You have just installed the new wood flooring and you would like to enjoy it more than several years: not to wear out, absorb the moisture, become brittle, or fade over the time. All these demands will be satisfied if you choose the right finishing for your floor. Furthermore, the finish gives the lasting attractive color and beautiful sheen.
Floor finishes forms a protective coating, and this makes wood more durable, moisture resistant, so the floor surface will have a surface-build protection from outside elements. The hardwood floor has to be finished in order to endure the longevity and natural beauty and this gives you the possibility to personalize your floors.
Probably you noticed the glossy appearance of the floor and smoothness, this is polyurethane, it is durable and easy-to-apply finishing, perfectly protects your floor project. It can be based on water or oil; the differences are in the application and durability.
- Oil-based polyurethanes – it is a petroleum base with a blend of synthetic resins finish. Usually it dries during the eight hours (longer the water-based polyurethanes), and this type of finish comes in different sheens, so the surface coat dries and can be easily recoated. This type of finish will require from three to seven days to become hard enough before furniture can be placed on it.
- Water-based polyurethanes – more durable (some of them), moisture and spills resistant, than oil-based polyurethanes, and comes in satin, semi or gloss, the final color won’t get darker in time, it dries faster, one coat of water-based polyureth anes will dry in an hour, so you can even walk on it.
Other options
- Lacquer – a clear or colored varnish; when it dries the solvent evaporates so a hard, durable finishing is produced, can be polished. It used sometimes as a floor finish. It dries rapidly, and as a rule, the second coat can be applied in the same day. The main disadvantage of using lacquer is that it is not as resistant to the moisture, spills and mechanical wear as polyurethanes are.
- Varnishes – this product was commonly used before polyurethanes finished were developed and introduced. It can be applied with a brush, making the floor looks smoothly, the first coat is considered to be a sealer, the best choice of varnishes is to use only those that are manufactured for floor, pay close attention to the composition if it is a liquid then it should have a solvent base, not a water one.
- Penetrating Sealers – are solved based made from linseed oil and some affixes which help to dry fast and give to the floor its hardness. Sometimes they are spread on the floor and left to permeate into it, or also sealers can be mopped on with a clean mop, think over that the final stroking has to be in the direction of the wood texture. The sealers will not peel, crack, or shatter, they are easy to repair by brushing or rubbing on another coat, but the surface can collect dust and water-spot.
Something about VOC’s
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – organic compounds that have high vapor pressure and low water solubility. VOCs contain the element carbon in their molecular structures. They are used and produced in the manufacture of protective coatings for floors. When the finish dries, the smell is from the evaporation of VOC’s used in the solvent. Typical solvents are aliphatic hydrocarbons, acetone, glycol ethers, and ethyl acetate. VOCs have effects on the human health. The health effects of Volatile Organic Compounds will depend on the nature of the compound and the level of exposure and the length of exposure.
All types of hardwood floor finishes should be renewed when the scratches are seen or it became worn from the traffic and spills. In this case, the floor has to be cleaned from the dirt and the surface layer has to be removed. The new layers will be applied and dry without interference with the old layers and you will have again a brand-new floor.
TipTop Flooring Inc. is a professional flooring services firm serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). We provide professional workmanship. We invite you to find out even more about lacquer finishes for your wood floor on our web site – https://www.tiptopflooring.ca/all-about-wood-floors/floor-finished/