According to weather statistics, the windiest periods of the year for the east coast of Australia are between the middle of December through to the end of March, with February generally being the windiest time of the year.
Unbeknownst to most, wind or a draught can cause many problems when coating a timber floor such as;
- Bubbles in the coating
- Uneven drying patterns in the floor
- Differences in gloss levels as drying times are effected
- Dirt and debris blown onto the wet coating
A draught of wind can affect the floor in 2 main ways, the consistency within the drying and curing of the coating as well as the overall surface finish of the coating.
How to avoid this? Out of the many things that can effect a timber floor coating process, a wind draught is the easiest to avoid but often something that is forgotten about. In all cases, whether it be windy or not, it is important to make sure that prior to coating you safeguard yourself in a number of ways. All dust should be vacuumed and cleaned off all window sills, the top of light switches and in some cases ceiling fans. There are many cases where while the coating is drying someone could possibly open a window or turn on a ceiling fan to ventilate the room, but if dust is not removed from all areas it could end up blowing straight onto the wet coating.
All dust should be vacuumed and cleaned off all window sills, the top of light switches and in some cases ceiling fans. There are many cases where while the coating is drying someone could possibly open a window or turn on a ceiling fan to ventilate the room, but if dust is not removed from all areas it could end up blowing straight onto the wet coating.
A draught of wind can also cause coatings to dry unevenly which can either result in the coating drying with bubbles or with a variation of gloss levels. For lower sheen coatings like satin or matt, the cured gloss level is related to its drying time and if this is sped up or slowed down in some parts then the gloss levels could be effected. In most cases this could be down a hallway or near the entry of doors where the wind is blowing under the doors.
To avoid this it is important that rooms are sealed including sealing the bottom of the doors. Only once the coating is dry should any doors or windows be opened. Make sure you advise your customer or anyone else on site of these drying times as well to avoid further problems.
If you require any clarification on anything or for any further questions please contact the team at Marques Flooring.