Mike Michaelis talks about the best choice of fillers for seamless flooring systems.
Pros and Cons of Using White Aluminum Oxide:
- Extreme Hardness and Durability- Best you can get in a clear/white filler (Moh Hardness 9)
- Wide Range of Particle Size Availability
- Color Transparency- Will take on the color of whatever system it is in
- High Cost versus Silica Fillers @ approximately $22 per gallon
Pros and Cons of Using Silica:
- Good Hardness and Durability- Good enough for most all systems (Moh Hardness=7)
- Wide Range of Particle Size Availability
- Color Translucency- Will take on the color of whatever system it is in, but not crystal clear
- Lowest cost filler @ approximately $3 per gallon
- Contains Silica, must have warning labels as it can be liberated upon sanding
Pros and Cons of Using Polypropylene/Polywax (Barefoot) or Clear Cut Plastic
- Low Hardness, Softer Feel on Bare Feet (Moh Hardness=3)
- Limited Size Ranges
- Limited Durability- Will be quickly degraded by snow shoveling, car traffic, or heavy foot traffic
- Color Translucency- Will take on the color of whatever system it is in, but not crystal clear
- Highest Cost Filler @ approximately $42 per gallon
- Can be pre-mixed with any coating, then applied with a squeegee or roller without too much settling out of the system.
- Can be pre-mixed with clear, one component coatings and applied with pump sprayers if needed (Barefoot #50 only). Great for paver sealers.
In summary, if you want the best, use Aluminum Oxide or a combination of Aluminum Oxide and Silica. If you want a softer feel or have limits with your application equipment, you will have to go to the Barefoot or Clear-Cut, but it probably won’t save you money unless you use much less of it.