Hardwood flooring finishes are very important because they protect the actual hardwood from wear and tear and other natural happenings. If hardwood flooring is protected with a finish, the floor will maintain its beauty and increase its durability.
Hardwood flooring topped with the right finish will have a barrier to protect it from dirt and other substances that can make it look dull.
Surface Finishes
This type of hardwood flooring finish is generally characterized by a plastic-like finish making it look very shiny and polished. The usual material used for this type of finish is polyurethane. Polyurethane is one of the most popular and widely-used finish used in most homes today. It requires minimal maintenance and is resistant to water.
Also, surface finishes come in a variety of different shines: high-gloss, semi-gloss, matte and satin. Several types of hardwood flooring surface finishes include oil-modified urethane, moisture-cured urethane, water-based urethane, conversion-varnish sealers, penetrating sealers, paste wax, varnish, lacquer and shellac.
Pre-finished Hardwood Flooring
Pre-finished hardwood flooring is when the factory applies the finish to the hardwood flooring before installation. Common applications used to cure the hardwood flooring are acrylic impregnated, acrylic urethane, aluminum oxide, ceramic, polyurethane and UV cured.
Penetrating Hardwood Finishes
Penetrating finishes use wax which penetrate the hardwood flooring, enabling the absorption process to take place. The usual substances used for this process are oils and waxes which give the hardwood flooring a satiny or matte appearance depending on the degree. Since the finish is penetrated and absorbed into the hardwood flooring, the texture of the hardwood flooring would remain the same, usually grainy and coarse. One advantage of this finish is that protection comes from within the hardwood flooring, making the hardwood very durable.
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