Floor Finishes
Water Based Floor Finish
When you’re finishing your own wood floors, you’ve got a few options as to floor finish types–but one tends to stand out: the water based floor finish. After all, finishing wood floors is a messy, smelly process that often forces homeowners out of their houses for days at a time…so why make things harder... »
Shellac Floor Finish
Two things regarding floor finishes are somehow lodged in the popular mind, and they are: varnish and shellac. Here, we’re examining just one of them–shellac floor finish–and hopefully by the end of the article, we will have straightened you out. In other words, shellac is a pain in the ass and I have no... »
Applying Floor Stain on Wood Floors
After you’ve done the “hard” work of installing your wood floor, sanded it…and sanded it again…and cleaned it, the process of applying floor stain seems as easy as eating a piece of cake. And while it’s true that nothing can compare to the work of actual floor installation, you can seriously screw up your... »
Flooring Topcoat Finish
You are at the end of your floor installation process. You have built layer upon layer, possibly starting as far down as the joists and subfloor, upward through the underlayment, finish flooring, and stain. Now you are at the final layer: the flooring topcoat finish. What to do now? Glossy vs. Semi-Gloss Topcoats Your... »
Staining Wood Floor After Sanding
Staining your wood floor after sanding changes wood’s natural pigment; stain, by itself, does nothing to seal the floor against moisture and wear. Floor staining is not a requirement, of course, because many homeowners prefer their floors clear-coated after sanding. But many types of flooring species such as lighter grained soft woods like pine... »
Penetrating Wood Floor Finishes
Penetrating wood floor finishes have one assigned duty: penetrate that wood and protect it. Here are 5 major categories of penetrating wood floor finishes: Sealers – Sealers are kind of like paint primers: they provide a good, workable base for subsequent finish coats. Linseed and Tung Oils – These oils also penetrate the wood,... »
The Basics of Swedish Finish Flooring
Swedish finish flooring sure sounds good and elegant and smart, doesn’t it? But what is a Swedish finish, and is it something you really want to use on your wood flooring? Swedish finish is not a brand name. You will find no manufacturers going by this name. It is a type of wood flooring... »
Wood Floor Finishes
Wood floors made their debut in the United States during the Colonial Era. The floors were practical and functional. Aesthetics at the time were not a primary concern for the pragmatic Colonists. During the 19th century, parquetry made its way over from the Continent and wood floors slowly became more than just planks laid... »