Imagine this renovation nightmare: Having chosen to install hardwood flooring and pored over the options, you select a beautiful wood, pay for it, and have the contractors lay it down.
You choose one that seems innocuous enough, but the next thing you know your floors are glossy or, worse, an unwanted yellow color.
Jersey Ice Cream Co. refinished existing wood floors that were “a bit too shiny and orange for everyone’s liking” with Bona Naturale, a popular water-based finish, for a toned-down, matte look.
“Sure, a homeowner can rent a floor sander and apply the finish,” Margolies says.
Can I finish (or refinish) a floor myself?
If you’re having a new floor installed, prefinished wood is now common.
Are floors always finished on-site?
What are the main options for floor finishes?
Whether a floor is prefinished or finished (or refinished) on-site, there are four basic types of products most commonly used: water-based polyurethane, oil-based polyurethane, oil, and wax.
Another floor finished in water-based Bona Naturale; see The Sentimental Minimalist: A Young Architect’s Bed-Stuy Townhouse Makeover for the full project.
1. Water-Based Polyurethane Finish: For Low-Maintenance, High-Traffic Households
A sanded floor gets a test batch of water-based polyurethane finish; see Scandi Whitewashed Floors: Before and After for more of this DIY floor project.
2. Oil-Based Polyurethane Finish: For Traditionalists
Floors likely finished with an oil-based polyurethane; note the amber hue.
3. Oil Finishes: For Fans of Euro Style
The floors in a Berlin house are oak with an oil-based finish. A recent trend is what Margolies calls a “European-style” finish, achieved by applying a light coat of oil or an oil-wax product.
4. Wax Finishes: For Hipsters
Existing hardwood floors in another Berlin apartment were treated to make them lighter, then finished with wax for a flat matte look.
When it comes to price, Margolies notes that costs can vary widely since so many factors are involved. But he says that a water-based polyurethane finish can range from $4 per square foot to $11 or $12, and an oil-based poly would be slightly less.
Which finish is the most cost-effective?
Margolies is reluctant to state a preference, but for a natural option, he seems to lean towards oil finishes. And for more insider insight from the Hudson Company, see Expert Advice: The Ins and Outs of Reclaimed Wood Flooring.
Which finish should I choose?