New 8" white oak- Bona Traffic advice

8 years ago

I am currently at the last stage of a new build. They just got done sanding the whole home. I have 8" center cut character grade white oak. I have decided against a stain because I like the natural pale light color of the wood. I have decided on Bona Traffic HD. It seems tried and true. I was tempted to tinker with Loba 2k, but it seems there aren't many people trained in using it well.

So I want to know if a sealer is necessary, or if just 3 coats of the Bona Traffic HD is the proper way to do it. Not sure if the Bona sealer should be used, and then perhaps followed by 2 coats of the Traffic HD? And someone else mentioned that it might be better to do the first 2 coats in the cheaper Bona Mega Clear HD, and then just do the last coat in the Bona Traffic HD?

Featured Answer

cac546

8 years ago

With white oak you will definitely need a sealer. Bona NaturalSeal is supposed to produce the natural wood look while NordicSeal is one step "lighter" and ClassicSeal is one step "darker". You should sample the sealers like you would a stain.

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Comments (16)

taconichills
Original Author
8 years ago
cac546, thank you for the insight. So would I use one coat of Bona NaturalSeal, and the follow that with 2 coats of Bona Traffic?
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cac546
8 years ago
That's my understanding. I'm doing this very exact thing with my new white oak floors right now and that is what my hardwood guy (and a ton of research on how to achieve this look) suggested.
PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
8 years ago
As cac546 mentions you should use a sealer followed by Traffic. Bona has four waterborne sealers with varying levels of color from amber to whitish. They minimize tannin bleed and grain pop, and as high solids formulations, they build up to provide the proper surface texture in conjunction with a surface finish. They're also cheaper than Traffic. Unless you're irresponsible, you'll never be using the sealer as a wear surface.
ILoveRed
8 years ago
Following.
HU-3844720773
8 years ago
How did it turn out? Any photos you could share?
jwalska
6 years ago
Also wondering if you could post a final pic!!
Jenn A
5 years ago
Hi! My installer did 2 coats of Nordic Seal today. 1 coat in the morning and 1 coat in the afternoon. They're supposed to start the finish tomorrow morning and it is Bona MEGA clear. Do you think there is any major issue with this?
venexiano
4 years ago
Hi Jenn and Taconichills, any update and pictures to show please?
Jenn A
4 years ago
Hi! It came out nice. They did 2 coats of mega clear. I am feeling that the floor needs 1 more coat of finish but will do it in a few months.
venexiano
4 years ago
That looks perfect! It is not even too white with 2 coats of Nordic. I was expecting it whiter. Its perfect like this.
Jenn A
4 years ago
Yes the color came out very nice with 2 coats of Nordic. Here is the color of the top floor which is red oak with 2 coats of Nordic. I’m very happy with all, I just feel that I need a more protective top coat.
Carolina Estes
4 years ago
Hi! They turned out great? Did you use Bona Mega Clear Satin or Semi Gloss or Matte? I can't tell.
Jenn A
4 years ago
Yes the color came out very nice with 2 coats of Nordic. Here is the color of the top floor which is red oak with 2 coats of Nordic and the ground floor which is 2 coats of Nordic seal on white oak. The used Bona Mega Satin on the floors. While it’s pretty good, I’m still considering to add 1 coat of HD traffic in satin on top of ground floor. With kids and the high traffic in kitchen, I can already see minor scratches.
Carolina Estes
4 years ago
These floors look great and I love the herringbone. Well my floors were coming out looking so good and my contractor’s flooring guy used SEMI GLOSS for the finish even though we all told him not to and to use Satin. Everyone I talked to suggested satin. He said he used semi gloss by accident. So far he only did one coat, can he cover with one coat of Satin and the he’ll be ok? I do not want the shiny floor look. My floors are white oak select so I want the floors to shine through not the gloss.
Jenn A
4 years ago
I have no idea !!! Which brand finish did he use ?