Choosing the right floor finishing for your hardwoods can help bring a solid look together.
A hardwood floor is often a selling point for many homes. These floors come in many beautiful designs and colors that can add a sense of elegance and glamour to any home or business. In our blog, we often talk about the many types of hardwood floors, colors, and stains, or even unique alternatives like bamboo floors. Something equally important that’s often underappreciated by hardwood floor owners is the finishing of the hardwood floor. How well a floor meshes with a room design heavily depends on the hardwood floor finishing. Here are some facts about the underrated charm of different hardwood floor finishing and the design choices one has for their home.
What is Hardwood Floor Finishing?
Hardwood floor finishing is essentially the outermost coating of the floor. This coating is extremely important since it adds a layer of protection to the wood while also protecting those who walk on it from splinters or cuts. It also provides the signature shine of hardwood floors, depending on the type of finish.
Types of Floor Finishes
There are many types of finishings to choose from for your hardwood floor. Firstly, there are two categories of hardwood floor finishing: surface and penetrating finishes. Surface finishing is applied to the top layer of the floors after the hardwoods have been installed, usually by a brush system. This will eventually harden and provide the hardwoods with a layer of protection. This is the most common form of hardwood floor finishing, and there are many types of surface finishings to choose from. Some include:
- fast-drying water-based finishes
- amber-tinted moisture-cured finishes
- conversion varnish
- wooden floor wax
- aluminum oxide
There are also penetrating finishes. This is an oil-based hardwood floor finishing treatment that actually seeps into the wood itself. This is a great solution for extra durable and long-lasting flooring, more so than surface finishing, but it tends to have a longer cure time.
Factory Finish or Site Finish?
A factory finish is a pre-installed finish that is applied to the hardwood floor long before it is installed in your home. This is generally the cheaper option. The other choice is on-site hardwood floor finishing, which is done at home after placement of the hardwoods. This is more expensive but allows for more customization.
Sheen and Shine
Sheen is how much light reflects off of the finish. There are four typical types of sheen that can be chosen: gloss, which is the shiniest and reflective; semi-gloss, which is still shiny but not as much; satin, which has a very subtle shine; and matte, which has very little shine, if any. Sheen pairs well with a lot of looks, but the more sheen you have, the more obvious scratches and cracks become.
Ready for a Beautiful Hardwood Floor? Trust John K Eareckson & Co.
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co., Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors undergo a stress-free acclimation process and that they sparkle for years to come; from a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information, visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also look for us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.