The decision of whether or not to install new hardwood floors can be difficult enough and when you compile the types of finishes on top of that, it can become a nightmare. We want your decision to be educated and as easy as possible so we’re laying out the options for you.
What Is a Flooring Finish?
Let’s start with the most basic question, what exactly is a finish? Surface finishes are usually made from a polyurethane and their job is to form a protective layer on the the surface of the wood. Oils, waxes and water-based are all types of finishes and each one has its own advantages.
What Type of Finish Is Best?
This is where we break down the differences in each type of finish. There are certain things to consider when choosing a finish such as the amount of traffic the floor will face, whether or not you have pets, the amount of maintenance you are willing to perform on your floors and the price you are willing to pay. See below for types of finishes:
Penetrating Finishes: oils and waxes that penetrate the surface of the floor and form a protective coating. When you are going for a distinct look, such as antique or slightly worn, using a penetrating finish will help you create these looks.
Site-finished wood: a standard solid strip floor, such as red oak, is about $8 per square foot for materials, installation, and site finishing. Solid, wide pine planks range from $6 to $12 installed.
Factory-finished wood: also known as engineered flooring, starts around $8 per square foot installed but the average price runs around $10 to $14 per square foot. Want to add a custom flair? Consider using a border or inlay design to make your floors stand out.
Laminate: this is your cheapest option because the design layer of a laminate floor is not real wood. The price runs from around $7 to $10 per square foot installed.
Newer urethane finishes require a bit more maintenance than just sweeping and if you have pets, you should keep their nails clipped short so they won’t scratch the floor. Additionally, spiky heels, golf shoes or any other shoes with exposed nails or cleats should be taken off before walking on the floor.
For additional information, give the wood flooring experts at Hall Flooring a call today at (516) 352-1919. We’ll be glad to answer any of your questions or help you with your purchase. Connect with us on Facebook for more flooring updates. Labels: finished flooring, flooring trends, hall flooring, hardwood floor maintenance, hardwood flooring, prefinished flooring, unfinished flooring
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