Maybe this is a stupid question, but I couldn’t find much info online about it.
My brain says these probably won’t mix together, but I thought I would check with some more experienced woodworkers before wasting my time.
Backstory: Several years ago, my bf bought a house. One room in that house has been completely unusable because there is bad pet urine smells. I’ve tried everything on the planet to get it out of the hardwood floors. It’s definitely better but, not good.
We know it’s very likely the floor and the subfloor will need to be replaced, but as a last ditch effort, we’ve opted to finish the floor and try sealing it with a clear odor blocking primer. We figure, if it doesn’t work, we’re replacing the floors and if it does work, yay we saved some money. :D
I’ve been trying to match the finish to the flooring in the rest of the house. The wood appears to be Red Oak. I pulled up a board and checked the end grain. After much research, I suspect the floors were finished with some kind of oil, likely Tung or Linseed.
Current Problem: I know you have to reapply oil periodically so I’m not sure this would work with the primer that my bf already purchased.
If I put the Primer on first, I’m guessing the oil wouldn’t properly soak into the wood. If I put the primer on after, will it even adhere?
TLDR: Can I use Tung Oil with a clear primer to seal in pet odor? If so, what order should be be applied?
Thanks ya’ll!
PS. I love lurking on this community. You all inspired me to start building more things myself. I’m still learning, but I’m excited about it all.
Be careful with the primer, as it may not stick to an oiled finish - or it may, depending on the product.
It’s more likely, I believe, that a hard wax finish was used, than a straight oil. Oil isn’t as resilient. I’m not an expert in finishes though; I just know what I need to know for my house.
But regardless, the finish will not match where you’ve painted the sealer, and I believe you’ll have to consider an alternative finish on the sealed portions as the oil won’t be able to properly soak in.
Have you tried sanding the floor to remove the staining? It’s a moot point if the subfloor is also contaminated.
Thanks for the info.
The floor in the room has been sanded. I was trying my best to match it in the hallway. The whole house has the same wood with no transitions between doorways.
Hard wax oil would be my guess; it’s my understanding that it comes from the flooring industry and the furniture community has been adopting it. In the 2060s we’re going to be saying “Oh god they put hard wax oil on this.”
