HOME STUDY-BASICS

FINISHING TYPES

Oil-Modified Polyurethane
A standard in the industry for 20 years or more, oil-modified polyurethane is preferred by many for its durability and rich, amber color adds to wood upon curing
Most finish manufacturers are reformulating their oil-modified products into a "high solids" finish, reducing the solvent content to comply with VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) regulations in effect in parts of the US.

Water-based finishes
With improving technology water-based finishes have gained wide acceptance in the wood flooring industry. Consumers also prefer its clear appearance on drying, rather than the ambering occurs with oil-modified products. Mostly used for retail stores and high traffic areas, water-based polyurethanes are a must for pastel-stained floors.

Other solvent based finishes
While oil-modified polyurethanes is the most common, there are other solvent based finishes:

• Moisture-cure polyurethane is an extremely durable finish, but its odor is very strong and unpleasant during application.
• Swedish finishes (sometimes called acid-curing) are also extremely durable, but likewise produce strong, unpleasant odors during application.

Wax
While the trend has clearly been toward urethane finishes, some still prefer the look of waxed floors, and wax is also sometimes recommended because of its ease of recoating. Waxed floors can he huffed daily to bring back the sheen, and a new coat of wax can be applied at any time when buffing no longer restores the appearance of the floor.

A palette of colors:
The many species of wood flooring available provide designers with a wide range of natural choices to create the look they desire, hut any species can he altered be appearance through the use of stains and finishes to match or complement other design features. Prefinished manufacturers also produce their flooring in various colors and shades, usually geared toward current consumer color preferences. What that means is that designers can specify wood as the kind of natural product consumers value today, without being locked into a limited array of colors and styles. Wood flooring in the 90's means options, choices and versatility.

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