Surface treatment of floorboards to eliminate panelization

Abstract

A method for preventing edge bonding between adjacently situated floorboards of a floor system involves the application of a release agent along at least one longitudinal side surface of the floorboards. The release agent counteracts, or neutralizes, the adhesive effects between adjacently situated floorboards which is commonly caused by urethane or water bourne finish coatings, when the finish coating seeps downwardly between the side surfaces of the floorboards. By eliminating surface bonding between adjacently situated floorboards, this invention eliminates panelization of the floor system. The release agent may be a liquid or a solid and may be applied by any one of a number of methods, either at the factory or at the job site. The release agent may be applied to both longitudinal side surfaces of the floorboards, and also to the ends and the bottoms of the floorboards.

1 . A floor having a wear surface formed from a plurality of floorboards arranged end to end in parallel rows, the floorboards having top and bottom surfaces, longitudinal side surfaces and end surfaces of a predetermined transverse cross-sectional shape, comprising: 
 a release agent residing between the longitudinal side surface of adjacently located rows of floorboards, the release agent having been applied to at least one longitudinal end surface of the floorboards, whereby the release agent counteracts adhesion between adjacently located floorboards, including adhesion that can be caused by finish coating that seeps downwardly through the wear surface.    
   
   
       2 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the release agent is located along upper portions of the longitudinal side surfaces of the floorboards.  
   
   
       3 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein one longitudinal side surface of the floorboards has a tongue and the tongue has a groove release agent is applied along at least one of a tongue and a groove of each of the floorboards.  
   
   
       4 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the release agent is selected from a group of components which includes: paraffin wax, acrylic, liquid paste wax, paste wax, polyfilm with pressure sensitive adhesive, urethane, epoxy, teflon, silicon, oil, and petroleum gel.  
   
   
       5 . The floor of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 the release agent also residing along the bottom surfaces of the floorboards, and having been applied thereto.    
   
   
       6 . The floor of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 the release agent also residing between the end surfaces of the floorboards, and having been applied thereto.    
   
   
       7 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the release agent has been applied by roll coating.  
   
   
       8 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the release agent has been applied by spraying.  
   
   
       9 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the release agent has been applied by wicking.  
   
   
       10 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the release agent has been applied by friction coating.  
   
   
       11 . A method for forming a floor with a wear surface defined by upper surfaces of a plurality of floor steps comprising: 
 Forming a plurality of elongated floor steps to a predetermined cross-sectional shape;    applying a release agent to at least one such surface of the formed elongated floor steps; and    arranging and securing the elongated floor steps end to end in parallel rows to form a floor.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the forming includes cutting the floorboards to the predetermined shape, with each floorboard having a tongue extending along one longitudinal side edge and a groove extending along the other longitudinal side edge.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the floorboards are solid wood.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the floorboards are of a laminated construction.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein applying the release agent comprises: 
 dispensing the release agent in liquid form onto the floorboards.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the apply occurs via one of the following: 
 a. Roll coating the release agent;    b. Spraying the release agent;    c. Wicking the release agent; and    d. Friction coating the release agent.    
   
   
       17 . A method of producing a floor having a plurality of floorboards serving as a wear surface, comprising: 
 applying a release agent to at least one surface of each of the floorboards;    securing the floorboards to form the wear surface; and    applying a finish coating to the wear surface, whereby the applied release agent counteracts adverse adhesive effects between adjacently situated floorboards that can be caused by the finish coating as the finish coating seeps downwardly between the floorboards.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising sanding the wear surface after the applying of the release agent.