Rather than waiting for the coating to slowly cure through time, the coating is cured using ultraviolet light.
Once the UV machine passes over the floor:
the coating is cured
the coating is hardened
the vulnerable curing period is removed
The floor does not have to spend days exposed while waiting to reach full hardness.
Ghosting Risk vs Curing Time
The longer a coating remains vulnerable:
the greater the opportunity for contamination
the greater the opportunity for disturbance
the greater the opportunity for ghost prints
This is one reason UV-cured polyurethane can dramatically reduce ghosting risk.
The cure happens immediately.
There is no extended window where the coating remains soft and vulnerable.
UV Rush and Ghosting Prevention
At Floor Pty Ltd, our highest performance finishing system is UV Rush.
Because every coat is UV-cured, the floor reaches final hardness immediately after curing.
Benefits include:
instant cure
immediate use
reduced vulnerability during curing
lower risk of ghosting and related curing defects
superior durability from day one
The Bottom Line
Ghosting is not usually a timber problem affecting the timber itself. It is usually a coating and curing problem that can affect any Floor Sanding Brisbane project if the coating remains vulnerable during curing.
The longer a coating remains vulnerable, the greater the risk of contamination and disturbance.
Traditional coatings rely on time.
UV-cured polyurethane removes time from the equation.
And when the vulnerable curing period is removed, the risk of ghosting is dramatically reduced.
Mark Jolley is the founder of Floor Pty Ltd, based in Brisbane, and has specialised exclusively in professional floor sanding and polishing since March 1991. With over 35 years of hands‑on experience, Mark is recognised as an industry leader in UV‑cured polyurethane systems, pioneering their use locally since 2017.
Having restored thousands of timber floors across Brisbane and nearby areas, Mark’s work is defined by precision, durability, and a refined Matt/Satin finish that delivers a natural, timeless appearance.
Floor Pty Ltd is trusted for both residential and commercial floor sanding and polishing, with UV‑cured polyurethane providing a tough, commercial‑grade finish that allows floors to be used immediately — helping homes and businesses get back to normal faster.
Ghosting
Ghosting and Ghost Prints on Timber Floors
If you’ve ever seen faint footprints or marks appear in a freshly coated floor, you’re looking at what’s commonly called ghosting or ghost prints.
They often appear as:
And once they appear, they are usually much harder to remove than people expect.
What Causes Ghosting?
Ghosting occurs when the coating is disturbed or contaminated while it is still vulnerable.
This can be caused by:
The key word is:
curing
Many traditional coating systems may feel dry, but they are still curing long after application.
That curing window creates risk.
Why Traditional Coatings Are More Vulnerable
Most floor finishes rely on time.
The coating is applied.
It begins drying.
Then it slowly cures over hours, days, or even weeks.
During this period the finish is still developing hardness.
The floor may look finished.
It may feel finished.
But the coating is still vulnerable.
That is when ghosting can occur.
Why UV-Cured Polyurethane Changes the Equation
UV-cured polyurethane works differently.
Rather than waiting for the coating to slowly cure through time, the coating is cured using ultraviolet light.
Once the UV machine passes over the floor:
The floor does not have to spend days exposed while waiting to reach full hardness.
Ghosting Risk vs Curing Time
The longer a coating remains vulnerable:
This is one reason UV-cured polyurethane can dramatically reduce ghosting risk.
The cure happens immediately.
There is no extended window where the coating remains soft and vulnerable.
UV Rush and Ghosting Prevention
At Floor Pty Ltd, our highest performance finishing system is UV Rush.
Because every coat is UV-cured, the floor reaches final hardness immediately after curing.
Benefits include:
The Bottom Line
Ghosting is not usually a timber problem affecting the timber itself. It is usually a coating and curing problem that can affect any Floor Sanding Brisbane project if the coating remains vulnerable during curing.
The longer a coating remains vulnerable, the greater the risk of contamination and disturbance.
Traditional coatings rely on time.
UV-cured polyurethane removes time from the equation.
And when the vulnerable curing period is removed, the risk of ghosting is dramatically reduced.
Then finish with:
Floor Pty Ltd
Floor Sanding • Floor Polishing • UV Curing
We sand it. We polish it. We cure it. You use it.
Get a Quote
Mark Jolley
Brisbane Floor Sanding Specialist
Mark Jolley is the founder of Floor Pty Ltd, based in Brisbane, and has specialised exclusively in professional floor sanding and polishing since March 1991. With over 35 years of hands‑on experience, Mark is recognised as an industry leader in UV‑cured polyurethane systems, pioneering their use locally since 2017. Having restored thousands of timber floors across Brisbane and nearby areas, Mark’s work is defined by precision, durability, and a refined Matt/Satin finish that delivers a natural, timeless appearance. Floor Pty Ltd is trusted for both residential and commercial floor sanding and polishing, with UV‑cured polyurethane providing a tough, commercial‑grade finish that allows floors to be used immediately — helping homes and businesses get back to normal faster.
Recent Posts