Wood Floor Primer Drying Times and Systems

If you have found this article by searching through the web, there must be one thing on your mind. How confusing and different drying times and preparation processes are for each manufacturer of wood floor finishes. Well, let me help you with that. Below I will discuss drying times for primers before applying a top coat. And the process that you need to undertake within the parameters and in accordance with the manufacturers. In this blog, I will be focusing on the 3 core brands that we stock here at Ultimate Floor Care.

Pallmann is a German-born manufacturer that comes with exceptional quality and support from their team.

Bona is a Swedish manufacturer whose systems are straightforward, easy to follow and have a great focus on sustainability.

Finally, Tover from our partners over in Italy offers a basic system with quality results and a great range depending on your client or your needs. So lets dive in. 

Pallmann Primer drying times and preparation system. 

First, the floor should be sanded to a fine grit to the industry standards of their system. Once the floor has been sanded and vacuumed to a high standard, the primer is applied to the floor using the 11mm pile Pallmann water-based roller. Leaving wet edges and overlapping them, and removing excess to make sure that no lap lines are visible when it has dried. Once the primers have been applied, you can apply a top coat of lacquer from the Pallmann system after approximately 2 hours. This is standard under optimum site and timber conditions. The primer must not be lightly sanded (Keyed back). Your first coat of lacquer should be applied straight over. The primer must receive at least one coat of lacquer within 24 hours of the primer going down as it relies on chemical bonding to the primer. It is best practice not to apply more than two coats in one day, including the primer as one coat. This system is proven with Pallmann Pall-x 325, although the system is the same for their other Primers on the market. It is always best productive to check the data sheet in case of specific preparation requirements.  

Bona Primer drying times and preparation system. 

The floor must be prepared and sanded in conjunction with the Bona sanding system or their specified grit. Apply the primer to the floor with a Bona Supercoat Roller working in sections, keeping a wet edge and removing excess for a consistent coat across the wooden floor. Once the primer is dry, you have approximately 1 – 2 hours for the product to dry in order to put a lacquer coat on top. In order to prepare the primer for its top coat, it is best practice to abraid the primer with the Bona Scrad pad system. A purple pad with silicon carbide wings that are stuck to the bottom. This allows the option to remove grain-raised foam from the primer coat and also gives additional mechanical adhesion to the top coat. This is a recommendation and best practice, but you are able to apply a coat over without abrasion, providing a coat of lacquer is applied before 24 hours. This is the time you have after the primer has been applied to apply at least one coat. They follow the process of applying the top coat in conjunction with when your requirements are. This system is pro ven with the Bona Classic UX Primer. The system is the same for other types of Bona primers, although it is best practice to check the datasheet for the specific product you want to apply.  

Tover Primer drying times and preparation system.  

Once the floor has been sanded and vacuumed, The primer should be applied to the floor with a medium 8mm microfibre roller. In the same process as the above, we spoke about Pallmann and Bona, making sure that you don’t apply in two different locations on the same floor as this can have dry lines afterwards. Always work in small sections overlapping as you work across the floor. Once the primer has been applied to the floor, you have 2 – 3 hours to wait until it dries enough for the first coat of lacquer. In terms of a key back (Light sand), This can either be done after the primer has dried or after the first coat of lacquer has dried. There is no stone-set rule as long as it has been done throughout the three coat system at least once. The grit to use to key back the finish is preferably 120 – 180 grit, There is a benefit to keying back the primer rather than the first coat of lacquer. If you are keying back the primer, you can do so after the 2-to 3-hour window. However, if you are keying back the first coat of lacquer, you have to allow 4 – 5 hours for drying.  

So, each of these great manufacturers of finishes has its own process in the priming and lacquering system. I hope this gives you some key information that you need to make the decision of what products you would like to use. Or if you're on site and just need that peace of mind about the process, I just wanted to briefly give you the benefits of using a primer on a wooden floor. There are five key ones. 

Barrier—The primer acts as a barrier coat between the lacquer coat and the timber, preventing contamination with the top coat and tannins, resins, and minerals. 

Cost—No matter which process you use, a 5ltr primer will be significantly cheaper than a 5ltr of lacquer. Using one coat of primer & two coats of lacquer will save you money. 

Side Bonding—Using a primer avoids the chances of side bonding, where the top lacquer coat can seep into the joints of the floor, preventing side bonding across the floor.  

Colour—When choosing the lacquer system, primers play a key role in the finish of the floor. Primers can tone down or tone up the natural beauty of wooden floors.  

Adhesion—A primer coat allows and enhances the adhesion of the top coat to the timber floor underneath, working as a joining plate in the coating system.