A Formidable Challenge: Introducing Waterborne Coatings

Mike Sundell Retired From Basic Coatings Headshot
Stephen Gunneson of Branford, Conn.-based Gunneson Flooring Company shared these two artifacts from the early days of water-based coatings: a vintage gallon of Basic Coatings Street Shoe water-based finish found at a customer’s home, and a casette tape of a seminar on “Water Based Floors” from 1995.
Stephen Gunneson of Branford, Conn.-based Gunneson Flooring Company shared these two artifacts from the early days of water-based coatings: a vintage gallon of Basic Coatings Street Shoe water-based finish found at a customer’s home, and a casette tape of a seminar on “Water Based Floors” from 1995.

The early 1980’s were an interesting time in the wood floor finish business. Oil-modified urethane (OMU) was king. While there were a few other types of finishes being used, almost every contractor used OMU on sports floors, residential and commercial floors. However, that was going to change very quickly.

The government was putting pressure on the finish manufacturing companies due to air pollution issues. Any and all of the solvent based finishes were under attack, including the king, OMU.

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