Timber Floor Restoration: How to Choose the Right Floor Finish

Timber floors are ideal for giving your home a rustic, country look. However, stains, spills, and age can cause timber floors to dull and lose their aesthetic value. Restoring your floors by sanding and refinishing can help give them that fresh and beautiful look as if they were new. One of the important aspects of restoring your timber floors is choosing the ideal finish from the wide range on the market. Here are some of the popular types of timber wood finishes that you can choose.

Solvent based polyurethane finishes

Solvent based polyurethane finishes are the most durable and most commonly used finishes today. They can give the timber floor a glossy, matte, or satin finish, depending on the type that you choose. Their durability makes them low maintenance; therefore, if you are looking for a cost-effective finish with minimal maintenance requirements, this is an ideal choice. It is also suitable for high traffic areas within the home.

The major downside of these finishes is that they contain VOCs; hence, they are environmentally unfriendly.  Also, due to their strengths, the finishes are not flexible to accommodate expansion and contraction of the flooring during temperature changes, and this can lead to edge bonding. Also, they emit poisonous vapors which may force you to vacate the premises during their application.

Non-toxic water-based polyurethane finishes

These finishes are non-toxic, have minimal odors, and they enhance the natural look of timber floors to give them a rustic look. Chances of edge bonding are minimal since the finish is flexible enough to expand and contract with the timber over the seasons. These finishes are not as durable as solvent based finishes and are suitable for medium-traffic areas in the home. They have low levels of VOC; therefore, they are an environmental friendly choice.

Natural oil finishes

Natural oil finishes are purely natural and made from natural oils. They are non-toxic and do not contain harmful VOCs. The natural element in these finishes helps in enhancing the natural beauty of timber floors. Natural oil finishes are penetrative, and once you apply them, you may not need to sand your timber floor again. It is even possible to repair a particular spot without redoing the entire floor.

One downside of natural oil finishes is that they are high-maintenance. They should be cleaned regularly to prevent accumulation of dirt which is more visible compared to other types of finishes. Also, they don't give the floor a glossy or shiny finish as do other types of finishes. Rather, they give the floor a natural look.

The type of finish you choose for your timber floor can give your home a new look and feel. However, to achieve this, you need to hire a professional flooring contractor from a company like Parquetry Flooring Co Pty Ltd to restore and finish your floors for the best results and to prevent costly mistakes that arise from DIY floor restoration projects.