Hardwood Floor Finish

The most common type of hardwood floor finish is known as a surface finish. This type of finish creates a durable and water-resistant surface. Typically, surface finishes are a blend of different synthetic resins, often referred to as polyurethane or urethane. You will find that this type of surface finish comes in a choice of high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, and matte, giving you the degree of shine wanted.

For a hardwood floor finish for the surface, you have five primary choices. For instance, there is oil-modified urethane. In this case, the finish is solvent-based polyurethane, which dries in approximately eight hours.  As the finish ages, it will begin to amber. Of all surface stains, this is probably the most popular. Then, you have moisture-cure urethane. For this type of hardwood floor finish, you would benefit from a more durable product that also offers a higher degree of moisture resistant. This too is solvent-based polyurethane that is available in amber or non-yellowing formulas. The downside to this type of hardwood floor finish is that application is challenging and the product has a very, strong odor.

Next, you might go with a Swedish finish, also known as acid cure urethane. This type of hardwood floor finish is clear and dries quickly. The benefits associated with this finish include a non-yellowing formula and durability. Because the odor of this finish is powerful and application can be difficult, most flooring manufacturers suggest the work be performed by a professional. The fourth type of hardwood floor finish is water-based urethane. In this case, you would end up with a non-yellowing, clear surface finish. This formula is much milder than other finishes, drying in about three hours and with little odor.

Then, you have aluminum oxide, which is one of the newer solutions on the market. In this case, the hardwood floor finish provides a long-lasting and durable finish that in most cases comes with as much as a 20-year warranty. Keep in mind that in addition to options for a hardwood floor finish, you could also choose a penetrating stain or wax. These substances are designed to absorb into the wood’s pores, which then hardens to create a protective seal. The nice aspect of choosing stain or wax over a type of hardwood floor finish for surface protection is that as the product wears, more can be applied, although occasional buffing is generally required.