March 1, 2015
Hardwood flooring is a wonderful addition to any home! Before you start considering your options with regard to color and style, make sure you understand the difference between finishes that are commonly used on prefinished and site-finished floors. The finish is a protective top coat that seals a hardwood floor against damage from everyday wear-and-tear, moisture, and stains. Prefinished floors have the finish applied during manufacturing. Unfinished floors have the finish applied on-site – at the customer’s home.
Prefinished Floor Finishes:
UV-cured – these floors are finished at the factory and the polyurethane finish are cured with Ultra Violet lights instead of using heat.
Polyurethane – A clear, tough and durable finish that is applied as a wear layer.
Perma Finish – a water based polyurethane which is very eco-friendly because it is low VOC. This finish is water based which is known for its durability.
Acrylic-urethane – Has a slightly different chemical make up than polyurethane, but with similar benefits.
Ceramic – Advanced finish technology that allows the use of space-age ceramics to increase the abrasion resistance of the wear layer.
Aluminum Oxide – particles added to the polyurethane finish to increase the abrasion resistance of the wear layer.
Acrylic Impregnated – Acrylic monomers are injected into the cell structure of the wood to give increased hardness and then finished with a wear layer over the wood.
Site–Finished Finishes:
Water Based Urethane – Water is used as part of the chemical make up of the polyurethane finish.
Solvent Based Urethane – Oil is used as part of the chemical make up of the polyurethane finish.
Moisture Cured Urethane – A similar chemical make up as solvent based urethanes but, this finish needs the humidity (moisture ) in the air to cure.
What types of finish do the Impressions Hardwood Collection products have?
The Blue Ridge, Denali, Elegance, Hampton, Melbourne, Nantucket, Newport, Piedmont, Timarron and Westlake are all UV Cured Urethane with Aluminum Oxide. The Cooper’s Plank, Esteem, Hartwell, Lexington, Serenity, and Tradition are all a Perma Finish which is a commercial grade water based finish. All of them are UV cured.
A Little About Gloss Levels
Whether a finish is satin, semi-gloss, or gloss it does not have any effect on the overall performance of the floor. The choice about which gloss level to go with is a matter of personal taste. However, keep in mind, that lower sheen floors will hide scratches and dings better.
Have more questions? Please give us a call today (866-722-4442) and we would be more than happy to help answer your questions!
