Wood Floor Finishes

While floor sealers protect floors by penetrating into the pores of the flooring material, the importance of a floor’s finish is, of course, the protective surface layer that is the first line of defense against floor damage. When it comes to a floor’s finish, professional installers have a wide range of finishes to choose from:

Oil-modified floor finishes
Water based floor finishes
Moisture cured urethanes
Acid cured urethanes (AKA Swedish Floor Finish)
Waxes and Oils

When it comes to helping customers choose the right kind of floor finish, make sure the following concerns are addressed to give clients a wide range of options.

Durability (abrasion/scratch resistance)
Look and style (color, sheen level)
Potential color changes over time
VOCs/green options
Maintenance
Dry/cure time

Fixing Floor Finish Mistakes

Proper care and preparation are needed for applying floor finish. Floors need to be properly sanded, cleaned or repaired before any finish is applied. Fixing flaws in a floor’s finish can be a costly, time-consuming job. Here’s a list of common floor finish mistakes and ways to prevent them.

Streaks. Ensure job site conditions are properly prepared for optimal drying. Most streaking problems can be traced back to the application or even the applicator itself. An easy way to eliminate problems with streaking is with the use of a roller.
Side bonding. Using a quality floor sealer will help prevent side bonding. Be sure to inform customers of their maintenance responsibilities, especially in climate regions where humidity can be an issue.
Peeling. Check to make sure the coatings you use are compatible with each other. Following manufacturer’s instructions will help give proper guidance on what abrasives are recommended when prepping the floor.
Blistering. Temperature control is often the cause of blistering. When finishing a floor, consider the sun and either cover the windows with plastic or plan the job early in the morning or late in the day. Make sure that the room is properly prepped to allow for proper airflow as the finish dries.
Uneven sheen. Make sure the floor finish is prepared according to manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that the finish is mixed well. If multiple containers of finish are needed to complete a single application, batch them together to ensure a uniform sheen.