Wood Floor Finishes

All wood floors require a finish, whether it be penetrating finishes or surface finishes, to protect against everyday wear and tear. It is important to consider the type of wear your floors will encounter based on your lifestyle. Our estimator can help guide you in determining which finish, including options like wood floor wax, will work best.

Surface finishes are film-forming finishes that adhere to the surface of the wood, creating a protective coating. There are several types of surface finishes available. 

Water-based finishes are typically clear, highly durable, and dry quickly. Oil-based finishes have an amber hue and offer exceptional durability. Moisture-cured finishes range from clear to amber in color, providing extreme durability and greater moisture resistance compared to other surface finishes. Conversion varnish finishes are also clear to slightly amber and are known for their remarkable durability. 

Wood floor wax forms a penetrating protective seal that hardens on the wood, resulting in a low luster, amber finish. While durable, wood floor wax requires more frequent maintenance. UV-cured finishes are usually water-based and cure instantly using ultraviolet light, making them suitable for both site application and manufacturing processes. Aluminum oxide finishes, applied during manufacturing, are extremely durable as well. 

In contrast, penetrating finishes include natural oil finishes, such as penetrating oils or hard wax oil finishes. These penetrate the pores of the wood, hardening to create a long-lasting and durable finish.

With factory-finished wood floors, the finish and color are applied at the factory, long before it reaches your home. You will be able to walk on the floors immediately after installation.

A site finish is applied at the job site, in the room where the flooring is being installed. This offers the most customization, with an unlimited palette of color and finish options, but also requires drying time during which you will not be able to walk on the floor.

The sheen of your wood floor finish is a matter of personal preference and lifestyle.

Gloss finishes offer the most shine and reflect the most light. Semi-gloss finishes offer some shine and reflect some light. Satin finishes offer less light reflection. Matte finishes offer the least shine and reflect the least light.

The less sheen, the less you will notice small scratches and other normal wear.

The natural colors of wood are often highlighted within each wood floor. These natural colors may be toned up or down to create darker or lighter versions of the wood itself.

With the help of stains and a variety of color recipes, the color options for your floors are endless.