I'm designing a set for an independant film with a low budget. I need to refinish a red oak floor in an older home, 3 rooms, about 800 sq feet. I have successfully taken off all of the finish using a drum sander and edge sander, but am having trouble choosing a finish.

This is my first time doing this and am looking for an easy product to work with. I do want the Oil based as I won't be using stain and it gives the red oak more depth IMHO.

I purchased glitsa, but then was told it was difficult to work with. I can't find a dealer in my area willing to sell dura-seal to a consumer. I can get bona, but it seems expensive and it's big selling point is durability, which is really not an issue as the house will be used for only 4-6 months. I have heard the waterlox will smell for weeks and that is unacceptable to our actors.

The local home depot sells minwax, varathane and parks pro.

What would be my best choice for an easy to apply finish that only needs to look good for a while (but should look quite good for those 4-6 months)?

Also, I was thinking of applying a coat of gloss with two coats of satin over the top. Is that a good idea??

I would not DIY if this was my own home, but have little choice in this instance.

Any tips?

Will I get a decent result with the hardware store brands? I don't want it to look cloudy.

Thanks!

Duraseal is a very poular OMU. Truth be told, they are all the same. The only difference is how much mineral spirits they use to cut it. After it is dry, they are all identical.

Leslie:

Just a note about Waterlox Original Tung Oil finishes. If you applied 3 coats with good drying conditions, in 3-7 days after the final coat is applied, the mineral spirits smell should be gone , the same with most oil based floor finishes. ...the 3 things that matter in dry/cure times are temperature, ventilation and humidity levels...of these 3, ventilation is the most important. High humidity and cool temperatures can also effect dry/cure times. Waterlox is also a very easy finish for the DIYer.

Judging by the number of movie stars who have wood floors finished with our products, I'd say that actors don't find our floors to be offensive!

That said, for your application, just about anything will do the job, unless you plan a lot of "floor level" close-ups...
good luck with you project

David Zarzour
Waterlox Coatings Corp