Newly oiled floors and water stains

[opps]

Hi all

Midway through a room re-dec the client had a new floating floor laid (possibly oak).

The floor was oiled with Bona Carls about 7 days ago, no idea how many coats wee used.

Today, a bucket of water that I was using had a very slight leak. I didn't notice and walked into the room with it.

As the water dried it stained the floor, making it lighter. As a test I used a moist rag and wiped another area (in for a penny, in for a pound). Again this changed the floor colour.

When the client got back I fessed up; fortunately he seemed to agree with me that I was not totally culpable.

What gives, did the flooring fellows skimp on coats or is this normal?

I appreciate that standing water will damage oil finishes but a drop of water with a 1cm diameter?

 

[WoodYouLike]

Any brand of hardwaxoil will take approximately 10 days to fully cure (it is dry and walkable earlier). After this period the oil will protect against spillages etc, before that spillages can cause light stains (white "splashes").

these 10 days are also the reason why you should wait at least that long before placing rugs on the floor, the oil will take longer to cure and might get sticky

 

[opps]

thanks for the reply. Will another coat of oil help or does it need stripping back?

 

[WoodYouLike]

I would try a maintenance polish first

 

[opps]

By that do you mean buffing with some kind of webrax?

 

[WoodYouLike]

Liquid polish such as Saicos wax-care or the old-fashion hard (solid) wax

 

[opps]

Just an update.

Yesterday I was feeling curious, i dipped my finger in a glass of water and allowed a drop of water to fall to the floor. Sure enough it turned the floor white when it dried.

It is now about 4 weeks since the floor was oiled.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Lime scale comes to mind. Live in a hard water area and no water-softener installed?

 

[opps]

London, so yes it is hard water. I had previously licked my finger and "smeared" a small dab. That too stained.

If this is normal why would anyone have a floor that is so impractical and why are they not warned before the work is done?

thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

Then I'm at a loss. Normally oiled floors do not display the behaviour you experience after the fully curing period.

Best is to contact Bona - since it's their product that has been used originally

 

[opps]

Would skimping on coats have this effect?