Choosing a finish for your wood floor is important, not only does the finish effect the asthetics of the floor but will also determine how you maintain the floor and its durability.
| Product/Attribute | Water based Urethane | Oil Based Urethane | Moisture Cured Urethane | Aluminium Oxide Urethane | Hard Wax Oil | UV Oil Finish | Wax |
| Type | Surface Finish | Surface Finish | Surface Finish | Surface Finish | Penetrating Finish | Penetrating Finish | Penetrating Finish |
| Description | A fast drying hard wearing Lacquer that is odourless and non yellowing | Hard wearing lacquer, emits odours during installation so adequate ventilation, ambers with age | Very hard wearing and is non yellowing, dependent on moisture to cure the finish and as a result is difficult to apply, emits odours during installation so adequate ventilation. | UV Cured Lacquer Finish with small chips of Aluminium Oxide directly into the floor’s finish which dramatically increases the life of the floor | Made from vegetable oils and natural waxes. Uses a odourless safe solvent to cure the finish. It is non-yellowing, hard wearing and penetrates into the wood. Unlike Urethane lacquers it can be spot repaired. | A UV cured Oil finish is a factory applied finish that is similar to hard wax oil but is slightly harder. Unlike Urethane lacquers it can be spot repaired. Unlike ‘Natural Oil’ finish that many prefinished oiled floors have a UV oiled floor does not require additional coats of oil to be applied when installing. | A traditional finish and easy to apply. Gives a soft natural sheen and enhances the look of the timber. Regular buffing is required to maintain a sheen, depending on the traffic rewaxing should be expected every 12-18 months. Can mark with water. For best results a floor sealer is applied prior to waxing the floor. |
| Suitability | Residential to Medium Commercial | Residential to Medium Commercial | Residential to Heavy Commercial | Residential and medium commercial floors. | Residential to Heavy Commercial | Residential and medium commercial floors. | Residential and medium commercial floors. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner or anti-static dry mop. Clean floor with dedicated cleaning products. Various products are available including spray on floor and dry mop or dilute with water and use well wrung out mop to clean floor, always remove excess water with a cloth. Spot repairs are very difficult. Sanding floor and refinishing the floor is often only option. | Remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner or anti-static dry mop. Clean floor with dedicated cleaning products. Various products are available including spray on floor and dry mop or dilute with water and use well wrung out mop to clean floor, always remove excess water with a cloth. Spot repairs are very difficult. Sanding floor and refinishing the floor is often only option. | Remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner or anti-static dry mop. Clean floor with dedicated cleaning products. Various products are available including spray on floor and dry mop or dilute with water and use well wrung out mop to clean floor, always remove excess water with a cloth. Spot repairs are very difficult. Sanding floor and refinishing the floor is often only option. | Remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner or anti-static dry mop. Clean floor with dedicated cleaning products. Various products are available including spray on floor and dry mop or dilute with water and use well wrung out mop to clean floor, always remove excess water with a cloth. Spot repairs are very difficult. Sanding floor and refinishing the floor is often only option. | Remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner or anti-static dry mop, Use a natural floor soap diluted with water. Apply with a well wrung out mop. Regular applications of maintenance wax with use of buffing machine will keep the finish looking good and improve the finish with time. Stubborn marks, scratches can be sanded and then reapply hard wax oil. Spot repairs can be made. | For daily cleaning remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner or anti-static dry mop. For more stubborn marks use damp cleaning method use a natural floor soap diluted with water. Apply with a well wrung out mop. Stubborn marks, scratches can be sanded and then reapply hard wax or maintenance oil. Spot repairs can be made. | Remove dust and grit with vacuum cleaner of dry mop. Buffing (with or without additional wax being applied) will keep the finish looking good and improve the finish with time. Be careful to not apply too much wax. When re-buffing does not restore theshine re-apply a new thin coat of wax. Stubborn marks can be removed with a wax cleaner and re-apply wax. Spot repairs can be made. |
| Eco Attributes | Depending on manufacturer contains very low emissions and complies with the European Toy Safety Standard EN 71.3 | None | None | None | Mostly made with natural ingredients. | Mostly made with natural ingredients. | Depending on manufacturer some contain harmful substances. Eco friendly options available from manufacturers such as Auro and Nutshell |
| Brand Names | Auro, Blanchon, Bona Kemi, Liberon, Treatex | Granwax | n/a | Auro, Blanchon, Bona Kemi, Osmo, Liberon, Treatex | n/a | Auro, Liberon, Nutshell | |
| Appearance | Not as natural looking as oil or wax finishes, Available in ultra matt, satin and gloss. Non-yellowing | Not as natural looking as oil or wax finishes, Available in ultra matt, satin and gloss. Slight amber in colour | Not as natural looking as oil or wax finishes, Available in ultra matt, satin and gloss. Ambers in colour | Not as natural looking as oil or wax finishes, Available in ultra matt, satin and gloss. Non-yellowing | Natural look to the floor and available in matt and satin | Natural look to the floor although does give a slight satin appearance at first, will become more matt over time. | Soft natural transparent sheen and enhances the look of the timber |
| Ease of application | Professional installer recommended | Professional installer recommended | Professional installer recommended | Factory applied only | Easy to medium difficulty | Factory applied only | Easy to medium difficulty |
| Drying Time | 2-3 hours | 8-10 hours | 2-12 hours depending on humidity | n/a – factory applied only | 2-6 hours | n/a | 30 minutes |
| Life time cost | Medium cost since the floor will need to be sanded and sealed from time to time, reducing the wear layer for the timber and associated costs with re sealing | Medium cost since the floor will need to be sanded and sealed from time to time, reducing the wear layer for the timber and associated costs with re sealing | Medium cost since the floor will need to be sanded and sealed from time to time, reducing the wear layer for the timber and associated costs with re sealing | Medium cost since the floor will need to be sanded and sealed from time to time, reducing the wear layer for the timber and associated costs with re sealing | Low cost, floors should not need sanding if maintained properly thus extending the life of the floor | Low cost, floors should not need sanding if maintained properly thus extending the life of the floor | Low cost, floors should not need sanding if maintained properly thus extending the life of the floor |