Finish for wood floors?
I’m buying an old house with wood floors (narrow planks) throughout. The floors are in good shape, just a little scratched and scuffed. I really don’t like the shiny, plastic look of polyurethane, or the horrible smell. Are there any reasonable alternatives? Is there un-shiny polyurethane? I have two bigs dogs so whatever goes on…
I’m buying an old house with wood floors (narrow planks) throughout. The floors are in good shape, just a little scratched and scuffed. I really don’t like the shiny, plastic look of polyurethane, or the horrible smell. Are there any reasonable alternatives? Is there un-shiny polyurethane? I have two bigs dogs so whatever goes on the floor needs to be able to stand up to dog toenails.
Hi,
My name is Louis Buono – owner of Buono’s Flooring Co., Inc. We have been in business since 1979 and work primarily in Brooklyn. If you do not like the “plasticy” look of polyurethane, you can use a water based finish which is much lighter in appearance and more natural looking. Many people think that water based poly is not very durable. While this was the case in the past, water based polyurethane now comes fortified with aluminum oxide. This is a very durable finish and will outwear many of the oil based products on the market today. It comes in gloss, semi-gloss, or satin. You will need to have the floors sanded down to the bare wood to remove the finish completely. At that point, you can refinish with water based polyurethane and all of your concerns will be taken care of.
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance. I can be reached at (718) 645-6934 or (718) FLOORING. I would be happy to provide you with a free in home estimate.
Sincerely,
Louis Buono
I don’t know much about finishes, but your best bet to preserve your floors is to also keep the dogs’ nails clipped, or if you’re up for a laugh at your pets’ expense, buy little booties or those rubber claw tips they sell through Drs Foster & Smith.
The dogs will walk funny (it looks hilarious) for the first day or two but they will get used to it and it will save your floors.
Actually, all finishes begin as a gloss finish which is the strongest. Fumed silica is added to create a semi-gloss, satin, or matte finish. Silica is very soft, therefore weakens the finish. The gloss should be applied for the first two coats followed by a top coat in the sheen of your choice.
Poly really isn’t that good of a finish, just an easy one to apply. Look into the polymerized tung oils made by Sutherland Wells. These are more traditional finishes. They penetrate the wood and harden from the inside.
Polyurethane does come in a matte finish. It’s quite common and shouldn’t be hard to find someone to do it for you.
There are water-based finishes out there (some apartment buildings won’t allow poly), but with the doggie claws you probably want the more durable finish of matte polyurethane.
There is a matte finish poly that I have seen…..