Home »​ Featured Articles »​ How To Use Bona Wood Floor Finish – Traffic HD and Mega One. the other one will yellow. Contractor says he doesn’t know why. Many don’t understand the difference between drying and curing – they are both important, so let me explain. Still, this allows you to get to a thicker finish with less coats. It will easily buff down, assuring you that your next coat is actually going to adhere. If you’re really needing to get on the job as soon as possible, start taking some moisture readings in the areas that you did before. Main Menu. Either they do not know how to calculate how much product needed and are afraid that they will not have enough product. My contractor is planning to use that. I’m refinishing second floor and stairs. Do dogs cause a lot of wear and tear? You can feel the grain of the wood and in many areas the fl Bona recommends using a sealer under their wood floor finishes. If there’s only one coat of finish, over time it can be worn down to the raw wood, creating a lot of damage that would need to be re-sanded, not a recoat. You can start off by coating with Mega One, then finish up with Traffic HD. The biggest issue with cats (usually) is around the kitty litter which can get caught in their paws, so make sure they have a mat to brush them off and ideally put the kitty litter further away from the hardwood. So, you say Traffic takes 7 days for a full cure, but in the “How long…” article, you list 30 days to cure for both water and oil based. It sounds like the food may have had a chemical reaction with the poly. (wish i had known about Traffic). What do I have to be concerned about? It depends how deep it penetrated YOu may need to do2 coats. Bona Traffic HD comes out lighter AND amberizes less over time compared to Bona Mega (as well as when it’s compared to oil based poly and all other water borne polyurethanes).. This can be a real advantage to those with young ones as well as those with sensitive noses. The more it cures, the better and each hour over the first 24 hrs makes a big difference. It would be rare to find this in a local carpet store or a Big Box store. As a general rule, Bona Traffic HD costs about twice as much as Bona Mega.. And, there is a good reason for that as you’ll read below. And it is at least as tough as a high-quality oil-based polyurethane. They say you can put on a second coat of poly once its set , roughly 4 hours. I’m wanting to go with Bona Traffic HD. These numbers are base on curing and vulnerablity of the floors (i.e. And, there is a good reason for that as you’ll read below. Learn the differences between Bona Traffic HD & Bona Mega (Mega One). He says 2 days for everything. Any suggestions? Bona products have been used for over 90 years, giving our customers great results. And, please note that this item may not be in stock in some areas of the country. 3 coats is not necessary as the sealer is acting as first coat, so you have 3 already. For Bona Traffic, I’d recommend 2 weeks (i.e 14 days). You don’t have to spend as much time sanding between coats. It brings out a nice, warm wood colouration while establishing a long-lasting protection for wooden floors in domestic and medium wear commercial environments. Clear, non-yellowing formula. Bona Traffic HD has the hardening booster. Also, you can buy doggie socks too to prevent scratches. do this at the 3-4 year mark and then every 3-4 years. After 5 days, the homeowner can put down a rug or clean the floor (but only with a wood-safe cleaner!). I know a lot about poly over stain, but not over paint. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! It kind of sounds like that person got the products confused. Bona Mega ONE is an easy-to-apply, forgiving product that offers high durability with exceptional scratch and scuff resistance and a five day full cure time. If you live in Westchester County NY, I offer color consultations to advise customers on paint colors and stain choices. The oxygen in the air is the crosslinker. Mega One also holds up well to residential traffic. Or I just better off paying extra cost of 3 coats of Traffic HD? With all the options for water-based hardwood floor finish, it can be hard to distinguish what finish is best for your wood floor. If you ask most experienced professional floor refinishers and if you read the reviews online, hands down Bona Traffic HD is the best water borne polyurethane. It is a clear finish that won’t give a dingy look to light colored floors. On all of these, you want to avoid the yellow. 4. Pete – 2 days can be doable with a water based poly such as Bona Meda, provided that there isn’t a stain. Did you find my tips helpful? With Traffic HD being a two component, many contractors coat the floor only to realize that they forgot to put in the hardener. Watch our full conversation about Bona Mega One and Bona Traffic HD, two popular Bona Wood Floor Finish products. Mega was one of Bona's first waterborne products in the US market. Recently, RealSimple.com named the Bona Premium Spray Mop as the best cleaner for hardwood floors. Please note that some of this site’s links are affiliate links, and TheFlooringGirl.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. It is quick-drying and easy to abrade. Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2020. But, I would test these in a small area as I don’t know if they would look different on birch vs. oak. Well actually, it’s better for all of us (after all, who likes the smell of polyurethane?). After 72 hours, homeowners can move furniture back in (and once again, lift don’t drag). Please note that these are products I know/use and recommend to my customers. Thoughts!? Most finishes are also going to react with the tannin in the wood. Residential condo that faces s/SWThanks for advice. For sure you can use Bona Mega on pine. I know as soon as you put sealer, generally they look darker and a bit more yellow. I appreciate your time and quick response. There are a lot of references about dogs – how about cats and Bono Mega? You can also offer tiers by using both Mega One and Traffic HD. How much longer? Like the original, Mega One is a single component finish which means that there’s no waste. If the finish absorbs into the wood, it can lead to other problems like panelization and boards being glued together. Like Mega One and Mega, Traffic HD is a newer version of Bona’s original Traffic finish. Imagine, the could have even suggested I use their paint, but seemed intent on hanging up. Bona Mega ONE simplifies the craftsman’s everyday life, making the job faster and easier with the quality you depend on. It also mimics the look that many homeowners with an oil-based finished floor are used to. preventing scratching). Aygee – I don’t believe I advised people to use Bona Traffic over paint. I recommend them as they are good products. Traffic HD is one of Bona’s fastest curing finishes – fully curing in three days. Where food dropped. What’s the difference between Bona Mega and Mega One? We applied 3 coats of Bona Mega. The short answer is Yes and Yes! But, generally for oil based poly, you would wait 30 days. Watch the video above or keeping reading to find out how Mega One or Traffic HD may be the right finish for your next job. Bona Mega is a one-component 100% polyurethane water-based top coat that uses oxygen from the air as a Crosslinker thus the addition of an external Crosslinker or Hardener is not required. (The glazed finish is akin to any lowsheen oilbased enamel…) Can I apply Bona straightup, or do I need to apply sealer first? If there is extra work (e.g. Elizabeth – cats are a bit easier on the floors than dogs based on the way they walk and retract their claws on the floors. Curing occurs when residual solvents leave the film and it begins reacting with oxygen from the air. We don’t add poly over paint…because we are unsure of the results…and don’t want to mess up people’s homes. I read that you recommend keeping dogs off for 24 days. (maybe even sooner…but you know smaller dogs are closer to the floors than people are). The main difference is that Bona Mega is a single component lacquer, meaning you only use what you pour out onto the surface of the wood floor, whereas Bona Traffic is a 2 component lacquer, where you mix part b into part a, give the can a good shake up, leave for a few minutes for the different components to mix together properly then you are good to go. Required fields are marked *. Also available in semi-gloss or gloss. I do not believe any polyurethane is approved for paint. This wood finish exceeds my expectations. 5.0 out of 5 stars Bona Mega ONE Satin finish is Great! Nowadays, the majority of people want to avoid the yellow/amberizing effect that occurs over time (this is driven mainly by sunlight, but also interior light), and Bona Traffic provides much better protection for your floors. We have sanded our birch floors. (And, if you are an extremely tidy household and have low foot traffic, no shoe policy, it could be even longer). In the article “The 9 Best Mops for Squeaky-Clean Floors, According to Thousands of Reviews,” writer Amina Lake Abdelrahman examines the many different products that can get floors clean. Bona Mega ONE is a clear, waterborne 1-component finish that dries fast, is easy to use and provides high build for superior protection. As you apply the finish and reach the bottom of the bottle, the sheen may be different than what you first applied. Bona developed Mega One as an even easier product to work with than the original Mega finish. Because Bona Traffic has lower VOC’s, it just smells less. See this article: I’ve read a couple of posts elsewhere detailing the use of Bona Traffic as a topcoat over interior floors painted with Sherwin Willliams oil based deckpaint without adhesion issues…Can you or any if yor readers fill me in on using Bona Traffic over floors faux finished with Ben Moore Studio Alkyd based glaze? And, hten 2 coats Bona Traffic is sufficient.It covers and adheres better after the sealer. This allows it to develop strength, hardness, abrasion resistance (i.e. This is a great up-sell for contractors – homeowners don’t have the added expense or inconvenience of staying outside of their home. It’s 10-15% more durable with a better flow and leveling compared to Traffic. Bona Mega is the proven performance and value standard in the industry. We talk through two leading water-based finishes with Brad West, Bona’s Midwest Territory Manager. Bona developed Mega One as an even easier product to work with than the original Mega finish. Verified Purchase. I was actually calling Sherwin Williams a couple of weeks ago (and they have their own brands of polyurethane) and instead recommended a different product from Minwax that’s a combo of paint and poly. We've been using it for 20 years and find that it has exceptional flow and working time for water-based finish. Read more here. Working with tinted glazes (either alkyd or latex) yields a low sheen finish which still needs protection. It is also safer to keep dogs off the floors for 14 days, too. Ora reaction with a cleaning product. Both Mega and Mega One are functional in their own right, but Mega One provides an even more straightforward product that won’t amber later on. Adding a third coat gives an extra layer of protection that may be right for some homeowners who are worried about scratches. Bona Mega is a one-component floor finish, which means that what you get isn't wasted or have a limited shelf life. Then, going forward, you want to prevent this. We’ll that’s tough to say as wear and tear differs by household based on foot traffic, whether you wear shoes, care and maintenance, etc. Preferably a tough, high build coating that will wear like a commercial as opposed to res. I would do the sealer + 2 coats of Bona traffic HD. 3. With a two-component wood floor finish, it’s easy to mix it incorrectly or have unusable finish that’s left over after a job. One of the great things about Bona Traffic is that it is 80% cured after just 24 hrs and 90% cured at 72 hrs. Please note that the cost of polyurethane is only one aspect of the cost equation (you also have to factor in the labor cost for sanding/refinishing as well as the cost for the stain (if you are staining). This is a great solution for busy living areas which receive extra foot traffic and daily wear. Bona Traffic HD comes with hardener that you mix in for even stronger durability. And, the odor dissipates faster. Using the Bona mega saves money, but definitely compromises durability. This means you can walk on it (socks only). felt pads, vent covers, Hardwood supplies e.g. Sheri – I’m sorry to hear that. How long does it take polyurethane to cure, how to prevent scratches in hardwood floors. It goes down quickly with a fiber pad, is self leveling and drys to touch quickly. It gives you a more stylish, contemporary and natural look. Other issues arise when putting in the hardener and forgetting to shake it. Floors get a lot of sun. Find the nearest retailer to get the best floor care products around! I have a floor refinishing proposal that includes sealer, two coats of Bona Mega and final coat of Bona Traffic HD .Does it makes sense? (and that may have happened with any poly). It does not sound like an easy fix. Bona Mega Clear HD takes Bona Mega to the next level. You may find that either or both work…or at least for now. Oh We have a big dog too Bona Mega Clear HD Satin Water Based Wood Floor Finish. Bona Mega ONE is an exceptional water based floor finish specially designed for the needs of flooring contractors. Does that sound appropriate? Non-yellowing with excellent build characteristics, Mega ONE functions as your one partner in wood floor treatment. Traffic HD will go on thicker so that you can get a thicker finish in just two coat, which means that you won’t get as much coverage as what you may expect. Dragging large pieces will always scratch the floor, whether it’s fully cured or not. Could you amend one or the other so they agree? 5. Learn how your comment data is processed. It reaches full curing at 7 days (Oil based poly takes 30 days to cure).. If a homeowner is worried about scratches, you can upgrade to Traffic HD over Mega One. Each coat though takes longer to dry (generally an extra 2 hrs). We try to have repeat customers and not angry customers. You can also find some of these at the end of this article. Often you can buy this at a local hardwood flooring store. Also, make sure you or they have entry mats for front and back doors (both inside and out to reduce water damage (from rain and/or snow). Their paws still have skin (just like our barefeet, so make sure they are off the floors for at least 2 days. My designer discount at the paint stores usually more than offsets the cost for the hour consultation. It’s also a more neutral color so it looks better (and looks higher quality) and it goes with more decor styles. Often dogs do cause more wear and tear. Can i use bona mega on pine after using vinegar steel wool stain. We don’t want yellow at all and hope to use one that keeps it as pale(white) as possible. That will give you the most strength. You can walk on it in socked feet 3-4 hours later and you can move furniture back in after 72 hours. Drying occurs when solvents evaporate from the surface of the film, leaving it tack free. Unfortunately, I can’t use a paint/poly combo, because what’s needed is a low sheen uv resistant waterborne or latex clearcoat, to provide protection over a decorative finish. Bona Mega is an oxygen-crosslinking polyurethane (OCP) waterborne formula with extraordinary performance. The harder the floor gets before movers, kids and/or dogs walk on the floor the better. Depending on your household you will see differences or not in each finish. Hi flooring girl Joe – You can generally put the coat on carefully after 4 hrs (wearing socks). Alex – If you are going natural, then do Bona sealer + 2 coats bona traffic HD. If you have any questions, you can also call Bona’s Tech Line at 1-800-872-5515. You have to go with the lowest common denominator. If you’re wanting to use a penetrating oil, with the option of a poly on top, then you could try Bona’s Craft Oil. Please read my guide lines in this article How long does it take polyurethane to cure which explains when you can move furniture back, when pets can walk on floors, put area rugs down etc. finish. Bona traffic claims 7 days for curing, but we advise our customers to wait 14 days before putting area rugs down as it’s better to be safe than sorry. The solution to that is to screen and re-coat. I didn’t mean to imply you said to use Bona over paint, I read those posts elsewhere. So how is it that your going to put the polu down for your 2nd or 3rd coat before 24 hours time ? Add one bottle of Mega Booster per gallon of Bona Mega and you get added long-term durability. Bona Traffic has less than125 VOC’s while Bona Mega has 200 VOC’s. My second choice is classic seal. Laminate Flooring and Hardwood Flooring Installations, Repairs and Restoration. The paint is the sealer and the poly can not penetrate the wood once paint is applied.. I would guess that the 2 best options to try are Bona and Loba (which is new). Bona Mega ONE focuses on simplifying the craftsman’s working day for quicker and easier jobs with great reliability. There’s no preferred way to apply Mega One or Traffic HD. Non-yellowing with excellent build characteristics, Mega ONE functions as your one partner in wood floor treatment. This is especially important if you are staining hardwood floors gray or white washed floors, or if you have natural maple floors. Anytime that you come into a house and see big scratches in the floor or damaged finish, those are good signs to use a high durability finish, like Traffic HD. But according to your site, I think there’s a better combo! Please note that the cost of polyurethane is only one aspect of the cost equation (you also have to factor in the labor cost for sanding/refinishing as well as the cost for the stain (if you are staining). With a one-component like the Mega line, you can move on to another job and use the same finish. Those are probably safe enough for dogs by 48 hrs. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page. If the homeowners also are sensitive to VOCs, that would also be a good reason to upgrade to Traffic HD, which is GreenGuard Gold Certified. Bona Traffic HD cures faster. Like Mega One, Bona always recommends a minimum of 2 coats of finish. We won’t use anything other than Bona Traffic for Gray or white washed floors. Most likely, you may really only need 8 hrs from the last coat, but we advise customers to wait 24 hrs both to be careful and to account for humidity and/or poor circulation area. Bona Traffic HD has lower VOCs than Bona Mega. For Bona Traffic, at 24 hrs, it’s 80% cured so it’s much safer to wait until then. You can walk over it with socked feet after 3-4 hours. Bona US announced the launch of Bona Mega ONE, a one-component finish new to the Bona Sealer and Finish System. Instead, I said it was the one most likely to work. Not being especially high traffic areas, is this the context product and number of coats and what would be total time to apply and seal these floors? There are a few items you may want to buy ahead of time to help out (e.g. I am a landlord who sanded some very old floors. And, Bona Traffic HD is the best of the best. It takes 30 days for oil based poly to cure. Home; About; Listing; Services; Contact Us; Register; bona mega vs mega one Bona Mega ONE simplifies the craftsman’s everyday life, making the job faster and easier with the quality you depend on. It simply holds up to scratches better and lasts longer. Bona Mega ONE – as simple as it gets. The stair treads and risers were prefinished with the Bona Mega HD product prior to install. yet they also say your not supposed to walk on it for 24 hours. Mega One has a 5 day full cure time, which is faster than the typical seven days for a water-based wood floor finish. This is really helpful for those who are looking to move into a new house quickly as well as busy households with dogs. Copyright 2011-2021 | All Rights Reserved. With all the new low VOC tech out there, please don’t tell me there’s a massive gap in the market when it comes to protecting painted floors. How To Use Bona Wood Floor Finish – Traffic HD and Mega One, Give us a call at your nearest Master’s Craft, Why Ceramic Grain Sandpaper Will Save You Time and Money, Special offer for customers with credit terms. This site is owned by The Flooring Girl LLC, a subsidiary of Dynamo Marketers. Bona Mega is also GREENGUARD certified, making application safe and easy. The other benefit is that a sealer keeps the finish out of the wood. Perhaps the stain can be removed and then they can do a screen and recoat for the whole floor. Watch Bona’s tutorial that explains the best practices for applying their wood floor finish. Love the natural paler colour of the sanded floors. Outside of acrylic polishes and hard waxes you’re not going to have any issues as long as it’s fully cured. I did call Bona, who blew me off, saying “no guarantee” and “buy and try” over 8 times in a 4 minute phone call. But maybe Loba’s tech person is more helpful. With a t-bar, most installers will get a higher coverage rate, which is important to keep in mind with Traffic HD. If you’re within a percentage point of where you started, that means that 99% of the water has evaporated out and you can move on. It is quick-drying and easy to abrade. But, a much easier and less expensive way to buy it would be on Amazon. What about traffic areas which show wear,due to large dogs, but surrounding areas still looking good. When should I use Bona Mega vs. Traffic HD. 1. Eileen – 24 days is a bit of a random number. You may also find that a few years from now that they slighty amberize. you. No additives to mix, no limited pot life, and no wasted finish. Bona Traffic smells less. John – You should wait at least 2 weeks before they move in with a dog. It has much less of a tendency to foam than other waterborne brands we've used. Is it “safe” to allow tenants with dogs? Bona Mega ONE is a primer and top coat in one, suitable for heavy domestic and light commercial areas. Mega One is meant to abrade fast to get to the powder point very quickly. Bona Mega. I would probably try nordic for the lightest/most natural seal. Your email address will not be published. If not mixed thoroughly, you can end up with a “gradient” sheen, because all of the flattening agents are sitting on the bottom. Not very good customer service, so I thought I’d reach out to an experienced coatings specialist…. VOC’s are Volatile Organic Compounds, and the lower the number, the better. My floor guy has proposed sanding 2 oak bedroom floors and putting 3 coats of bona mega satin. Is that so they don’t scratch floors or because of VOC’s. Bona has a hard-wax oil that allows you to coat right over top of it. And, most are lighter than dogs. Just a thought from a guy who has done this for the first time. As a general rule, Bona Traffic HD costs about twice as much as Bona Mega. Bona Traffic HD amberizes less. Allows the floor owner and contractor to meet various performance and appearance demands at an incredible value. Bona Mega Booster creates another level of toughness to an already great Mega waterbased floor finish. TIA. Remember to remind your customer to always lift and carry the furniture. I have 1 question : Primer and top coat in a single pail. I can’t seem to think of the name right now (I need more sleep). Bona Mega ONE is a clear, waterborne 1-component finish that dries fast, is easy to use and provides high build for superior protection. They used Bona Traffic as sealer. Jim – Just 1 coat of sealer. Bona Mega has a high resistance to wear making it suitable for domestic and light commercial areas. A seller of the product recommended this: You put one coat of sealer on and at least 2 coats of bona mega with a Hardening booster. But, these should be the 2 best. felt pads, doggie socks, Ebook – What to look for when buying a home with hardwood, Bona Traffic vs Bona Traffic HD – Is there a difference, How to refinish hardwood floors gray – the right way, How to prevent scratches in hardwood floors, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Policy. Hardwood supplies – e.g. We have white oak that we want to use Bona natural seal. And, no you would not use a sealer. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Need help with how long you should wait after you refinish your floors? Bona Mega ONE is innovated as an easy-to-use, durable, crystal-clear finish with high build. Bona Mega ONE is a primer and top coat in one, suitable for heavy domestic and light commercial areas. felt pads, doggie socks). Should we do one coat of this or two? It generally takes 14 days for water based poly. But Bona traffic HD is the best in durability, lowest in VOC’s and least yellow out of all options. Bona really makes the best water borne polyurethanes, hands down. Before using Mega One, always shake the container well. What’s the coverage of Traffic HD Floor Finish? The best way to know when it’s dry: take a moisture reading before you put down your finish and again after 30 to 45 minutes. A seal coat, plus two coats of finish is the minimum that is sufficient to coat the floor. The floor guys use the Bona products for their waterbased products. It would have been better to use Bona Traffic HD rather than Bona Mega. Like the original, Mega One is a single component finish which means that there’s no waste. At NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I will earn a small commission, if you purchase them. What can I apply to the worn out high traffic areas ? i realize people get away with it yet it seems to me that by waiting 24 hours between coats you will end up with less problems . Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. I’m not sure about the stain you’re referring to and whether that would make a difference. While their finishes can act like a sealer, using a sealer gives more depth and an extra build layer. After the sealer are we better doing 3 coats of Bona Traffic HD rather than 2?. Anyway, my floor installer put down Bona Mega HD -- contrary to my specifications to my contractor. By having a sealer underneath the finish, you can avoid a lot of issues with Bona wood floor finish. We are very happy with the outcome in the two rooms that we covered (finishing both rooms the same evening, moving … Overall, it’s a quicker moving in process than Mega One. I have orange stains in some areas of my white washed floor. But, as a general rule, I’d venture that for the average household, it will probably give you an EXTRA 2 to 4 years of life. moving furniture, ripping up carpeting,it could take a bit longer), but I think this is pretty realistic. The addition of a second component and the elimination of the amber tint combine to increase the physical performance and provide a new look to the Bona Mega Family. Before coating, scuff up the floor a bit and then you can coat with Traffic. (The stain then acts as the sealer, so no need to use a sealer if you have stain). Like the original, Mega One is a single component finish which means that there’s no waste.