Are you planning on installing a new floor or renovating an existing one? You must pass through all the flooring steps, including floor sanding, polishing, and finishing. As floor sanding and polishing are the main steps, finishing the floors is the final step that gives beauty, luster, and protection to the hardwood floor.
If you wish to give the best natural wood finish to your timber floors, we have some suggestions for you:
- Shellac
- Wax
- Oil-Based Finishes
Shellac
Shellac is a resin produced by an insect on tree trunk surfaces. It is a natural glue and is an adhesive for varnishes, food coatings, pharmaceutical and denture industries, and many more.
Shellac as a wood finish: Shellac is the best natural wood finish among the three. It is a priority because the protection defined by shellac to the wood is unparalleled. It does not penetrate the wood but forms a thin film on the floor surface, leaving the wood unaltered.
Drawbacks: Undoubtedly, shellac gives a smooth, warm finish to your floor, but there are limitations. It has a short shelf life; the shellac film starts wearing off a few months after application.
Waxes
Waxes have been used for centuries for different sealing purposes. It serves as an excellent wood finish for your timber floor. From floors to cabinets, waxes are used to enhance the shine and beauty of the wood. It is equally used for other surfaces to provide luster and protection from dust and moisture.
There are two types of waxes currently in use:
- Beeswax- Soft wax for a smooth finish to the floor. Regular re-application is required to keep the sheen luster of the floor.
- Carnauba wax- Hard wax for a longer and more durable finish to the hardwood floor. Other finishes are mixed with carnauba wax to add shine to the floors.
Oils
Oils are commonly employed as wood finishes. They revitalize old timber floors and bring out the wood’s natural beauty. The application of oils does not require any professional service. Their long-lasting property makes them best suited for floor finishing.
Two types of oils are available in the market for timber floor finishing:
- Tung oil- Extracted from the nuts of the Tung tree, tung oil is a permanent and durable finish for the wood. It is water-resistant and provides strength to the wood. Pure linseed oil does not change to yellow over time. It gives a sheen, lustrous amber hue to the floors. Regarding safety, tung oil is safe and non-toxic however, care should be observed as oils are not incombustible and can heat up at high temperatures.
- Linseed oil- It is an edible vegetable oil extracted from flax seeds of the Flax plant. It strengthens the wood by penetrating deep into the grains of the wood fiber. Over time, the oil darkens in color. It gives a matte finish rather than a glossy appearance like tung oil. Multiple coatings of this oil are required for proper penetration into the wood grains.
A professional opinion should always be considered while choosing a floor finish. Not every time you get which type of coating is best for you and whether you need floor sanding before applying a good finish.
Budget Floor Sanding Brisbane is always available for a bit of professional advice to coat your beautiful timber floors.
Call us now to get a free quote at 0418 882 678.
