Hardwood Finishes

When matching the color of an existing floor, it might be necessary to install an unfinished floor and then stain the floor to closey match the existing floor. This is the preferd method for matching existing floors as the color of hardwood changes over time due to environmental factors such as sunlight, resulting in a unique shade and color that will differ from the newly purchased floor, even if the new factory finished floor is the same style, brand and stain as the existing floor.

Hardwood floors are available with varying levels of sheen and gloss. Selecting the level of gloss will depend upon the overall design theme of the room. High gloss floors offer a formal look, however scratches are more visible when compared to semi-gloss and low-gloss floors. Low-gloss and satin sheen floors do not reflect light and are more suitable to modern and contemporary design and also tend to hide scratches and imperfections in the wood.

Wood floor finishes are categorized as surface or penetrating finishes. Penetrating finishes soak into the pores of the wood and harden to form a protective penetrating seal. These finishes offer a low-gloss or matt appearance and will not chip or scratch and only wear as the wood wears. Penetrating finishes consist of oils and stains which are then finished with wax.

Surface finishes consist of synthetic resins, most commonly urethane or polyurethane, and remain on the surface forming a protective barrier. These are the most widely used finishes due to their high level of durability, water resistance, ease maintenance and are available with a matt, semi-gloss and high–gloss appearance.

Below is a list of the more popular finishes applied to hardwood floors.

Acrylic Impregnated – Acrylic monomers are injected into the cell structure of the wood, resulting in an incredibly hard and durable structure. These floors are more expensive and well suited to commercial applications.

Aluminum Oxide – This is the most widely used finish today, and consists of polyurethane with the addition of aluminum oxide particles that give the floor a higher degree of abrasion resistance, resulting in a more durable and scratch resistant surface

Ceramic – This finish is not widely used, however it is extremely durable and when applied offers a higher level of abrasion resistance. This space age finish is gaining in popularity and will probably set the standard for hardwood floor finishes in the future.

Polyurethane – This is a clear finish that is applied as a wear layer and gives the floor a high degree of durability by protecting it from foot traffic.

Wax – Wax is the oldest form of hardwood finish, and although not as durable as modern polyurethane finishes, it is the cheapest and easiest to apply and repair. The main draw back of wax finishes is that they are not water resistant and spills will result in spots on the surface. Provided that wax floors are maintained properly and waxed routinely, they should last a lifetime.

Note that a hardwood floor finish warranty does not cover scratching, fading, denting or staining, as these are inherent characteristics of any hardwood; however the treatments mentioned above aid in limiting these inheret weaknesses.