Some manufacturers prefinish the wood flooring, reducing effort required by the purchaser. Using ultraviolet lights, wood planks can have several coats (6-10 is the standard) of urethane applied right at the factory. Recently the industry has begun adding small chips of aluminum oxide directly to the floor’s finish to increase the life of urethane finishes and increase abrasion resistance.

To determine whether or not your flooring has a surface finish on it, apply a small amount of paint remover. If the finish bubbles up, it has a surface finish applied. Also, scraping up a clear material from the flooring with a sharp blade indicates surface finish.Below are some common finishes used on hardwood flooring:

FACTORY PREFINISHED HARDWOOD FLOORING

UV-CURED: finishes that are cured with ultraviolet lights in contrast to heat

POLYURETHANE: clear, tough finish that is applied as a wear layer

ACRYLIC-URETHANE: slightly different chemical makeup than polyurethane, but with the same benefits

ACRYLIC IMPREGNATED: acrylic monomers are injected into the wood’s cell structure to increase hardness, leaving an extremely durable wear layer

CERAMIC: increases the abrasion resistance of the wear layer through use of ceramics

JOB-SITE FINISHED HARDWOOD FLOORING: unfinished flooring that is sanded, stained, and finished in the home

WATER-BASED URETHANE: polyurethane finish in which water is used as part of the chemical makeup
• The result is clear and non-yellowing.
• It is available in satin and gloss.
• Standard drying time is 2-3 hours.

SOLVENT-BASED URETHANE: polyurethane finish in which oil is used as part of the chemical makeup -- also known as OIL-MODIFIED URETHANE
• The result is an amber-like color.
• It is available in satin and gloss.
• Standard drying time is approximately 8 hours.

MOISTURE-CURED URETHANE: polyurethane finish that has a similar chemical makeup as the solvent-based urethanes; it is one of the most durable of all surface finishes
• It comes in a non-yellowing formula.
• It is available in satin or gloss.
• It needs humidity in the air to cure and dries quickly in high humidity conditions.
NOTE: Consult a flooring professional for application of this finish. It is extremely difficult to apply and has a noxious odor.

CONVERSION VARNISH: finish that is resistant to household chemicals and coats a surface with a hard, glossy film; may form a micro-foam and appear milky when small bubbles are entrapped in the finish
• It dries clear-to-slightly amber.
• It is available in satin-to-gloss.
NOTE: Consult a flooring professional for application of this finish. It is extremely difficult to apply and has a noxious odor.

PENETRATING STAIN AND WAX: deep colored finish that soaks and hardens into the pores of the wood; the wax gives a low-gloss satin sheen and is normally solvent-based -- although some water-soluble versions are available

PENETRATING OIL: oil-based material designed to penetrate into wood
NOTE: This oil usually requires reapplication from time-to-time.

PENETRATING OIL STAINS: thin liquid mixture of oil and thinner with a dye added for color