One of the most common questions we get at Sand-Aid is some version of "which finish should I use?" The honest answer is: it depends on the job. Traffic level, commercial vs residential, appearance goals, and client expectations all factor in. Here's a practical breakdown.
The Core Decision: Traffic Level First
Bona's finish range is tiered by intended use intensity. Start with traffic level and you'll narrow down the right product quickly.
High Traffic Commercial — Bona Traffic HD
Bona Traffic HD is the benchmark. 2-component water-based polyurethane, engineered specifically for high traffic intensity — retail, hospitality, public areas, schools, commercial stairwells. It has the strongest scratch, scuff and chemical resistance in the Bona waterborne range.
Key specs: pot life 8 hours after mixing, recoat at 4 hours, light traffic at 6 hours, full use 12–24 hours. Available in Extra Matt (20°), Silk Matt (40°), RAW, and Anti-Slip.
Use it when: The client needs the highest durability waterborne system available and the spec calls for Bona or equivalent.
Heavy Residential / Light Commercial — Bona Wave 2K
Bona Wave 2K is a genuine 2-component waterborne finish — real 2K chemistry, not a 1K system marketed as "commercial grade." It's designed for heavy residential and light-to-moderate commercial use. Strong wear and chemical resistance at the right level of spec for high-end homes, apartments, and lighter commercial spaces.
Key specs: pot life 4 hours after mixing, recoat 2–3 hours, light traffic 24 hours, full cure 7 days.
Use it when: The client wants 2K durability for a residential floor without over-specifying for a high-traffic commercial environment. Often the right call for quality homes, rental properties and boutique commercial.
Residential — Bona Mega
Bona Mega is a 1-component waterborne finish — no mixing required — designed for standard residential applications. It's durable, clear, non-yellowing and easy to apply, but it doesn't have the wear resistance of a 2K system.
Use it when: Standard residential floor, client isn't expecting a 2K spec, budget is a consideration, or the job requires a quick no-mix application process.
Fast Turnaround Residential — Bona Traffic GO
Bona Traffic GO is a 1-component system with built-in hardening technology — no mixing but 2K-like performance claims. Designed for jobs where schedule is tight: full use within 24 hours under normal conditions.
Use it when: The client needs the floor back fast, the project is residential or light commercial, and the finish spec allows a 1K system.
The Appearance Decision: Sheen Level
For Traffic HD and Wave 2K, sheen options matter to clients and should be discussed before the job:
- Extra Matt (20°) — very low sheen, contemporary look, hides surface scratches well in high-traffic areas
- Silk Matt (40°) — soft sheen, the most popular option for residential, balances appearance and practicality
- RAW — virtually no sheen, looks and feels like bare sanded timber (see our Traffic HD RAW guide for full details)
- Anti-Slip — for areas where slip compliance under wet conditions is a requirement
Lower sheen hides daily wear better and looks less "plasticky" — most contemporary residential clients trend toward Extra Matt or Silk Matt.
The Primer Decision
Whatever finish you choose, the primer still needs to match the timber species:
- Classic UX — standard species, light/natural colouration, recommended for RAW system
- Prime Intense — Blackbutt, Tallowwood, high tannin species
- Prime White — where a whitened or limed appearance is the goal
The finish decision and the primer decision should be made together — they affect the final appearance as a system, not individually.
Quick Reference
| Product | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic HD | 2K | High traffic commercial |
| Wave 2K | 2K | Heavy residential, light commercial |
| Mega | 1K | Standard residential |
| Traffic GO | 1K | Fast-turnaround residential |
Need to discuss the right system for a specific job? Contact Sand-Aid — trade pricing and fast dispatch from Toronto NSW.