What it is: Dried bubbles are visible on the surface of the finish:

Cause:

• Soap or some other contaminant was not removed before coating.
• Applying hot oil-modified finish onto a cold floor.
• Applying finish to a hot floor.
• Overworking finish during application.
• Air movement across the floor that dries bubbles into place before they can flow out.
• Floor not screened or sufficiently cleaned between coats of finish.

CURE: Problems in the topmost finish cost can be screened and recoated, while cases of delamination require complete sanding and refinishing. Cover windows during application to prevent hot spots on the floor.

What it is: The surface of the finish has a texture that resembles an orange peel.

Cause:

• Rolling a finish that is not designed to be rolled on, causing it to dry too quickly. When that happens, the texture is “frozen” into place before the finish has a chance to flow out and level.
• A finish or substrate that is too cold.
• Use of an improper applicator that cause small bubbles to form in the finish. The bubbles then pop, leaving small dimples in the finish.

CURE: Screen and recoat.

What it is: The problems appear similar; but are different. With sidebonding, the bottoms of the edges of the individual strips are “glued” together by the finish. It can occur with all types of finish, although it happens more frequently with water-based products. Panelization occurs when the edges of boards are crushed and stick together as result.

Cause:

• Sidebonding results from the finish seeping down into the spaces between boards and gluing the bottoms together. Usually noticeable only after a drastic decrease in humidity.
• Panelization occurs when the excessive moisture causes swelling of the floor and compressions sets, in which the edges of the boards are crushed and stick together.
• Staples that crack the tongue in some areas and not others can give the floor a panelized appearance.
• In residential applications, a wet plywood subfloor that shrinks as it dries also can give the floor a panelized appearance.

CURE: Restoring normal humidity levels can return the floor to an acceptable appearance. If there still are gaps, see the “Cure” for “Gaps, Abnormal”. If those methods do not fix the floor, floor replacement may be necessary.

Staining floors can help prevent sidebonding. Consult your finish manufacturer for other preventive steps.

What it is: The sheen of the finish is inconsistent.

Cause:

• Insufficient mixing of finish prior to application
• Uneven sanding
• Uneven finish thickness
• Illusion caused by lighting.
• Contaminated finish applicator, such as a lanolin-rich lambswool applicator that hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned.
• Flooring not installed tightly together to begin with.
• Foundation settlement.
• Improper subfloor materials that will not hold nails.
• For glue-down floors, early foot traffic, incorrect adhesive, the wrong amount of adhesive transferred or used, the wrong amount of flash time for the adhesive, or not using a roller when recommended.

CURE: Eliminate the cause, then restore normal humidity levels. After the floor has stabilized, use filler in gaps that are small enough to be filled (typically up to 3/32 inch), and recoat the floor. For larger gaps, use a sliver or “Dutchman” to fill in the gap. Pulling up the entire floor and reinstalling may be necessary.

Cause:

• Movement of the wood flooring system, subfloor system or underfloor supports.
• Inadequate or improper nailing.
• Weak subfloor.
• Improper subfloor material.
• Insufficient or incorrect adhesive.
• Floor subjected to excessive moisture or excessively dry conditions.

CURE: Noises in only certain areas may be fixed by injecting adhesive into the problem area, screwing the floor down from below, strengthening the subfloor from below or using facenails or screws and plugs. Squeaks also may be lubricated with graphite, wax, or baby powder, although such solutions will contaminate the floor for future finishing.

Floors that are noise and loose throughout the entire area usually have to be pulled and reinstalled, correcting the problem – whether it is caused by the subfloor; fastening schedule or adhesive.