Common Wood Flooring 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 polyurethane's remain on the surface of the wood and form a protective coating. They are generally available in high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin and matte.

Types Of Wood Floor Finishes

1. Aluminum Oxide is the latest technology in finishes. It is designed to further extend the life of hardwood floors and make them more durable than ever before. All pre-finished wood flooring sold by Kittle’s Flooring Company come from the manufacturer with polyurethane finishes containing aluminum oxide to enhance the abrasion-resistance qualities of the floor. Some manufacturers report that this finish is 10 times more abrasion-resistant than other wood finishes, and are guaranteed for up to 25 years. These superior qualities have made aluminum oxide the finish of choice for most applications.

Multiple Coats of UV-Cured Urethane Finish containing aluminum oxide are sprayed on to the sanded but unfinished surface of the flooring.  It is then cured instantly by exposing the coating to high-intensity ultraviolet light (UV). The result is a smooth but tough, scratch resistant, abrasion resistant, stain resistant, and moisture resistant wear layer that is easy to maintain. This process is much quicker and more environmentally friendly than using finishes containing solvents which need to evaporate into the atmosphere in order to cure.

2. Oil-modified urethane is generally the most common site-applied surface finish and is easy to apply. It is a petroleum base with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film forming ingredients that produces a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. It is a solvent-base polyurethane that dries in about eight hours. This type of finish ambers with age. and comes in different sheen levels.
 

3. 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 gloss. These finishes are extremely difficult to apply, have a strong odor and are best left to the professional. Curing of this type of finish is by absorbing minute quantities of moisture vapor from the air, which causes them to dry and harden. The curing process is very dependant on relative humidity.
 

4. Water-based urethane is a water-borne urethane with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film forming ingredients that produces a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. These finishes are clear and non-yellowing and are  different sheen levels. They have a milder odor than oil-modified finishes have and they dry in about two to three hours. Water-based urethanes are generally more expensive.
 

5. Varnish- Vinyl-alkyd varnishes have superseded natural varnish made from vegetable oils. This product was commonly used before urethane finishes where introduced.

6. Paste Wax is the oldest, and in some ways the best. Wax is the easiest to apply, least expensive, fastest drying, easiest to repair, and with proper care will survive forever. Wax over a penetrating stain, and the system is in the wood so you wear the wood, not the finish. Wax is spread in thin coats for a surface protection after the stain and/or sealer is applied, then buffed to the desired sheen.

Some Wood Finishes Unsuitable for Wood Flooring

1. Lacquer - The flammability and incompatibility of this floor finish is NOT a recommended by many manufacturers. This finish should avoided.

2. Shellac - This product (natural shellac) is made from the waxy secretions of an insect and is not widely used for top coating in today's wood flooring market.

Properties of Wood Flooring Finishes