Sealers & Primers

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A timber floor sealer or primer is the first coat of a lacquer system. It goes onto freshly sanded, bare timber and prepares it for the topcoat, but it is not the wearing surface. Most lacquer jobs start with one, because a primer can reduce edge bonding, block compounds in the wood and give the topcoat an even base. That matters on Australian floors: tannin-rich species such as spotted gum benefit from a sealer coat of ExoBloc or Uniquick Primer before the main finish. All four products here are made by Berger-Seidle for the base of a lacquer system. How to choose a timber floor sealer or primer AquaSeal FlexPrimer : the standard water-based primer under AquaSeal finishes. It reduces edge bonding and gives a neutral colour with medium grain enhancement. Its listed compatible topcoats are SmartHome, EcoGold, NordicWhite, CeramicStar, SmartStar and NaturalWhite, and it is the recommended first coat under 2KPU RoyalMat and NaturalWhite. AquaSeal ExoBloc : a 1-component water-based sealer with intense grain enhancement and a high blocking effect against wood ingredients, suited to most exotic species and to stained floors. Berger-Seidle's recommended GreenStar build is one coat of ExoBloc followed by two coats of GreenStar. ExoBloc Turbo : when sealing over Classic ExpressStain , mix 1 part Turbo into 10 parts ExoBloc, and the ExoBloc can then go on 2 hours after the stain. Uniquick Primer : an alcohol-based (SolvSeal) sealer, not a water-based one. It strongly isolates wood ingredients and can be used under almost all Berger-Seidle water- and solvent-based finishes. Then choose the topcoat : a sealer always needs one. Pick 2K water-based polyurethane for high-traffic and commercial floors, or 1K water-based polyurethane if you would rather not mix a hardener. For more on primers, 1K and 2K lacquers and sheen levels, read our guide to choosing floor lacquer . Our spotted gum flooring guide explains why that species benefits from a sealer coat. Whatever the timber, tria