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Finish Ambering

Urethane oil finishes (the type most commonly specified for maple basketball, multipurpose and stage floors) as a group have a tendency to amber over time. The timing and degree of the ambering vary by product, but typically the greatest color change in the finish takes place between the sixth month and the end of the first full year of service.

In a repair situation, replacement boards will appear generally lighter in color than surrounding existing boards due to the ambering affect of the existing oil finish. The degree of variance is a function of the age and number of coats of finish on the original flooring. Color variations in the finish should be expected on a repaired floor immediately after repairs are completed. Most repair areas begin to blend in with surrounding flooring after several months and over time become imperceptible to the untrained eye.

MFMA recommends contacting your finish manufacturer(s) regarding the performance history of the specific product(s) installed. As a rule MFMA does not recommend tinting a repaired area to match existing floor coloring, and does not recommend staining maple flooring under any circumstances.

If you have additional questions, please contact MFMA's Technical Director at 847-480-9138.

Rev. February 2005

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