Thread: Raw Timber Floors

don't spill anything on it - like red wine, greasy food etc

I would be sealing it straight away.

In this case, sooner is always better.

If it hasn't been sanded yet there isn't too much of an issue I would think. As mentioned just try and keep it clean to make the sanding process a little easier.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

don't spill anything on it - like red wine, greasy food etc

Red wine on red ironbark should be fine. White wine is not.

You could consider brooming a cheap sealer on it that would be sanded back just prior to finishing.

It not only protects the top surfaces, but also helps seal the joints (even apparently tight ones!) so less dust/crap falls between the boards before you apply the final finish. (This can make for nightmare jobs.)

If you're planning on using a PolyU, buy a small tin of cheap stuff, pour it in the middle of a room and use a mop to spread it out.

For Oils, though, you're better off using whatever Oil you'll be finishing with, as different brands/types aren't always compatible. (Unless orange peel textured floors are your "thing?" )

This does mean you need to take extra care when you finally get around sanding, to remove ALL of the 'old & temporary' finish from the surface. But you're s'posed to do that anyway, right?

And it's still less work than trying to sand out ground-in gyprock/silastic/paint/whatever that other tradies have dropped on unfinished floorboards. Trust me on this.

(Still better to sand & seal ASAP after as it's laid, though.)

Most certainly, YES... Seal it.
I have seen a floor in Balwyn North that was down for 3 months without any sealer on it.
There were footprints and boot prints all over it. these prints look like they have an oil in them. this will be very hard to sand out when the time comes.

It is far better to spend a few coins on a sealer now than to have to remove the whole floor later on.