Sunday 19 April 2009

Protecting Your Floor With Wood Finish

If you have wooden flooring then you may have noticed that it does not take much for the floor to become damaged and worn. However, with a little added protection you can easily help to stop this damage and keep your wooden flooring looking as good as new. One way to do this is to add a finish to the floor and that will help to protect it from any wear and tear as well as potential environmental damage.

The Different Types of Wood Floor Finish Products Available

There are different types of wood floor finish products available to purchase and each one has its own requirements as to how to keep it looking good afterwards. Also not all finishing products are the same time wise either. Some will take longer to apply than others and so when you actually do go on the lookout for a product to suit you, make sure that you do keep this in mind.

Generally people tend to turn towards the penetrating sealer which is used to penetrate the wood’s surface. It has a slight satin type finish and the reason it is so popular is because it is extremely hardy and it will last for ages no matter whether there is a lot of people walking over it or not with just one coat. However if you do have a lot of people coming and going where the flooring is going to be, it would still be a good idea to add a second coat just in case.

In order to place this second coat on properly, it would be a good idea to first do the initial coat and let it dry. Then use a fine steel wool to gently and slowly buff the surface of the floor. Only do this gently as otherwise you will take the first layer off and that is not what you want! After you have made the layer smooth, it is then that you should apply the second layer and let it dry thoroughly before anybody walks over it.

Of course not everybody has a large time gap in which they can leave the floor to dry so if that sounds like you then you will be pleased to know that there is a fast drying option available for you to choose from as well as a normal drying option.

If you do not want to try the penetrating sealer then there are other varieties available. The ‘Surface Finish’ range is also fairly good and the polyurethane is also particularly popular. This would be ideal if you were placing the flooring in the kitchen or the bathroom for example as it has a high tolerance for moisture. You can choose to purchase these surface finishes in either a high gloss option or a matte option; it all basically depends upon individual preference.

Overall all of the different types of finishes are different and it would be a wise idea to do a little research before actually purchasing one for your home. Some will show imperfections more than others for example and some look slightly glossier than others. So look around and decide upon where you are having the wooden floor and what protection it might need. That way you will end up with a wood floor finish which will last for years to come.

No comments: