Often we go out to bids and most people, understandably, do not know the difference between the main hardwood floor coatings. Even more surprising is that they do not ask other contractors/hardwood professionals what they will be putting on their floor. Sanding the floor is only half of the equation of a hardwood floor refinish/installation. The coating is what will dictate your end product looks, wears and feels like. Below we will go over each coating in depth so you can be more informed about each.
Samples of the Finishes after 6 months
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Polyurethane | Ultra Violet | Waterbased |
Information About Each Finish
UV or Ultra Violet – This coating is rather new to the market. It has been around for around 10 years at this point. The coating is the most durable and the clarity is far superior to any other coating. The smell is almost non-existent making it one of the most green coatings on the market today.
Pros
- Clarity is superior
- Extremely durable
- Cured within 2 hours
- Very low smell (40-50 VOC’s)
- Furniture and rugs can go back same day
Cons
- Harder to apply
- Slightly more expensive
Waterbased – Waterbased coatings were made popular in 2004 with Bona Traffic. Bona Traffic is/was the undeniable best waterbased coating. Its application is very easy and rarely produces flaws in the final coat.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Decent durability
- Low smell (275-300 VOC)
Cons
- Muted clarity
- Takes 7-14 days to cure
- Furniture can go back after a week
- Rugs can go back after 1 month
Polyurethane – This is the coating used for ages. It is an oil based coating. It has a very high smell that takes days to a few weeks to go away.
Pros
- Cheap
- Very easy to apply
Cons
- Smells (550-700 VOC’s)
- coating takes days to dry
- No Rugs for a month
- Furniture for 5-7 days
