Different types of finishing for hardwood floors

Finishing   for hardwood floors is getting popular because they make your hardwood floors   water-resistant, durable and also helps in reducing the total amount of   maintenance and cleaning that your floor requires. They are generally termed   as polyurethane and urethane and they create a protective coating on your   hardwood floors. Satin, matte, semi-gloss and high-gloss are the different   types of textures.

Finishing hardwood floors can be done with many different types of   finishes. Some of the most common ones are mentioned below.

Moisture-treated   Urethane

It is polyurethane of the solvent-base type which is highly   durable and water-resistant when compared with all the other types of   finishes. It comes in ambering and non-yellowing types and is commonly found   in gloss and satin. This type of finish is very complicated to apply and have   a very strong smell. Thus, it is highly recommend that you should always hire   a professional for applying them.

Oil-treated Urethane

This is most common type of finishing for hardwood floors as it is   extremely easy to apply. It is made from petroleum and also contains   plasticizers, synthetic resins, and many other ingredients that promote the   firm formation process. The final result is highly durable and   moisture-resistant finish. It requires about 8-10 hours for drying and is available   in many different levels of sheen.

Water-treated   Urethane

This is a type of urethane which is created from water and   includes plasticizers, synthetic resins and many other types of film forming   ingredients. They are non-yellowing, clear and are available in different   levels of sheen. Their odor is not very strong and they generally dry in   about 4-5 hours. They are generally expensive.

Penetrating Sealants

These are solvent-based sealants that are applied on the floor and   then allowed to penetrate. The remaining sealant is then removed with the   help of rags or a buffing process which makes use of steel wool or synthetic   pads. They are available in different colors and are also used for sealing   and staining hardwood floors.

Paste Wax

Another common finish used for finishing hardwood floor is paste   wax. This is the oldest type of finish and many experts believe that it is   the best. They are extremely easy to apply, highly affordable and dries very   quickly. Moreover, if you care for your floor properly they can easily last   for decades. They are applied in multiple layers on the wood floor after the   sealant or stain is applied. Then it is buffed for the required level of   sheen.

If you have hardwood floor that is losing its shine, try one of   the above mentioned finishes and your floors will look like new and will have   enhanced durability in no time.