Floor Finishing Products Guide
Real wood floors do need high-quality floor finishing products. Even premium quality wooden flooring will get worn down and damaged over time. Minor imperfections will appear on the surface, including scratches, marks, some stains. The job of floor finishing products is to protect the wooden surface from such imperfections, preventing quicker wear and tear. Floor finishing products are important because they minimise the risk of smaller imperfections growing bigger and turning into more serious issues. High-quality floor finishing products will protect your floor for a long time and improve its durability and hard-wearing power. Floor finishing products are important not only for high traffic areas of the floor or floors that generally are busier and experience heavy footfall. Floor finishing products are important for every real wood floor out there, be it solid wood, engineered wood or parquet floor.
Floor finishing products do not only ensure the protection and hard-wearing power of your wooden floor, but they also can change the way it looks and feels. Depending on the floor finishing products you choose, floor finishing products can make a floor look more stylish or more natural, change its colour a bit or significantly. It is all up to you and your desire to keep the natural look of the floor or transform it – based on your preferences you will be able to choose the right floor finishing products. Floor finishing products can slightly alter the texture and colour of real wood. Floor finishing products are available in a few different options. Below you will be able to learn more about the different types of floor finishing products.
Natural Oil Floor Finishing Products
Natural oil floor finishing products get more and more popular in recent years and there is no wonder why. Natural oil floor finishing products are not only a more sustainable and good choice for eco-friendly people, but they also look very natural and allow the natural beauty, colour, and texture of the wooden floorboards to be visible and enjoyed. Natural oil floor finishing products even enhance the natural beauty of wood, so if you are a fan of this minimalistic and simple look for your wooden flooring, this type of floor finishing product is the best option for you. However, natural oil floor finishing products are not only a good choice because of the way they will make your floor look.
These floor finishing products ensure great protection for your wooden floor. Unlike other types of floor finishing products, natural oil floor finishing products actually soak into the wooden structure of the floorboards and ensure protection and hard-wearing durability not only on the surface of the floor but also from within the whole flooring structure. In addition, natural oil floor finishing products are pretty easy to maintain in good condition. Once you start noticing the oil finish of your floor is worn down and needs a renewal, natural oil floor finishing products do not necessarily require a sanding step beforehand and they can be reapplied directly on the surface of the floor. The process is known as re-oiling.
UV Oil Floor Finishing Products
UV oil floor finishing products are similar to natural oil floor finishing products but come with a twist. UV oil floor finishing products, as the name suggests, come with a UV filter added to the finish. UL oil floor finishing products are designed to not only protect your wooden floor from scratches, marks, dents, stains but also wear and tear and ensure long-lasting durability. These floor finishing products also protect the wooden floorboards from the damaging impact of the sun when the floor is exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. Prolonged and direct exposure to the sun can lead to a number of issues, including dry and cracking floorboards and finish, yellowing of the finish or fading of the original colour of wood, and more. However, thanks to UV oil floor finishing products, you are able to protect your floor and nourish the wooden floorboards to prevent excessive dryness.
Lacquer Floor Finishing Products
Lacquer floor finishing products are probably the most popular and classic type of floor finishing products. Lacquers have been around for many decades and people choose this type of floor finishing product for their amazing durability, hard-wearing and long-lasting power. Lacquer floor finishing products create a durable and strong clear film layer on top of the wooden floor that has been treated with this kind of floor finishing product. This hard-wearing clear layer is what protects the wooden floorboards from the whole palette of possible imperfections and issues. Lacquer floor finishing products also look very elegant and have a timeless beauty. Lacquers are available with different finishes and effects, everything from matte, through satin, to a high gloss. However, the most popular lacquer floor finishing products remain the glossy ones, because they look really elegant and stylish.
Wax Floor Finishing Products
Hard wax finishes are yet another classic option for the protection of your wooden floor. Currently, they are not the most popular option on the market, but some homeowners still do prefer them because of the benefits they offer. Wax finishes have a low VOC content and are mostly manufactured from natural products, which makes them an eco-friendly choice. They give the floor a warm and cosy feel thanks to the matte and low-sheen surface they create. Wood floor waxes are also the type of finish you would pick when you want to enhance and highlight the natural beauty, colour and texture of the wood species.
Upkeep is easy and once the wax finish starts wearing down, all you need it having it reapplied with no sanding necessary for flawless results and even application. However, keep in mind that when you choose a wax finish, the floor must be sealed before it is waxed, which is one extra step you need to deal with. Wax finishes also require to be applied on multiple layers until you achieve a uniform and durable protective layer. Unfortunately, wax finishes are not very scratch-resistant and they can darken wooden over time.
