Floor Finishes
As we dive headlong into the 2020s, hardwood floors remain as popular as ever, and arguably even more so. Adding the perfect combination of class, style and cosiness to a property, more and more home and business owners are choosing wood over carpet, tiling and other flooring options.
But in order to retain a beautiful hardwood floor finish in Perth, you need to take care of the timber. If you let your floors fall into disrepair, it can be difficult to get them back to their former glory. Preventative maintenance like floor polishing and floor sanding in Perth ensures that your investment is protected.
So what are the best forms of protection? Which finishes are best for floor polishing in Perth, both now and into the future? Let’s take a look at four of the best.
Water-based polyurethane - Water-based polyurethane is one of the most popular hardwood finishes for a reason. Despite appearing milky in the can, it offers a perfectly clear finish that dries quickly and resists yellowing. The final look is smooth and lustrous, and can almost appear ‘wet’ if enough layers are applied. Application is hassle-free, and odour and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are low.
The most common issue with water-based polyurethane finishes is that because of their gloss, they can tend to show scratches, dirt, and pet hair more easily than other options.
Oil-based polyurethane - The oil-based version of the polyurethane finish is far more durable, making it perfect for high traffic areas. This durability does come at a cost though – it is slow to dry, has a high level of VOCs, is flammable, and may yellow over time. If you’re looking for a low cost, durable, and easy to maintain coating though, this is a fantastic option.
Wax - Before polyurethane, there was wax. Wax finishes have been used for centuries as a way to preserve hardwood, and while they may be less popular today, they’re no less effective. Wax is simple to apply, dries quickly, and emits almost no odour. On the downside, its application, while simple from a technical standpoint, is very labour-intensive. You’ll also need to re-apply regularly.
Acid-cure - Also known as Swedish finish, acid-cure can be thought of as the Rolls-Royce of floor finishes. It uses an alcohol and acid curing process to create a finish that is even more durable than polyurethane, being resistant to scratches, scuffs, and even chemical spills. The resulting gorgeous gloss sees acid-cure being used on the most expensive flooring; things like parquet patterns and exotic woods.
Why doesn’t everyone use acid-cure? Well, it’s expensive, it’s highly flammable, and it has to be installed by a professional. But if you’re comfortable with the downsides, the upsides are huge.
Using the finishing products of such trusted names as Polycure, Bona, Whittle Wax and Loba, and boasting a decade and a half of flooring experience, you can trust Allen Brothers Flooring to get your hardwood looking like new, and staying that way, no matter the finish you choose.
Call our friendly team on 0407 983 020 today to score a FREE timber flooring consultation (valued at $195) or a fast FREE quote
