Meet the Preservation Collection: Inspired by our best-selling floors with an 8-week lead time.
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You have questions, we have answers. Explore the most frequently asked questions about wood finishes below. Need assistance or want to know more? Contact Carlisle or call 800-595-9663 today to get all your inquiries answered.
Polyurethane is the most popular finish for hardwood floors. A polyurethane finish is highly resistant to scratches, scuffs, stains and water damage. With a clear finish and a fast drying time, water-based polyurethane is a more eco-friendly but costlier choice than oil-based polyurethane. Oil-based finishes have higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – gases that can be harmful to health and the environment. Oil-based polyurethane takes longer to dry and has a rich amber tint that many homeowners prefer. It also roughly half the cost of a water-based finish.
Finished hardwood flooring is a wood surface that has been treated with a sealant to protect the wood from wear and tear and water damage. The most common finishes include water-based polyurethane, oil-based polyurethane, hardwax oil and UV-cured oils.
Explore and select from our gallery of our most popular finishes, specially categorized by the personalities and traits of the floor designs.
ExplorePolyurethane is a plastic material, or polymer, that is used in a wide variety of applications – from insulation and foam to protective coatings and plastic wheels. As a flooring finish, polyurethane is a liquid that dries to form a hard, protective, moisture-resistant top coating on a hardwood floor.
While finished floors are coated with a sealant to protect the wood and increase its longevity, unfinished wood floors are left in their natural state. Without a sealant, an unfinished floor is likely to show wear and tear more easily and will age more quickly than a finished floor. Some homeowners prefer the natural appearance of an unfinished floor and the way that it shows its age over time.
Aluminum oxide is considered the toughest and most durable hardwood floor finish, lasting up to 25 years after a single application. Because aluminum oxide must be applied in a factory setting, this finish is only available for prefinished floors. However, it is important to understand the amount of aluminum oxide that a manufacturer adds to their finish, as this will impact your ability to refinish flooring in the future.
Hard wax oil is a popular finish for hardwood floors. Combining natural oil, wax and an optional pigment to add color, hard wax oil permeates the planks of a hardwood floor to create a protective barrier against water damage and stains. By hardening or curing the wood, hard wax oils help to preserve the beauty of the floor while adding longevity. Hard wax oils are typically a low-build, low-sheen alternative to other popular floor finishes. Scratches or worn spots can be easily repaired by buffing out the blemish and applying more hard wax oil to achieve an even look. However, hardwax oil requires very specific specialty cleaners to avoid voiding the warranty and often requires reapplication in 12-24 months.
Gloss, or sheen, refers to the level of luster in a flooring surface – the amount of light that the surface reflects. High-gloss finishes have a luster level of about 70% and are usually seen in bowling alleys, gymnasiums and exotic hardwood floors. Semi-gloss finishes have a luster level of about 55%, giving a floor a super sleek and highly styled look. Satin finishes, the most common sheen level in hardwood flooring today, have a luster level of 35 to 40%, while a matte hardwood floor has a luster level of between 10 and 25%.
Prefinished hardwood floors are surfaces that are finished within the factory-controlled conditions of a manufacturing facility, rather than being finished after installation. Prefinished floors are sanded, stained and sealed before being shipped to a job site, enabling homeowners to enjoy a faster installation while avoiding the mess, odor, and inconvenience of having a floor finished within the home.
Pre-finishing a floor allows manufacturers to apply stronger stains and sealants that offer more protection and may add years to a floor’s life. Prefinished floors can be installed faster, helping to reduce the cost of installation. The disadvantage of prefinished flooring is that it does require post-installation protection to ensure the finish is not damaged during the construction process. It is also true that the seams on prefinished floors may be more noticeable since the floors are not sanded after installation.
It is possible although not often recommend to leave a floor unfinished. An unfinished floor will show wear and tear more easily and will age faster than a finished floor. Some homeowners appreciate the unique character of an unfinished floor, which may show more imperfections, stains, dents and dings.
Unfinished floors should be carefully sanded to make them safe for bare feet.
At Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, we’ve created the finest wood floor finishes available for residential and commercial use. Available in sheen levels from satin to extra matte, our premium topcoat finishes enhance the natural color and characteristics of the wood, are easy to care for and keep clean, and have very little buildup compared to traditional polyurethane finishes that have a more plastic look.
