When choosing the right type of finish for your wood floors, consider your lifestyle and maintenance preferences. All wood floors will require routine maintenance, such as sweeping or dust mopping, to keep them looking beautiful and new, but different wood flooring finishes will have a big impact on how you care for your floor long-term, as well as how your floor will look in the years to come.
Surface
Durable, water resistant, and requires the least amount of maintenance. Surface finishes remain on the top of the wood to protect it. There are many different types of surface finishes:
- Water-based are clear, will resist turning yellow over time, dries in two to three hours, and are very durable.
- Oil-based are amber in color, moderate odor when applied, will dry in about eight hours, and are very durable.