Hardwood refinishing

The stain and the finish are the final steps to your finished on site hardwood or hardwood refinishing project: Oil-based polyurethane The most common and affordable type of finish, oil-based polyurethane tends to take on an amber cast as it ages. The curing time for this type tends to be about 30 days, but it can be walked on in socks in just 24 hours after the application of the final coat. Note that oil-based finishes tend to have stronger odors and a glossier finish than other types. Despite the odors, the Indoor Air Quality Act requires finish manufacturers to reduce the harmful chemical content in the hardwood finish to 350/ppm, providing a much safer indoor environment than in the past. Water-based polyurethane Quickly becoming the most popular finish, water-based polyurethane has a quicker drying and curing time and few (if any) V.O.C.'s. At Great Western, we use the Lobadur ® brand of water-based finish, which is GREENGUARD certified. Thanks to the rapid drying time, fewer dust particles from the air will settle into the finish. The finish is also clear, so it won't change the color of your natural wood floors. Curing takes about 7 days, but you can walk on the finish with socks just 4-8 hours after the application of the final coat. Instead of curing only the top layer of your hardwood, the Lobadur ® water-based finish saturates the entire body of the hardwood. This allows for a more durable and complete finishing option. Commercial water-based polyurethane Our commercially rated, water-based finish provides more long-term durability, best for large families, heavy foot traffic or large dogs. The other benefits of this finish are similar to that of a standard water-based finish. Tongue-oiled finish Commonly used as a finish on European hardwood, tongue-oiled finish is gaining popularity thanks to its low maintenance requirements and beautiful patina. Our president here at Great Western Flooring even put it in her own home! Tongue oil is a vegetable-based oil that is V.O.C. free and applied about once per year (usually by the homeowner) to help keep the floor fresh and to conceal wear and scratches. Tongue-oil-finished floors require different maintenance products than their urethane counterparts.