion PRO™, and you can read about the benefits of catalyst in Emulsion PRO on its Technical Data Sheet.   Once catalyzed, wood floor finishes have a pot-life of 24 hours. After that, the catalyst slowly becomes less effective, because it reacts with the water in the system. Re-dosing or re-catalyzing unused portions of finish after 24 hours restores the mar and chemical resistance properties of the dried film.

When working with unused portions of catalyzed finish, it is important to keep in mind that the un-reacted catalyst remains in the film and tends to act as a plasticizer, thus resulting in a slightly softer film. Therefore, we recommend that catalyzed products only be re-catalyzed one time and that re-catalyzed finish be reserved for lower coats, rather than finish topcoats.

General Reminders When Using Catalyst:

• Add catalyst slowly while stirring the finish with a clean stir-stick
• Never add catalyst to hot finish; allow finish to come to room temperature
• Never store catalyzed finish in hot temperatures, as it will solidify
• Wear proper protection; catalyst can irritate skin and eyes upon contact

• Safety first: When staining a wood floor, make sure you protect your skin and eyes with the proper protection. We recommend wearing safety glasses and disposable rubber gloves.
• Test strip: Test your stain color on a scrap piece of wood to ensure you like the color before you start staining your entire floor.
• Blotches: To prevent blotches on wood, apply a thick coat of wood conditioner before you stain. The conditioner needs 15 minutes to dry before you apply your stain. It is not necessary to sand the floor after the conditioner dries.
• Oil-based stains: Stir stain thoroughly before applying. This will prevent the dyes and pigments of the stain from settling on the bottom of the can and ensure an even-looking stain. If you choose to use an oil-based stain, make sure the room is well ventilated.
• No fumes: If you do not want to deal with the fumes that come along with an oil based stain, try using a waterbased stain. Waterbased stains come in a large variety of colors and can be applied the same way as oil-based stains. Basic Coatings® has a large variety of waterbased products for your needs!
• How to apply: Apply stain with a brush or a rag, depending on your preference. If you choose to use a brush, work both with the grain and against it. Apply a nice, even and thick coat of stain on the wood. For a lighter tone, make sure you wipe the stain off immediately. For a darker stain, let the stain sit for five to ten minutes before wiping off. Be sure to wipe off the excess stain going in the direction of the grain to guarantee the stain gets into the wood opposed to settling on top.
• Water and oil do not mix: Do not mix a waterbased stain and an oil-based stain. If you want to mix stains to create your own customized color, make sure that the stains are made by the same manufacturer and are both either waterbased or oil-based. Measure the amounts of each stain used and write it down so you can duplicate the mix if necessary.

1.) Not cleaned properly: Often times the floor that is being refinished is not cleaned the correct way or often enough. Many times, accidents can be prevented with proper cleaning. Dust accumulations can make a floor seem slippery. Pull out those mops and wipe the dust away!

2.) The wrong chemical was used: When looking to buy a floor refinisher, make sure you check the label to see if it is “slip-resistant.” If you are worried about having a slick floor, do not invest your money on a product that is not slip-resistant. These products are usually higher quality so they are priced higher; however, it is worth the price when you are not spending your money at the doctor’s office!

3.) Too few or too less- If there are not enough coats of refinisher on the floor, then your result may be a slippery floor. Same goes for too many coats. We recommend you apply three to four coats of floor finish and then test for slip resistance. Apply another coat if necessary.

4.) An oily mop: An oily or over-treated dust mop can cause a floor to be slippery. We recommend you machine scrub the floor, and then go over it with a non-oil dust mop.

5.) Dirty tools: Make sure when you are refinishing any floor, that you thoroughly clean all your tools and cleaning supplies. Contaminants may contain oil or substances that will make your floor a danger zone.

We care about your safety! Use these helpful hints and tips for your future projects to prevent an accident! Basic Coatings can help you with any questions you might have regarding floor care. Contact us using the web form or by calling Customer Service at 800-441-1934.

• Amount of air movement and circulation over the drying surface
• Film thickness
• Relative humidity
• Temperature

Amount of Air Circulation
Air circulation is very important when it comes to drying  floor finishes. Without it, the solvent and water evaporating from the finish can quickly saturate a small layer of air above the finish, causing  the rate of evaporation to slow down significantly. For example, if your floor is in an enclosed area, the amount of time it takes for the finish to dry will be much longer than a floor in a room with proper air circulation. To ensure the right amount of air circulation, you can open windows, doors or install a fan to keep the air moving. Always wait until the finish has “set up” and is tack-free before introducing air movement to prevent dust accumulation or a ripple in the finish. This will normally take 30 minutes to an hour.

Film Thickness
Many are not aware, but floor finishes dry from the top down. Water and solvents must migrate through the wet film to evaporate. This will cause the curing process to become slower as film thickness increases. This simply means that thicker films will take longer to dry, stay softer longer and potentially damage your newly finished floors. Make sure that the previous layer of coating is fully dried before you apply your second coat.

Relative Humidity
When there is more humidity in the air, there is more moisture in the air. This can dramatically slow down the drying process for your floors. If it just so happens to be humid on the day you are finishing your floors, try to increase the airflow with a fan.

Temperature
The last factor that can impact drying time is temperature. There are two ways that temperature can influence drying rate. 1.) Temperature increases the air’s capacity to carry vapor. This can increase the drying rate, but only if the air is circulating and moving. 2.) The cooler the temperature, the longer the drying time. When the temperature is cooler, it slows the curing rate. Your result will be a slower drying time and a softer floor.

Waiting for your floor to finish drying can be a long process, but if you want the best results, be patient! Your beautiful floor finish will be finished drying before you know it. We recommend Basic Coating’s® StreetShoe® NXT for a fast curing finish.