Refinishing hardwood floors may seem too difficult, but the good news is that those dull, damaged hardwood floors don’t necessarily need long hauls of fixing, sanding, and resealing. That said, there are some creative ways to bring it back to life without going through a tedious process.Whether you’re installing hardwood floors for the first time or refinishing an existing floor, it will give your floors a great look. It’s important to consider several different hardwood finishes. Choosing the right polish will not only dramatically change the look and feel of your floor, but it will also determine the amount of maintenance required. Here are the top five options to consider:
Polyurethane
You can choose from oil-based or water-based polyurethanes. Water-based polys are easier to apply, are more expensive, but dry much faster. While oil-based poly has high VOC and strong odor, it has low VOC and low odor, but is much more durable than water-based poly. Water-based polyurethane is environmentally friendly and has a reputation for becoming transparent when dry. Oil-based polyurethanes leave a light amber color after drying. Choose from either water-based or oil-based polys for a high-loss, long-lasting, durable finish. wax
Waxes have longest been used for hardwood finishes, but they are not as durable as the more common poly finishes. This coating gives the floor an organic and sober look in contrast to the glossy modern finish. However, wax is a low maintenance finish, at least in the short term as it can be reapplied to small areas, but in the long term it is a high maintenance type of finish as it needs to be recoated more frequently. When changing from a wax finish to a poly finish, all wax must be removed prior to applying the poly finish.
penetrating oil sealer
Oil sealers are easy to apply, but not as durable as poly finishes. A traditional type of finish, like a wax, with a softer sheen than a polyurethane finish. Permeable oil seals are perfect for those who want to maintain the look and feel of wax without the hassle. The oil penetrates the hardwoods and adds depth to the color of your floor for a rich, beautiful finish.
acid hardened surface
This is a professional parquet finish considered one of the best. When it comes to hardwood floors, acid-cured finishes are the most resilient, but can be quite expensive at $3.75 to $5 per square foot. This type of finish takes about two hours to dry, but can take up to 60 days to fully cure. After that, it will take another 3 days for the floor to be safe to walk on, and another 2 weeks for furniture to be placed on it.
moisture cure urethane
This type of coating is also one of the most resilient modern floor coatings on the market, but is also known for having the highest VOC levels. H. Vapors can linger for weeks. It also dries very quickly, making it difficult to apply, and its high VOC content makes proper ventilation and respirator essential during application. Hardwood floors no longer need sanding to look good. It’s important to choose a reputable floor finisher to help you decide what kind of flooring you need.