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kaib_gw

A comment about Waterlox

kaib
13 years ago

We will be installing about 1500 sqft of white oak soon. Last week I made up a 3' x 3' sample board to play with stains and the Waterlox samples we ordered in.

Love it! Great stuff...

I mixed in the stain at a bit less than the recommended max of 4/1 for the first coat of Original, used four coats applied 24 hours apart (2 Original and 2 satin). The stuff is almost impossible to mess up (with each coat I tried to duplicate common errors like too much material, too little, dust and the rest.)

The sample board glows nicely, looks organic without too much shine and ambered up just a bit with each application.

I even like the smell as it reminds me of Dad's shop!

Sold on Waterlox with the only caveat being the time it will take to get the finish done on the entire floor (five to six days).

Comments (6)

  • nutherokie_gw
    13 years ago

    Hi Kaib. I'm new to this forum. Just dropped in because I'm getting ready to sign the contract for rift and quartered white oak to be installed in my new construction house (still several weeks away). I'm planning on Waterlox, so your post is very encouraging!

    Our installer has proposed one coat of Waterlox Original and two coats of Waterlox satin. Do your experiments give you a feel for whether three coats total are sufficient? Thanks!

  • kaib
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Okie, (Hi from Carrier!)...

    Three coats should do it. During my experiment, I laid a very thin second coat (of original) just to see how it would do, so I have one thick, one thin and two normal coats.

    I do have smaller sample blocks I played with - many have just three coats. These I have scratched with nails, bit into and abused; I have to say the Waterlox is impressive.

    My plain white oak (i.e. unstained) sample I found to be a bit too "yellow/amber" and a bit light for my taste. After playing with stains I found the Minwax Gunstock to be a bit too dark and a bit too red (looks like red oak) and the Cabot's Gunstock perfect at 5/1 with the first coat of Waterlox.

    Congratulations on a great floor and great finish - I'd be glad to post a photo of my sample iffn I can figure out how to do it here.

    Kai

    Here is a link that might be useful: Try this for a photo

  • nutherokie_gw
    13 years ago

    Kaib,do you mean Carrier, OK???? Wow! Small world.

    Thanks for the advice about three coats. I'm planning on using a medium dark stain - maybe special walnut - but haven't got any oak to play with yet. I usually go with Minwax, but I'll check out the Cabot too. That Gunstock color is really pretty.

    I was relieved the installer was familiar with Waterlox and willing to use it. Most of the time my choices seem to be met with blank stares and a "but that's not the way we've always done it."

    Thanks again and good luck!

  • kaib
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Go Sooners!

    Best of luck, I know what you mean by "that's not the way we do it" comments - I get at least one a day.

    Keep in mind that the Wlox will amber up as the layers are applied. It's actually very nice, but on a darker stain, I would imagine you'd get at least a "tone" darker - I did for sure with our stain. Also insure that the first coat (the one with the stain mixed in) is stirred occasionally to keep things mixed and even.

  • art_teacher_mom
    13 years ago

    Amber up, indeed! I felt like our floors were screaming orange when it was done! (Hubby had redone them while I was out of town, otherwise I would have stopped him and asked to adjust color.) He had worked so hard on them, I wasn't about to complain, so orange they stayed.
    I will say, that a year later, the orangey look has settled way down. In hindsight, I would have added a cool or ashy stain. You guys are smart for doing samples.
    Here is my red oak floor:

    Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1561258}}

  • dorie_0821_att_net
    13 years ago

    Hoping to use Waterlox in a couple of months on 3/4"x5" select red oak about 1400 sq ft. Will post pics if I can load them up. I am excited about using Waterlox, as we have dogs and cats and dust.

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