Are you refinishing your building’s hardwood floor? Do you know the right application for your business? It’s important to get it right when choosing your hardwood floor finish to lengthen the life of your flooring and reduce your maintenance time.

There are a few factors to consider when choosing the hardwood floor finish that works best for your business.

The finish

Matte or glossy is the first decision to make when considering the final look of your floor. Besides your visual preference, of course, you need to consider the wear and tear visibility that each finish allows. For example, satin and matte finishes may be a better choice for high-traffic areas that see a lot of wear, as they tend to camouflage it better than a shiny finish.

Next, choose an oil or water based. Water-based dries clear and typically keeps that natural look, while oil-based can dry with a tint and make your natural grain less visible.

The time

Another consideration is your timeline, and how fast you need the floors to be completed. If your building is going to remain open and you need to complete this job overnight, you may decide to go with water-based. This type of finish is easy to apply and is often ready for traffic in six to eight hours after completing the final coat.

Oil-based finishes tend to soak into the wood, too, so they will require re-applying, and that means more time and labour over the long term to keep them looking great.

The details

Generally, polyurethane finishes are durable, so for commercial use, they are often the best choice. As well, water-based finishes tend to be low VOC, so that may be an environmental (or odour) concern to factor into your decision-making.

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Should damage occur, it’s important to know how to repair or replace your floor, along with re-applying the finish. Maintaining your floor with sweeping and mopping is great for the day-to-day but consider your options if your floor gets damaged or severely worn in areas over time.

Hardwood flooring is a good choice that will last years in your building but be sure to choose the best finish option for your use, your maintenance plan, and your budget.