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Winter 2003 - Article 6

From The Lab
Finishing Floors Under Low Humidity

Most articles dealing with humidity and floor finish concentrate on high humidity problems, and for good reason. The vast majority of floor finish complaints Essential receives occur in summer months, often during very humid conditions, when incomplete drying and lack of curing are the main issues.

Although not as common, the opposite can occur under very dry conditions typical of winter months. Instead of the finish not curing, the finish can "flash dry," which produces its own set of problems. The finish dries or coalesces so fast that a tight, uniform film is not produced. Powdering and loss of long-term durability often result.

How do you combat this problem? Well, the first thing to remember is that it is not a common problem. Most buildings have some sort of climate control that keeps moisture to a desirable level (30% - 50% relative humidity). Secondly, if you are in an extremely dry environment, try to hold off laying floor finish until the weather changes. If you can't wait, increase your floor finish coverage rate by applying a heavier coat which will slow the drying process. Instead of a coverage rate of 2,000-2,500 square feet per gallon, you may want to target 1,500 square feet.