Watch our full conversation about Bona Mega One and Bona Traffic HD, two popular Bona Wood Floor Finish products.

With all the options for water-based hardwood floor finish, it can be hard to distinguish which is best for your floor. We talk through two leading water-based finishes with Brad West, Bona’s Midwest Territory Manager.

We answer common questions like:

• What’s the coverage of Traffic HD Floor Finish?
• What’s the difference between Bona Mega and Mega One?
• When should I use Bona Mega vs. Traffic HD?

Watch the video above or keeping reading to find out whether to use Mega One or Traffic HD for your next job.

Can you use Bona wood floor finish over a bare wood floor?

Bona recommends using a sealer under their wood floor finishes. While their finishes can act like a sealer, using a sealer gives more depth and an extra build layer. It also mimics the look that many homeowners with an oil-based finished floor are used to.

Most finishes are also going to react with the tannin in the wood. A sealer reduces that affect so that you keep the rich color of the stain.

The other benefit is that a sealer keeps the finish out of the wood. If the finish absorbs into the wood, it can lead to other problems like panelization and boards being glued together.

By having a sealer underneath the finish, you can avoid a lot of issues with Bona wood floor finish.

How many coats of finish should you use for Bona wood floor finish?

A seal coat, plus two coats of finish is the minimum that is sufficient to coat the floor. This is will give your customer peace of mind that they won’t need another recoat for 10-15 years. If there’s only one coat of finish, over time it can be worn down to the raw wood, creating a lot of damage that would need to be re-sanded, not a recoat.

How do contractors use Bona Mega One Hardwood Floor Finish?

Bona developed Mega One as an even easier product to work with than the original Mega finish. Like the original, Mega One is a single component finish which means that there’s no waste.

With a two-component wood floor finish, it’s easy to mix it incorrectly or have unusable finish that’s left over after a job. With a one-component like the Mega line, you can move on to another job and use the same finish.

Mega One abrades easily and creates a better better build. You don’t have to spend as much time sanding between coats.

It easily buffs down, assuring you that your next coat will adhere. Mega One abrades fast to get to the powder point very quickly.

What’s the difference between Bona Mega and Bona Mega One?

Both Mega and Mega One are functional in their own right. But, Mega One provides an even more straightforward product that won’t amber later on. It is a clear finish that won’t give a dingy look to light colored floors.

Bona Mega wood floor finish also holds up well to residential traffic. If a homeowner is worried about scratches, upgrade them to Traffic HD over Mega One.

After Mega One dries, you can come back the next day, abrade, and then layer Traffic HD on top.

While this product is easy to use, the most common issue installers run into is not mixing the finish enough. Before using Mega One, always shake the container well.

If not mixed thoroughly, you can end up with a “gradient” sheen, because all of the flattening agents are sitting on the bottom. As you apply the finish and reach the bottom of the bottle, the sheen may be different than what you first applied. The solution to that is to screen and re-coat.

What is the dry time for Mega One?

Like all finishes, the dry time for Mega One and Traffic HD depends on the environment. If you have good circulation or if it’s a humid day directly affect the cure time.

The best way to know when it’s dry is to take two moisture readings. Take one before you put down your finish and again after 30 to 45 minutes.

If need to get on the job as soon as possible, take some moisture readings in areas that are done. If you’re within a percentage point of where you started, you can move on. This means that 99% of the water has evaporated out.

Mega One has a 5 day full cure time – faster than the typical 7 days for a water-based wood floor finish. You can walk on it in socked feet 3-4 hours later and move furniture back in after 72 hours.

Remember to remind your customer to always lift and carry the furniture. Dragging large pieces will always scratch the floor, whether it’s fully cured or not.

After 5 days, the homeowner can put down a rug or clean the floor (but only with a wood-safe cleaner!).

How can you use Bona Traffic HD Finish on hardwood floors?

Like Mega One and Mega, Traffic HD is a newer version of Bona’s original Traffic finish. It’s 10-15% more durable with a better flow and leveling compared to Traffic.

Additionally, Traffic HD is GreenGuard Gold Certified, with lower VOCs than the original Traffic finish.

Because of the low VOCs and low odor, many homeowners stay in another part of the house while their floor is being finished. This is a great up-sell for contractors – homeowners don’t have the added expense or inconvenience of staying outside of their home.

How many coats of Bona Traffic HD should you use?

Like Mega One, Bona always recommends a minimum of 2 coats of finish. Adding a third coat gives an extra layer of protection that may be right for some homeowners who are worried about scratches.

With Traffic HD being a two component, many contractors coat the floor only to realize that they forgot to put in the hardener. If that happens to you, let it fully dry out, then screen and re-coat it. Other issues arise when putting in the hardener and forgetting to shake it.

What is the dry time for Bona Traffic HD?

Traffic HD is one of Bona’s fastest curing finishes – fully curing in three days. You can walk over it with socked feet after 3-4 hours. After 72 hours, homeowners can move furniture back in (and once again, lift don’t drag). Overall, it’s a quicker moving in process than Mega One.

How should you apply these hardwood floor finishes?

There’s no preferred way to apply Mega One or Traffic HD. With a t-bar, most installers will get a higher coverage rate, which is important to keep in mind with Traffic HD.

Traffic HD will go on thicker so that you can get a thicker finish in just two coat, which means that you won’t get as much coverage as what you may expect. Still, this allows you to get to a thicker finish with less coats.

Watch Bona’s tutorial that explains the best practices for applying their wood floor finish.

Are there any products you shouldn’t use Bona wood floor finish over?

Outside of acrylic polishes and hard waxes you’re not going to have any issues as long as it’s fully cured. Before coating, scuff up the floor a bit and then you can coat with Traffic.

Bona has a hard-wax oil that allows you to coat right over top of it. If you’re wanting to use a penetrating oil, with the option of a poly on top, then you could try Bona’s Craft Oil.

When should you use Traffic HD vs. Mega One?

Anytime that you come into a house and see big scratches in the floor or damaged finish, those are good signs to use a high durability finish, like Traffic HD.

You can also offer tiers by using both Mega One and Traffic HD. You can start off by coating with Mega One, then finish up with Traffic HD.

If the homeowners also are sensitive to VOCs, that would also be a good reason to upgrade to Traffic HD, which is GreenGuard Gold Certified.

Want to try Traffic HD or Mega One?

Give us a call at your nearest Master’s Craft, and we can get you in contact with your local Bona representative. If you have any questions, you can also call Bona’s Tech Line at 1-800-872-5515.