Listed in order of aggressiveness of paired.
Testing hardwood floor finish.
Choose a low traffic area that has been cleaned thoroughly.
If nothing happens move on to the next test.
Next place several drops of mineral spirits a k a.
I knew pretty well.
Paint thinner and let them sit for 2 3 minutes on the.
Testing hardwood floor finishes in a closet.
Testing for oil or wax.
Wax is the traditional time tested finish for hardwood floors making it a great choice for antique floors in historic homes.
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.
If the finish dissolves congratulations you ve got a waxed floor.
Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours.
Let it sit for a few seconds and then rub it into the area.
Put a couple drops of mineral spirits naphtha or turpentine on the surface you want to test.
Denatured alcohol lacquer thinner and xylene.
Part 2 of this article including video of testing floor finishes in a closet testing hardwood floor finishes part 2.
Testing hardwood floor finishes in an old house part 2 the commonly accepted hardwood floor finish tests and paired solvents.
So i found myself in the closet.
If the finish bubbles up it is most likely a surface finish.
Before polyurethane became a household word floor finishers applied wax varnish.
He was asking for advice on his wood floors and more specifically testing hardwood floor finishes.
Using these solvents requires gloves and good ventilation and it doesn t hurt to have on a pair of safety glasses either.
Select an inconspicuous area of the floor surface and apply a small amount of paint remover.
Run your hand over the floor surface.
Testing for grease based residue like wax or oil soap 1.
It comes in both paste and liquid forms.
To begin put a few drops of mineral oil on your cleaned spot.
A few weeks back jeff b i wrote this little spiel on diy home inspections for him contacted me.
The easiest way to test a floor finish is to run your hand along the surface of the floor.
To test the finish you ll need a little mineral oil baby oil and three solvents.
How to know the finish of my hardwood floors a variety of finishing materials.