When it comes to choosing the right finish for your hardwood flooring, the first thing you need to do is think of how you are going to be using your space. You need to remember that choosing a finish with a higher sheen will leave scratches more visible. If you are choosing finish for a heavy traffic area, this may not be the best choice. Mike’s Custom Flooring is here to talk about different hardwood flooring finishes so you will know which one is best for your space.
Oil Based Hardwood Floor Finish
Gyms and other commercial settings prefer this type of glossy finish. It isn’t a common choice in residential settings. It is important to note that when using an oil based finish, it has a strong odor and takes a long time to cure. You should plan on 8-10 hours for it to fully dry.
Water Based Hardwood Floor Finish
Water based finishes have a much lower VOC content than oil based finishes and don’t have the same strong smell when being applied. While you may have to use more coats of the water based finish, you don’t have to wait as long for those coats to dry. It tends to be a little more expensive than oil based finishes.
Moisture Cured Polyurethane Hardwood Floor Finish
This type of finish will absorb the moisture in the air while it cures. This has an extremely high VOC content and you should wear the proper safety equipment to protect yourself against the fumes. Moisture cured polyurethane finishes are more durable and water resistant almost all of the other finishes out there.
Penetrating Oil Finish for Hardwood Floors
If you have old, antique flooring in your home, this is a great finish choice. It is an oil that penetrates the wood and fills in the pores to create a seal. This type of finish takes an extremely long time to dry; you need to plan on 24-48 hours.
Hardwood Floor Wax Products
This was a common choice before polyurethane finishes were made. While this is a durable option that will also penetrate into the pores of the wood, it still leaves your flooring susceptible to water damage. It also requires maintenance more often than other finish options.
High Gloss, Semi Gloss & Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring Sheen
Hardwood flooring finishes come in 4 different sheens: matte, satin, semi-gloss & glossy. When it comes to choosing the right sheen, it all comes down to person preference. However, like we mentioned above, if you choose a high gloss sheen, the light will reflect off the surface and if there are any scratches or dents they will be highly visible.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing Services & More in Charles Town & Eastern Panhandle of Berkeley & Jefferson Counties in WV | Winchester & Frederick County | Round Hill & Loudoun County | Berryville & Clarke County | Herndon & Fairfax County VA
It doesn’t matter what finish or sheen you choose for your hardwood flooring; you want the job to be done right. When you have invested in hardwood flooring, you want it to be protected from normal wear and tear. At Mike’s Custom Flooring, we can help you achieve whatever look you are going for with our hardwood floor finishing services. Call us today!
