"Lasting beauty requires
minimal care with today's wood floor finishes. 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 polyurethanes remain on the
surface of the wood and form a protective coating. They are generally available in
high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin and matte. Any one of the surface finishes are appropriate
for the kitchen.
There are basically four
types of surface finishes:
- Oil-modified urethane
is easy to apply. It is a solvent-base polyurethane that dries in about eight hours. This
type of finish ambers with age.
- Moisture-cured urethane
is a solvent-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.
- Conversion varnish
is
clear and dries in about 8 hours. It is durable and non-yellowing. These finishes have an
extremely strong odor and should be applied by the highly skilled wood flooring
professional.
- Water-based urethane
is a waterborne urethane that dries by water evaporation. These finishes are clear and
non-yellowing. They have a milder odor and dry in about two to three hours.
Penetrating
Stain and Wax -
This finish soaks into the pores of the wood and hardens to
form a protective penetrating seal. The wax gives a low-gloss satin sheen. It is generally
maintained with additional thin applications of wax. Only solvent-based (never
water-based) waxes, buffing pastes or cleaning liquids (specifically made for
wax-finished, wood floors) should be used.
Information
Provided by the National Wood Flooring Association
