Types of Floor Finishes Hobart

• Pros – Easy to apply and clean, smooth and shiny finish, no odour, fewer volatile organic compounds, no yellowing of floor
• Cons – Extremely glossy and will magnify every scratch and scrape on the floor

• Best For – Floors in need of clear finish and that dries quickly

Water-based polyurethane is made of synthetic resins and plasticizers. These come in a milky form in a can but dries clear and do not yellow over time. While high-gloss water-based polyurethane is the most popular for its extra shine, you can also find this finish in satin or semi-gloss option. Water-based polyurethane offers a highly durable finish and can resist moisture well. It is also easy to maintain and only requires a mop and a broom to clean.   

• Pros – Inexpensive, highly durable, resists moisture, easy to clean and maintain
• Cons – Dries slowly, flammable, yellows over time, releases a high level of VOCs
• Best For – High Traffic Areas of the House

Oil-based polyurethane is made of linseed oil, plasticizers and synthetic resins. Even though this type of finish is popular for flooring Hobart in commercial properties, many homeowners prefer to use it in their home’s high traffic areas. The durability and high strength of oil-based polyurethane ensure you do not need to refinish the flooring every few years. It is also easy to maintain – just vacuum regularly or sweep to clean any dirt on the floor. This finish has a slightly yellowish tint and will yellow even more with time, adding a warm and rich colour to the floor. You can find this finish in high-gloss, semi-gloss and also satin sheens.

• Pros – Extremely durable
• Cons – Difficult application, very high VOCs
• Best For – Areas needing toughest floor finishes

Moisture cure urethane is extremely tough durable once it dries. It offers a very high shine and can easily resist scratches, stains and general wear and tear. However, it is extremely difficult to apply as it requires a certain amount of moisture in the air to dry evenly. Thus, its application is best left to the experts and is suitable for commercial settings. The high level of VOCs it releases can linger in the air for many weeks after it is applied

• Pros – Easy to apply, little to no odour, no VOCs, penetrate the timber flooring, dries quickly
• Cons – Labor intensive application, not durable, darkens over time
• Best for – Anywhere you need low-sheen finish

For those looking for a natural and low-sheen flooring appearance, a wax finish is an ideal choice. It is easy to apply and is often mixed with stain to colour the floor when finishing them. The downside of wax finish is that it is not durable and can leave white marks when water sits on it for long. It isn’t an ideal floor polishing for kitchens or bathrooms where it is exposed to water on a daily basis. The wax finish can turn yellowish over time and is best used over warm cast wooden flooring.

• Pros – Natural and sustainable product, easy to repair, perfect for oily tropical woods
• Cons – Highly flammable, professional help is needed to apply evenly, less durable, should be mixed just before applying 
• Best For – Those looking for an eco-friendly product that does not emit VOCs

Shellac is made of a secretion from a lac bug and denatured alcohol. The shellac dries naturally to a high gloss and orange tint finish. This finish can leave water spots and can easily get damaged from exposure to ammonia and alcohol. But, touching it up is easy and needs another coat of shellac on it. But, remember it is not easy to apply any other finish over it and if you decide to change the finish, you will have to strip off the entire shellac first. 

• Pros – Natural product, very easy to apply, highlights the beauty of the wooden flooring
• Cons – Not durable, needs recoating every few years, expensive
• Best For – Floors that needs a low shine finish to highlight the wood grains properly

While penetrating oil sealers are not very popular, they still are loved by homeowners in Kingston, Lutana and other suburbs of Hobart looking to bring out the beauty and depth of wooden flooring in historic homes. The most popular penetrating oil used is the tung oil that helps prevent scratches and damages. Since penetrating oil does not leave a hard coating on the wood, a final wax coat is needed to seal the flooring for extra protection. While penetrating oil sealers offer a great appearance, they are not very durable and will need re-oiling every few years. 

• Pros – Highly durable, dries very quickly
• Cons – inflammable, releases high VOCs, expensive
• Best For – Floors with exotic wood or elaborate patterns

Acid cured finishes are among the best types of finishes available for timber flooring that highlights the colour and grain of flooring beautifully. Made of an alcohol base, it uses acid during its curing process giving it a shiny finish. Such finishes are extremely durable and resistant to scratches, scuffs and chemical damages. Before you pick this finish, you need to remember that it releases high VOCs and has a strong odour when applied. Once the finish is applied, it won’t be easy to refinish it. 

• Pros – Highly durable, long-lasting, available in several glossiness levels, low maintenance
• Cons – Not easy to refinish, available for only prefinished wooden planks
• Best For – Any area with high traffic and where you need protection from extreme wear and tear

Aluminium oxide is a naturally occurring material offering long-lasting and protective coating to your timber floors. They protect the floor from scratch, fading, water damage and scuffs. You can choose from different glossiness levels – right from a matte finish to as shiny you want. However, it is not easy to remove the finish, and when you decide to change the finish, you will have to replace the floorboards completely. 

Whether you are installing new timber floors or looking to refinish your existing flooring Hobart, it is best to leave it to the professionals. We offer free, no-obligation estimates for any kind of floor finishes you might need.