Why Bona? Protect Your Family & Floors

🏠 Getting Your Floors Done?
Here's What Your Contractor Won't Tell You

The coating your floor sander uses matters more than you think. It affects your family's health, your indoor air quality, and how long your floors last.

⚠ Did you know? Most floor sanders in Australia still use solvent-based polyurethane coatings. These products release toxic fumes that linger in your home for weeks after application — even after you can no longer smell them.

☠ The Problem with Solvent-Based Coatings

Solvent-based floor coatings contain high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — chemicals that evaporate into the air you breathe. Many also contain isocyanates, which are classified as respiratory sensitisers and potential carcinogens.

Classified as a POISON — solvent-based floor finishes are officially classified as poisons posing serious health risks
300–850g/L VOCs — off-gas toxic, flammable fumes for weeks to MONTHS after application
Isocyanates — known to cause occupational asthma, even at very low exposure levels
Memory loss & brain damage — documented health effects of long-term solvent exposure
Impaired fertility & birth defects — solvents can affect neurocognitive development in unborn children
Depression, anxiety, insomnia — nervous system disorders linked to solvent exposure
Increased cancer risk — increased susceptibility to cancers from chemical exposure
Evacuation required — you should vacate your home for up to 14 days due to toxic fumes
Contaminates your food — solvent fumes penetrate foodstuffs in your fridge and pantry
Flammable — your home becomes a fire risk during application
Yellows over time — gives floors a plastic, unnatural appearance that discolours

⚠ Banned in Europe. The European Union has banned the use of solvent-based timber floor finishes due to their health risks. In Australia, there is no such legislation — contractors can still use solvents with no health warnings required. You need to protect yourself.

Who's most at risk? Babies and toddlers (who crawl on floors and put hands in mouths), pregnant women, elderly people, asthma sufferers, allergy sufferers, and pets — especially dogs who lie on floors all day.

300-850g/L

VOCs in solvent-based coatings

Up to 14 days

You should evacuate your home

Months

VOCs continue off-gassing

✅ The Bona Difference — Safe for Your Family

Bona is the world's leading manufacturer of water-based timber floor coatings. Their professional products are independently certified to the strictest indoor air quality standards on the planet.

EC1 Plus certified — the highest classification for very low emissions (European standard GEV-EMICODE)
Greenguard Gold certified — meets strict chemical emission limits for schools and healthcare facilities
Near-zero VOCs — Bona Traffic HD contains less than 35g/L VOCs (vs 300-500g/L for solvent)
No isocyanates — no cancer-causing respiratory sensitisers
No evacuation needed — low odour, fast drying, safe to return the same day
Water-based formula — non-flammable, no fire risk
Lasts longer — Bona Traffic HD is one of the hardest-wearing floor finishes available, outperforming many solvent systems
Swedish quality — Bona has been making floor care products since 1919 (over 100 years)

✅ Safe for everyone. With Bona, your family can return to the house the same day. No toxic fumes. No evacuation. No worrying about what your baby is crawling through.

<35g/L

VOCs in Bona Traffic HD

0hrs

Evacuation needed

1919

Bona est. — 100+ years

Solvent vs Bona — Side by Side

	Solvent-Based	Bona Water-Based
VOC Level	300-850g/L (POISON)	<35g/L (VERY LOW)
Isocyanates	Yes — respiratory sensitiser	No
Evacuation	Up to 14 days	Same-day return
Odour	Strong chemical smell for days	Minimal, dissipates quickly
Fire Risk	Flammable solvents	Non-flammable
Safe for Babies	No — off-gasses for MONTHS	Yes — EC1 Plus certified
Safe for Pets	No — toxic if inhaled/licked	Yes — low VOC, fast cure
Durability	Good	Excellent — Traffic HD is industry-leading
Environment	Contributes to smog/ozone	Minimal environmental impact
Yellowing	Yes — plastic, unnatural look	No — retains natural timber colour
Food Safety	Contaminates food in fridge & pantry	No effect on stored food
Legal in EU	BANNED	Yes — meets all EU standards
Certification	Usually none	EC1 Plus, Greenguard Gold

🗣 What to Ask Your Floor Sander

Before you hire a floor sanding contractor, ask these questions:

1. "What coating system do you use?"

If they say "solvent-based" or a brand you don't recognise, ask why. There are better options available.

2. "Is it EC1 Plus or Greenguard certified?"

These are independent certifications for indoor air quality. If the product isn't certified, there's no guarantee it's safe.

3. "Will I need to evacuate my home?"

If yes, they're using solvent-based products. With Bona, you can return the same day.

4. "Can you use Bona products?"

Any professional floor sander can use Bona. If they refuse, ask why. Often it's because they don't have a Bona dealer nearby — send them to Sand-Aid.

5. "Do you have insurance for solvent-based products?"

Some contractors' insurance doesn't cover solvent-related incidents. Worth asking.

🛡️ The Bona Professional Range — Available from Sand-Aid

Bona Traffic HD — Australia's most popular professional timber floor finish

Traffic HD
Australia's #1 pro finish

Bona Traffic GO — professional water-based floor finish

Traffic GO
Fast-cure professional

Bona Mega — water-based polyurethane floor finish

Bona Mega
Trusted workhorse

Bona Wave — economical water-based floor finish

Bona Wave
Great value option

✅ Every Bona finish listed above is water-based, EC1 Plus certified, and safe for your family. No solvents. No poisons. No evacuation. Ask your floor sander to use any of these products — and tell them to get it from Sand-Aid.

🏡 Protect Your Investment

Your timber floors are one of the most valuable features of your home. A full sand and coat costs thousands of dollars — you want it done right, with products that are safe AND long-lasting.

Bona Traffic HD is the most popular professional timber floor finish in Australia for good reason:

Exceptional scratch and scuff resistance
Available in Extra Matt, Matt, Satin and RAW finishes
2-component waterborne polyurethane — hardener included
Suitable for residential and commercial high-traffic areas
Won't yellow over time like many solvent coatings
Easy to maintain with Bona's professional care range

Ready to Make the Right Choice?

Sand-Aid is NSW's ONLY Bona Premier Dealer. We supply professional floor sanders across Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Central Coast and greater NSW with the full Bona range.

Tell your contractor to get their Bona from Sand-Aid.

📞 Call 1300 950 551 🛒 View Bona Range

Sand-Aid — 6 Sara Street, Toronto NSW 2283
Supplying professional floor sanding products since 2001

Common Questions from Homeowners

Can I buy Bona products myself?

Bona professional products are designed for trained applicators. We supply the products to your floor sander — you just need to insist they use Bona when you get your quote.

Is Bona more expensive than solvent?

The product cost is comparable. Any difference in your quote should be minimal. What you gain is a healthier home, faster return time, and a finish that won't yellow.

My floor sander says solvent is "tougher" — is that true?

It was true 20 years ago. Modern water-based technology like Bona Traffic HD matches or exceeds the durability of solvent systems. It's used in high-traffic commercial spaces worldwide.

How do I find a floor sander who uses Bona?

Call us on 1300 950 551 — we can recommend professional floor sanders in your area who use Bona products.

Further reading: Solvent vs Water-Based — Bona Australia | Why is Bona Better? — Bona Australia

Information on this page is general in nature and sourced from Bona manufacturer data, Safety Data Sheets, and industry standards. Health effects of solvent exposure are documented by Safe Work Australia and the European Commission. VOC levels referenced from Bona product data sheets and industry comparisons. Sand-Aid recommends always checking the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for any coating product used in your home. Bona, EC1 Plus, and Greenguard Gold are registered trademarks of their respective owners.