Hardwood Flooring Specialists
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There are basically five (5) main types of surface finishes:
Oil-modified-Moisture-cure-Acid cure-Water-based-Alumiunum Oxide-Other
1. Oil-modified urethane
- generally the most common surface finish and is easy to apply. It is a solvent-base polyurethane that dries in about eight hours. This type of finish ambers with age.
2. Moisture-cure urethane
- a water-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.
3. Swedish finish or acid cure urethane
- a clear and fast drying finish. It is durable and non-yellowing. These finishes have an extremely strong odor and should be applied by the highly skilled wood flooring professional.
4. Water-based urethane
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a waterborne urethane that dries by water evaporation. These finishes are clear and non-yellowing. 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. Alumiunum Oxide Finishes
- The newest in wood floor finishes offers a long lasting more durable coating than past wood floor finishes. These finishes carry a limited 25 year wear warranties, and are available on most major prefinished wood floors. These finishes are not available to the general public.
Wax
- 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. Proper care involves maintenance with colored waxes. Water will spot the waxed surface and must be removed (or prevented). Buffing is required. Periodically, wax must be added, and this conjures up the memory of Grandma on her knees.
CUSTOM FINISHES
- "Custom," by definition, means performed to individual specifications. Custom finishing of wood floors is performed in the home on the completely installed new floor, or to refurbish a previously finished floor. Custom finishing permits the decorator and owner to select from a full range of color and surface types', from shine to sheen, not being restricted to factory-selected.