Rubio Monocoat vs Bona Craft Oil 2k

7 years ago

I am in the process of building a house and we have new 4" Red Oak floors throughout. We are debating between three options with our installer:

Rubio Monocoat - We like this idea of 1 coat and the natural look as well as homeowner repair. I am pretty handy and have plenty of tools to do touch ups if needed.

Bona Craft Oil 2k - I really cannot find much information about this product, I would love to hear someone who had used it with success. My understanding is it is Bona's competition to the Rubio.

Bona water based stain and poly - Traditional finishing methods with 3 coats of poly. Always an option but again I think I like the other option of me being able to easily repair a spot.

I would love some feedback from others. We have hardwood throughout the entire main floor of the house with the exception of the mud room and on the second floor hall and master bedroom.

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Mary Elizabeth

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Our floor is maple - we used the Pure (no color) - LOTS of issues! I will try to find the discussion with gentleman who spent $50K on his oak floors (? red or white?), says they have a housekeeper, and STILL can't live with it!

The Waterlox (from what I have read is an awesome finish - but not low VOC.)

I think there is a recent discussion here regarding the Bona Oil. I will look for that one as well.

I LOVE the hardwax oil look, but the "ease" of applicatiion and everyday use ("easy to repair") is WAY oversold!

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Comments (9)

Mary Elizabeth
7 years ago
I would advise MUCH more research! Many discussions here where people describe the issues they have had with Rubio. Ours did not go well!

A poster named "Ultimate Hardwood" used to comment often. He had perfected the application for Rubio, and loved the product. The last comment I can find from him, he now recommends Odie's Oil.
Bryan Mathews thanked Mary Elizabeth
lyfia
7 years ago
You might want to look at Waterlox as well.
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Bryan Mathews
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Mary, I have read through a ton of the Rubio threads here and I see consistent opposing views in many of them. I also don't see a lot of people commenting who have all new construction and fresh solid red oak floors.

In addition, we aren't changing the floor color too far off from natural. Maybe a very slight shade of brown but for the most part, we plan on going mostly natural. I know a lot of the Rubio issues have been with darker floors.

With that said, I guess I am really interested in anyone who has used Bona Craft Oil 2k as I have seen basically nothing on that.
jkt107
7 years ago
May I suggest you take a look at Fiddes Hardwax Oil? We used it in our previous home and liked it so much that we just used it again in our newly built home.
Mary Elizabeth
7 years ago
Here is the link to the Bona Oil discussion - very recent. I am not familiar with the product, but the issues he describes are very similar to others' Rubio stories.. Bryan Matthews, you are right that there "seems" to be more problems with certain colors, but IMHO, the problems are there regardless, they just show more because of the color.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5755967/advice-needed-in-refinished-hardwood-flooring-problems-thank-you#n=16
Mary Elizabeth
7 years ago
Bryan Matthews, maybe you've read this one: both good & bad experiences. Go to the end and read "Randy Nash" and "Greg Kaminski" - they explain the issues well.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2694873/please-share-your-experience-with-rubio-monocoat-in-the-kitchen
3pinktrees
7 years ago
We used Waterlox on butcher block and loved it so much we used it again on red oak stair treads. Super easy to DIY both initial and touch up applications.
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G & S Floor Service
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Avoid using Rubio's reactive stains. Spills will leave stains. Look into using Pallmann's Magic Oil. It's a better product. Doesn't have as many color selections compared to Rubio, but doesn't stain with water, coffee, soup or food. Pet urine will stain it. And if, you like the look but concern with maintenance. You can apply a bond coat and apply a water base polyurethane over it for a more durable finish.