Manuel asked:

floor is sanded ready to finish. been convinced by others using shellac instead of stain is way to go . shellac though not more durable then stain &poly. its very forgiving easily fixed and has a deeper finish color. can i apply a tung oil first though, to bring up &out the grain look.? also what type grade sand paper is used to rough sand between 2 or 3 coats i,m planning. its possible i will stain &poly. if someone can give me any convincing reasons. i appreciate any thoughts on this matter. room to be finished , a den used only lightly by myself.

Reply:

I have been working with wood for 47 years and have a wood working shop in my basement, use shellac on a lot of things but, not on a floor, especially one that I’m going to walk on. Shellac is for looking at, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know what others think, I’ve never used it on floors, not with what’s on the market today and, a new product just came out that I’m anxious to try.

Your floor is sanded down, good, make sure, go over it with your clean, dry hands. Carefully. As one said, you can over-stain. I wouldn’t get a stain exactly the color I want but, maybe the color lighter, then I could go one more if needed. I’m chicken in these areas.

Why would you finish a floor with a shellac with the intention of redoing it later, you’d think you’d want to do it once and finish it, get it ?

What type of wood is it, how old is it, what’s the condition, have you filled it. etc, etc.? lot’s of questions. Let’s say they’ve all been asked.

Then stain the floor and wipe it dry, let it dry and wipe it again. Ace has a wonderful water based Poly that I’ve used many times, it’s $44.00 a gallon and one gallon will go the 200 sq. do not use a sponge, use a good brush. It leaves a good sheen and has lasted two years on the last job and looks like it will go another two at least. They have kids.

I have never used Tung Oil before or after staining, it was never necessary. If you need to, 220 sand paper after one coat of stain but nothing after poly, you’ll ruin it. Good luck.

The new stuff is also at Ace, it’s a two part resin and it’s $98.00 a gallon. Is a cermic high shine. Seen on garage floors, can put glitter in it.