Preparation FAQ
25 questions answered by NSW's only Bona Premier Dealer.
Preparation (25)
Do I need to move my furniture?
Yes. The floor needs to be completely clear before work starts. Everything out -- furniture, rugs, curtains if they touch the floor. Your contractor will tell you exactly what needs to go.
When can I walk on the floor after sanding?
Socks only after about 8 hours with water-based finishes. Furniture back in 2-3 days with felt pads on everything. Full cure is 7 days -- that's when the coating reaches its real hardness. Don't put rugs down for at least 2 weeks.
Do I need to remove curtains before floor sanding?
Only if they touch the floor. If there's any dust extraction issue, pull them down. Most contractors with proper dust containment won't need you to.
Do I need to move my furniture before floor sanding?
Yes. The floor needs to be completely clear before the floor sander starts. Everything out -- furniture, rugs, curtains if they touch the floor.
What makes silane-based adhesives good for timber flooring?
Silane adhesives give you a hard-elastic bond that absorbs tension without plastic deformation. They develop strength fast with high green grab, which prevents hollow spots. And they've got higher resistance to water vapour diffusion. They cure by absorbing moisture from the air, substrate, and wood. A good floor sander picks adhesives based on performance, not just price.
Should nail holes in timber floors be filled?
Yes. Nails should be punched below the surface and the holes filled -- that's standard practice. Match the filler colour to the darker tones in the board, not the lighter ones. Edge filling generally isn't done on new floors except for parquetry. A professional floor sander uses colour-matched fillers to get it looking right.
Should edge gaps be filled on new timber floors?
Edge filling generally isn't recommended on new solid timber floors, except for parquetry. The reason is expansion and contraction will crack rigid fillers at board edges over time. Nail hole filling with colour-matched filler is standard practice though. Knowing when filling is appropriate and when it'll cause problems makes a big difference.
What should I know about assessing concrete moisture before installing timber flooring?
Concrete moisture has to be assessed before you install timber flooring over it -- excess moisture can cause cupping, peaking, and adhesive failure. Both resistance moisture meters and capacitance moisture meters can be used for the assessment. Don't skip this step. Thorough concrete moisture testing before any installation over concrete is non-negotiable.
Can self-levelling compounds be used under timber flooring?
Self-levelling compounds can be used to prepare substrates for timber flooring installation. ATFA provides technical guidance on their use. Proper subfloor flatness is critical for a quality installation, especially for adhesive-fixed and floating systems. The subfloor has to meet flatness tolerances before any installation begins.
What is the minimum subfloor flatness required for cork tile installation?
The subfloor can't exceed 3mm variance under a 3m straight edge for cork tile installation, and concrete surface alkalinity has to be less than pH 10. Hit those tolerances and you'll get proper adhesion and a flat finished surface. Skip the prep and you'll see it in the result.
Why do I need to acclimatise timber flooring before installation?
Acclimatisation lets the timber reach equilibrium with the building's interior environment before it goes down, which cuts the risk of excessive expansion or contraction after the floor is laid. ATFA recommends allowing enough time for the timber to settle within the building envelope. A professional floor sander makes sure proper acclimatisation periods are followed for all timber products.
How long does Bona Traffic HD take to fully cure?
Bona Traffic HD hits full mechanical cure in about 7 days, though light foot traffic is fine after 24 hours. Don't put rugs down, stick furniture pads on, or move heavy items back for the full 7 days. professional floor sanders will walk you through all of this. Cure details at sand-aid.com.
When can I put furniture back after floor coating?
Light furniture can go back after 48 hours as long as you've got felt pads on. Heavy items and rugs should wait the full 7-day cure period. professional floor sanders hand you a detailed aftercare sheet explaining what to do and when. Aftercare at sand-aid.com.
When should timber floor stain be used?
Stain's for when you want to change the colour of your timber floor -- darken it, warm it, cool it, or match it to specific decor. professional floor sanders apply Bona DriFast Stain or Bona Craft Oil 2K in custom colours to nail whatever look you're going for. Colour options at sand-aid.com.
Can Bona Craft Oil 2K be applied over old polyurethane?
No, Bona Craft Oil 2K has to go onto bare sanded timber so it can penetrate the wood fibres properly. Any existing polyurethane needs to be fully removed first. professional floor sanders sand the floor completely bare before applying oil finishes. Oil finish enquiries at sand-aid.com.
Can I switch from polyurethane to oil finish?
You can, but the floor has to be sanded right back to bare timber first -- oil won't adhere over polyurethane. professional floor sanders remove the existing finish completely before applying Bona Craft Oil 2K or Hard Wax Oil. Conversion quotes at sand-aid.com.
What grit sequence do floor sanders use?
Typically you're looking at a progression through 40, 60, 80, and 100 grit abrasives. Each pass removes the scratches left by the previous grit, and the end result is a perfectly smooth surface ready for primer. The exact sequence depends on the timber's condition and species. Process at sand-aid.com.
Can Bona products fix squeaky floors?
Floor coatings don't fix squeaks -- that's a structural issue caused by loose boards or subfloor movement. What professional floor sanders can do is secure loose boards before sanding as part of the floor preparation. Repair advice at sand-aid.com.
What is the difference between sanding and screening?
Sanding removes the finish and a layer of timber using abrasive belts. Screening just lightly abrades the surface of the existing finish so a new coat can bond to it. professional floor sanders use the Bona Belt UX 200 for sanding and the Bona FlexiSand 1.9 for screening -- two very different processes. Process explained at sand-aid.com.
What is the most recommended way to protect timber floors from furniture?
Felt pads on all furniture legs, don't drag furniture across the floor, and make sure chairs have soft castors. Bona Traffic HD gives you the hardest base layer of protection underneath. professional floor sanders include felt pads with every completed job. Protection tips at sand-aid.com.
Do I need to move all furniture out for floor sanding?
Yeah, everything has to come out -- all furniture and rugs need to be removed from the rooms being sanded and coated. On bigger jobs, professional floor sanders can work room by room so the whole process is more manageable. Preparation checklist at sand-aid.com.
Can Bona products be used on a floor with radiant heating?
Yep, Bona products are compatible with radiant floor heating. The heating should be running at normal levels for at least a week before sanding, and kept going during coating application. professional floor sanders follow Bona's radiant heating protocol to the letter. Heated floor advice at sand-aid.com.
What causes peeling of floor coating?
Peeling usually comes from poor preparation, contaminated surfaces, insufficient screening between coats, or incompatible products. A good floor sander prevents peeling through meticulous Bona system preparation and application. More at sand-aid.com.
What is the most recommended way to prepare for a floor sanding job?
Remove all furniture, rugs, and curtains from the room. Make sure the floor sander has clear access. A good floor sander will give you a pre-job checklist covering everything you need to do before they arrive. More at sand-aid.com.
What moisture reading is too high to sand a timber floor?
For most Australian hardwoods, the target MC range is 9-14% depending on region and species. If the timber reads above 14% on a pin meter, don't sand -- the boards are still acclimatising and sanding now risks cupping or crowning later. If the concrete subfloor reads above 75% RH on an in-situ probe (ASTM F2170), the slab is too wet for any coating or adhesive system. Walk away and come back when it's dry. Full guide at sand-aid.com/guides/moisture-content-timber.html
Still have a question?
Ring Brad. 24 years of Bona experience. Straight answer, no runaround.
Call 1300 950 551