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Wood Floor Finishes create lasting beauty and requires minimal care
with today's modern technology in wood floor finish products. The
right finish protects wood flooring from wear, dirt and moisture while
giving the wood an attractive color and sheen. Today most wood floors
are finished with a stain and a top coat. Technology has provided a
wide selection of wood flooring finishes, each with its own distinct
benefits and appearances.
Surface Finishes -
Surface finishes are very popular today because they are durable,
water-resistant and require minimal maintenance. Surface finishes are
blends of synthetic resins. These finishes most often referred to as
urethanes or polyurethane's remain on the surface of the wood and form
a protective coating. They are generally available in high-gloss,
semi-gloss, satin and matte.
There are
basically five (5) main types of surface finishes:
1.Oil-modified
urethane is generally the most common surface finish
and is easy to apply. It is a solvent-base polyurethane that dries in
about eight hours. This type of finish ambers with age.
2.Moisture-cure urethane
is a water-base polyurethane that is more durable and more moisture
resistant than other surface finishes. Moisture-cure urethane comes in
non-yellowing and in ambering types and is generally available in
satin or gloss. These finishes are extremely difficult to apply, have
a strong odor and are best left to the professional.
3.Swedish finish or acid cure
urethane is a clear and fast drying finish. It is
durable and non-yellowing. These finishes have an extremely strong
odor and should be applied by the highly skilled wood flooring
professional.
4.Water-based urethane
is a waterborne urethane that dries by water evaporation. These
finishes are clear and non-yellowing. They have a milder odor than
oil-modified finishes have and they dry in about two to three hours.
Water-based urethanes are generally more expensive.
5.Alumiunum Oxide Finishes-
The newest in wood floor finishes offers a long lasting more durable
coating than past wood floor finishes. These finishes carry a limited
25 year wear warranties, and are available on most major prefinished
wood floors. These finishes are not available to the general public.
Wax- The
oldest, and in some ways the best. Wax is the easiest to apply, least
expensive, fastest drying, easiest to repair, and with proper care
will survive forever. Wax over a penetrating stain, and the system is
in the wood so you wear the wood, not the finish. Proper care involves
maintenance with colored waxes. Water will spot the waxed surface and
must be removed (or prevented). Buffing is required. Periodically, wax
must be added, and this conjures up the memory of Grandma on her
knees.
CUSTOM FINISHES
"Custom," by definition, means performed to individual specifications.
Custom finishing of wood floors is performed in the home on the
completely installed new floor, or to refurbish a previously finished
floor. Custom finishing permits the decorator and owner to select from
a full range of color and surface types', from shine to sheen, not
being restricted to factory-selected.
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What
type of finish do you have?
Here are some simple steps to help you determine if the finish is a
wax finish, shellac or varnish finish or a surface finish. If the
floor was installed, or last serviced, before the mid '60s, you should
assume the finish used was varnish or shellac. To determine this,
scratch the surface with a coin or other sharp object in a corner or
other inconspicuous space. If the finish flakes, it is probably
shellac or varnish. Shellac and varnish are rarely used anymore and
require full sanding to remove before application of a surface finish
or wax finish.
Next, check the
floor for wax finish. In an inconspicuous area, corner or behind a
door, apply two(2) drops of water. If, within ten minutes, white spots
appear under the drops of water, the floor has a wax finish. To remove
the white spots, gently rub the spots with steel wool dampened with
wax.
If the finish does
not flake from scratching with a coin and white spots do not appear
from the drops of water, the floor has a surface finish and should be
maintained accordingly.
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