Fat Andy's Hardwoods Finishes

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why our finishes? | water-based vs. oil-based finishes | Pro-Coat | Bonakemi

our hardwood line:Flash Movie

Fat Andy's commitment to preserving the quality of our environment has been the guiding factor in using safer wood floor finishes, without sacrificing quality and durability. Fat Andy's sells and prefers waterborne finishes. In a waterborne finish the polyurethane molecules are dispersed in water. When the finish is applied, the water evaporates in 2 to 3 hours and the polyurethane forms the finish layer on the wood floor surface. Our finishes are environmentally safe with no hazardous toxic fumes so you don't have to move out of the house during refinishing. As the finish dries, water - not toxic solvents - evaporates into the air, leaving the protective polyurethane coating on the wood. You floor can be walked on with stocking feet in 3 to 4 hours, and furniture can be placed (not dragged) in 48 hours. Area rugs can be put down in one week when the finish is fully cured.

Fat Andy's waterborne finishes are now preferred for a new type of building called ECLU (Environmentally Clean Living Unit). These homes are designed for people who have a very low tolerance for chemicals of many kinds. Solid hardwood floors finished with a waterborne finish are much less troublesome for these chemically-sensitive people than carpet or vinyl floor coverings.

To begin, the purpose of any hardwood floor finish should be to enhance the beauty of the wood and protect it from outside elements.

Satin Versus Glossy Finishes

Oil based finishes are a richer looking and often more durable finish than many of the residential water based finishes. Oil-based finishes have a way of filling in and flowing over the open grain of many hardwoods. This gives a desirable “grain-filled” characteristic. And it will develop into an amber (brownish-orange) look as it ages over the next several months. The amber look is a nice addition to this type of polyurethane especially if you want a warm tinted look.

Water base finishes are clearer and at times give a colder look to the floor. They will not darken with time as does oil-based poly. Water-based poly is absolutely clear and remains that way for years. Also, all sheens (satin, semi-gloss, gloss) have the same durability, and a two-component (poly with a hardener additive) water-based poly is harder than any oil-based polyurethane.

Polyurethane

Purethane Wood Finish

Millennium

When you start with the best you finish with the best. Pro-Coat starts with the highest quality resins, so you can finish your floors with Advanced Coating Technology. Using env friend A.C.T. Pro-Coat has pioneered products that were once only visionary. With two decades of top performing coatings, Pro-Coat has also made a difference with their specialty additives. Bond Adhesion Promoter has made recoats a breeze and Pro-Coat's Dry-Hard Drying Agent is a top performer in high humidity and hard to dry areas. So let Pro-Coat® bring you the beauty, durability and reliability you expect out of high performance Coatings and Additives.

Protecting Our Environment
PRO-COAT® is committed to design and manufacture coatings and additives that help pre-serve the environment, without sacrificing product performance. Pro-Coat invests a substantial portion of resources into new products and technologies. This provides you the highest quality systems that meet or exceed all state and federal clean air quality standards.

Woodline Poly (s.b.)

Mega Poly (w.b.)

Eon Poly (w.b.)

Traffic Poly(w.b. & c.g.)

KEY
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w.b.(water based)
s.b.(solvent based)
c.g.(commercial grade)
Poly(polyurethane)
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For over 80 years, Bonakemi has provided hardwood floor finishing professionals with the world's finest hardwood floor finishes. You can rely on Bonakemi systems every step of the way for abrasives, sanding equipment, stains, sealers, finishes and cleaners that allow you to do your best work every time. Bonakemi is respected worldwide for advancements in the industry and is the reason that Swedish floor finishes are considered a national achievement similar to French wines. Today, Bonakemi AB produces products that are sold in over thirty-five countries around the world.

Bonakemi is the pioneer of the "Environmental Choice®" finishing system - advanced technology resulting in low VOC, safe-to-use waterborne finishes combined with dust containment sanding systems. Bona provides you and your customers with the highest quality, cleanest finishing process available. They protect your health and the environment, while assuring the ultimate in durability and beauty for hardwood floors.

Bringing out the best in wooden floors is Bonakemi's way of thinking. It's their attitude. They always bring out the best. And it goes for everything they do, whether it concerns their customers, partners, employees, product or systems.