How to Apply Waterlox

Buy enough Waterlox to get the job done. 1 US gal (3.8 L) of Waterlox will cover 500 sq ft per coat. 1  qt (0.95 L) will cover 125 sq ft per coat. You can use Waterlox’s online “Purchase Assistant” to help you determine how much finish to buy: https://www.waterlox.com/support/purchase-assistant.

• Typically, you’ll need 2 basecoats and 1 topcoat. This means that for a 500 sq ft area, you would need 2 US gal (7.6 L) of Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish and 1 US gal (3.8 L) of whatever topcoat you choose.
• You may need more coats for very porous, untreated, or recently sanded wood surfaces.

Purchase safety goggles and gloves. Waterlox is a potentially harmful chemical solution, so you must always protect yourself against its effects during use. Wear safety goggles and gloves whenever you are handling this product.^[1]

• Nitrile gloves work best for this purpose.

Ventilate the area properly. Ventilation is crucial when using Waterlox. If you are unable to ventilate the area properly, you should not use this product. Cross-ventilation is best to aerate the room and to help the finish dry. For best results, place a box fan in a window or door with another window or door open on the opposite side of the room. You should ventilate the room while you are applying the finish and while it is drying between coats.

• Continue ventilating the area for at least 7 days after applying the final coat to ensure the finish is properly dried and to help evacuate the solvent odor.

Vacuum or dust the surface thoroughly. It is imperative that you vacuum the surface you want to finish completely before applying the Waterlox. This will remove any dust or debris left on the surface so that it doesn’t get painted over.^[2]

• Consider using a shop-vac or a canister-style vacuum for best results on larger surface areas.
• For smaller surfaces, use a damp microfiber cloth to remove any dust particles.
• After vacuuming, wipe the surface with a dry rag to get up any remaining flecks or fibers that the vacuum may have missed.

Lightly sand the wood surface. Wrap your sand block with 220-grit sandpaper and rub it across the surface of the wood in 2 ft (0.61 m) to 3 ft (0.91 m) sections. Be sure to go with the grain of the wood as you sand it.^[3]

• Do not sand the wood too roughly or this could remove any existing protective stain.
• When finished sanding, wipe the surface with a rag to remove any leftover debris from the sanding process.

Sand the surface with a sanding block and 220-grit sanding paper. Before you begin applying the finish, you’ll need to sand down the wood surface first. To do so, you should get a sanding block and several pieces of 220-grit sanding paper. Gently sand down the surface of the wood to remove any rough or uneven spots.^[4]

• You should be able to find these products at any home improvement store.

Pour the finish into a paint tray. Pour just enough finish to thinly cover the bottom of a regular paint tray. You don’t want to overfill the paint tray, as this could lead to sloppy, dripping messes. Be sure to keep a clean rag on hand to wipe up any drips or spills while you’re pouring.^[5]

• You may have to keep refilling the paint tray as you go, depending on how big the staining project is.

Soak a paint pad in the tray and rub it across the unfinished surface. Take a short-bristled paint pad and place it in the paint pan. Let it soak up enough of the finish to be saturated, but not dripping excessively. Rub the paint pad back and forth across the surface to be stained in approximately 1 ft (0.30 m) to 2 ft (0.61 m) sections at a time, always going with the grain of the wood.^[6]

• If you are finishing a rather large surface (like a floor, for example), it might be a good idea to attach the paint pad to a t-bar to make the painting job easier. This will help you save time and energy while finishing the surface.

Use a natural bristle paint brush for smaller jobs. If you have a smaller job that needs to be completed (like a wooden countertop, a chest of drawers, or a wooden box), you should use a natural bristle paint brush rather than a paint pad. This will help you control the finish on a smaller surface than you would be able to with a paint pad, preventing drips or other stains from occurring.

• Keep in mind that you should always apply the finish with the direction of the wood grain, regardless of what tool you use to apply the coat.