Put a couple drops of mineral spirits naphtha or turpentine on the surface you want to test.
Testing hardwood floor finish.
Testing hardwood floor finishes in a closet.
The easiest way to test a floor finish is to run your hand along the surface of the floor.
Before polyurethane became a household word floor finishers applied wax varnish.
So i found myself in the closet.
Listed in order of aggressiveness of paired.
If the finish bubbles up it is most likely a surface finish.
Behind a door is a good spot because this area is usually.
It comes in both paste and liquid forms.
It offers a low sheen non toxic finish and is a great choice for those who are environmentally conscious or those who are simply worried about chemicals in their home.
Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours.
Using these solvents requires gloves and good ventilation and it doesn t hurt to have on a pair of safety glasses either.
Choose a low traffic area that has been cleaned thoroughly.
Testing for oil or wax.
A few weeks back jeff b i wrote this little spiel on diy home inspections for him contacted me.
He was asking for advice on his wood floors and more specifically testing hardwood floor finishes.
Paint thinner and let them sit for 2 3 minutes on the.
To begin put a few drops of mineral oil on your cleaned spot.
Hardwood floor finishes have varying levels of ease durability even glossiness.
If the finish dissolves congratulations you ve got a waxed floor.
Wax is the traditional time tested finish for hardwood floors making it a great choice for antique floors in historic homes.
Part 2 of this article including video of testing floor finishes in a closet testing hardwood floor finishes part 2.
Select an inconspicuous area of the floor surface and apply a small amount of paint remover.
If you can feel the wood grain the finish is probably a penetrating finish.
Next place several drops of mineral spirits a k a.
If nothing happens move on to the next test.
Denatured alcohol lacquer thinner and xylene.
Run your hand over the floor surface.
To test the finish you ll need a little mineral oil baby oil and three solvents.
I knew pretty well.
Let it sit for a few seconds and then rub it into the area.