Hardwood Finishes
Swedish Finish
This type of finish is only applied on-site, after the flooring has been installed and sanded, and after you've moved out for a while. That's because you can't be in the house while the solvents evaporate. Basically, a Swedish finish involves a sealer coat and a wear layer coat, or a polyurethane product with a solvent base. These floors are generally very smooth from the sanding, and they almost always have tiny pieces of lint, dirt, small bugs and the hair of flooring installers. There's simply no way for an installer to keep all particulate out of the finish as it's applied. Prefinished flooring, on the other hand, is applied in the factory where the air quality and the finishing process are carefully controlled.
Polyurethane Finish
Until recently, polyurethane was the most commonly applied finish. But despite new advances in durability, polyurethane is still considered a very good finish that can be stained to give it even more versatility. There are many different kinds and blends of polyurethane available; for example, Kahrs flooring uses a polyurethane and acrylic mix to achieve a very tough finish. Maintenance is reasonably easy. And while spot repairs can be done, they're usually easy to see.
Acrylic Impregnated Floor
This flooring can be found in the Hartco and Bruce floors, and it provides excellent durability. The finish is actually forced into the floor itself to create a finish that goes all the way through the wear surface. It is frequently used in commercial projects, because it is so tough. Currently, only oak and maple are offered using this technique. Maintenance is easy and small scratches are easy to fix with a spray finish that makes them disappear completely. One negative: water can leave permanent spots if allowed to dry on the surface.
Ceramic Finish
Recently, the same ceramic finishes used for tile have been offered for wood flooring. They offer incredible abrasion wear resistance. With this finish, a floor is more resistant to stains, scratches and other imperfections. Maintenance is easy, but the finish is so tough and wear-resistant, it makes repairs difficult.
Aluminum Oxide Finish
More and more companies are turning to aluminum oxide finishes for their toughness and abrasion resistance. Like the ceramic finishes, their toughness makes them easy to maintain but difficult to repair.
Wax Finish
While a wax finish is hard to maintain day to day, it is easily repaired. Many super high-end floors use the wax finish because the planked look combined with the wax finish can look absolutely spectacular. Newer types of wax flooring make the maintenance easier.
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