COATING SYSTEMS

Durability: Very Good

Finish & Colour: 

• Very smooth finish
• Matt and Satin finishes
• Gloss finish possible, but not recommended as every scratch and scrape is magnified.
• Non-yellowing

Odour / VOCs: Very little

Care: Easy -  sweep, vacuum and damp mop

Water-Based Polyurethane is one of the most popular floor finishes for the home. It is very environmentally friendly, releasing far fewer Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than many other coating systems. It has little odour during application, and dries quickly, allowing for faster re-coating and generally earlier completion.

While Water-Based Polyurethane appears milky when applied, it dries clear and resists yellowing over time. Made with synthetic resins and plasticisers, Water-Based Polyurethane is a very durable finish that resists moisture fairly well. It is also vary easy to care for floors with this finish.

NB: Polyurethane floors cannot be waxed, as this can dull the finish.

Durability: Very Good - Excellent, resists moisture

Finish & Colour: 

• Very smooth finish
• Available in Matt, Satin and High Gloss
• Gloss finish possible, but not recommended as every scratch and scrape is magnified.
• Will amber over time

Odour / VOCs: Strong smell - can linger for a few days/weeks.

Care: Easy -  sweep, vacuum and damp mop

Solvent based polyurethane consists of linseed oil, synthetic resins, and plasticisers. Its strength and durability make its a popular finish, and floors wont have to be refinished as often as with other options.

Solvent-Based Polyurethane has a slight amber or yellowish tint and can yellow even more over time, adding a rich, warm amber colour to your floors. 

The finish has a very strong odour and releases a high level of VOCs, and generally takes 8 hours for each coat to dry.

Durability: Very Good, as long as well maintained

Finish & Colour:

• Natural appearance
• Usually colour/stain mixed with oils, or direct staining of floors prior
• Low-Sheen finish
• Can yellow/darken over time

Odour / VOCs: Minimal

Care: 

• Easy to touch up, 
• Requires more frequent re-application,
• Only use recommended cleaners.

Hard Wax Oils have been the floor finish of choice for hundreds of years; this coating interacts with the timber to bring out the wood grain, beauty and depth without adding high shine or gloss. Hard Wax Oil finishes generally require re-coating every three  to five years, and water and chemicals can spot or damage the oil-sealed floors. Only specifically formulated wood floor cleaners are to be used for this type of finish.  However, floors finished with Hard Wax Oils are easy to refinish, and most scuffs and scratches can be hidden under another coat.

NB: If you decide you want to replace this finish with polyurethane, you will need to completely strip the Hard Wax Oil from the floor.

Durability: Very Good - with regular maintenance 

Finish & Colour: 

• Very smooth/silky
• Pale/light
• Matte/low sheen

Odour / VOCs: little to none

Care: Easy - though requires periodic rejuvenation of floor soap when mopping.

Lye and Soap finishing is a traditional Scandinavian finish which stops the natural patination process and preserves a light colour tone. The soap forms a protective membrane which is further improved with subsequent maintenance and cleaning of the floor. 

Typically, floors in areas of heavy use need to be washed approximately once a week to maintain the protective soap membrane. Lye will remove most floor stains except amonia or iron.