Solid Oak Flooring Finish – Is It Time for a Fresh Coat?
Posted on October 11, 2010 by GuestPoster ----- Advertisement
Although solid oak flooring can last for quite some time, its finish may not be as durable or permanent. But that’s because finishes are applied as a protective layer to your flooring and therefore subject to initial and extensive damage. If you don’t want the actual wood used for your flooring damaged then you must do what you can to protect its finish.
Perform the water test.
Don’t worry because this test is quick and easy to perform. It can also work with other types of wood plank flooring, by the way.
Start by pouring a couple of tablespoons of water on to your floor. If possible, perform this test on a high-traffic area. Observe what happens next. How quickly was the water absorbed? The quicker the absorption rate, the poorer the condition of your floor’s finish is. Has a dark spot emerged where you’ve poured water? The darker the spot, the bigger problem you have with the finish of your home’s solid oak flooring. Did the water bead on top? If it didn’t then that’s another problem because it means that your flooring’s finish isn’t sealed properly.
Types of Finishes
Before you take any steps to restore or repair your floor’s finish, you need to make sure that you’re using the correct products or methods. All of these would depend on the type of finish used for your home’s flooring.
Surface Finish
This includes but isn’t limited to catalyzed, polyurethane, and pre-finished solid oak flooring. Most wood plank flooring types use surface finishes and the most common of this would be polyurethane. They have a glossy look and would appear like a plastic film over your flooring.
Seal Finish
Flooring that have penetrating sealed finishes include wax, oil, and acrylic finishes. Instead of a glossy appearance, they have a matte or satin-like appearance. One more way of determining if your floor has this type of finish is by running your hand on your floor’s surface. If you can feel the wood under your fingertips then penetrating seal has been used.