What are my hardwood floor finish options?

When it comes to hardwood floor finishes, the options seem endless. Over my 15 years in the industry, I've tested numerous finishes and narrowed down my favorites. The most popular categories are oil-based polyurethanes and water-based finishes (aka water borne finishes). I'll share my top pick at the end.

Oil-based polyurethanes are reliable and inexpensive, with some containing more solids than others. Solids are the actual plastic layer than you see when the finish dries. I recommend Masterline, Duraseal, and Bona’s oil based poly. These finishes tend to darken slowly over time due to their amber color.

Oil-based polyurethanes have drawbacks. They are solvent-based, emit strong odors, contain higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and take up to 30 days to fully cure. VOCs can contribute to indoor air pollution and health issues, making low-VOC or VOC-free alternatives more appealing.

Water-based finishes have evolved significantly. They dry and cure faster, emit fewer VOCs, and come from trusted brands like Loba. Loba finishes level evenly, do not dry too quickly (unlike some Bona sealers), and are durable. They are lighter in color and do not amber as much as oil-based polyurethanes. Plus, you can customize them with tints. The biggest drawback is that the finish itself is three to five times the cost of oil based polyurethane.

What is the best finish to put on my hardwood floors?

My favorite hardwood floor finish brand is Loba. There are single-component and two-component (2K) options. Two component finishes have a hardener added to them right before application. It makes for a very tough, commercial grade finish. Loba’s single component EZ Finish is suitable for normal wear and tear, which we define as daily life without intentionally damaging your floors. For active households with heavy traffic, large pets, and energetic kids, Loba's Duo 2K, Invisible Protect, or Supra 2K are my top picks, rated for commercial use.

A hardener is added to this two component finish, making this hardwood floor suitable for extreme wear and tear applications such as commercial spaces and busy households with kids and dogs. This finish is Loba Duo 2K, extra matte sheen.

Your choice between oil-based and water-based finishes should consider factors like durability, drying time, and VOC emissions. For many, Loba's water-based finishes strike the perfect balance.

Differences between oil-based polyurethanes and water based finishes:

Oil-Based Polyurethanes:

Less expensive
Work well over brown, red and black colored stains
Tend to have an amber color that darken over time.
Known for medium durability and wear resistance.
Solvent-based, resulting in strong odors.
Higher levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Longer drying time (12-24 hours) and curing time (30 days).
Good for traditional appearance
Suitable for those who can tolerate longer drying and curing periods.

Water-Based Finishes:

More expensive
Work well over grey, white, black or beige stains
Evolved technology with faster drying and curing times.
Lighter in color and minimal ambering compared to oil-based, but can be tinted amber for a classic look without the odor
Emit fewer VOCs, contributing to better indoor air quality.
Can be customized with white tints for different aesthetics.
Ideal for those seeking eco-friendly and low-VOC options.
Faster drying and curing make them suitable for modern lifestyles.
Suitable for various levels of foot traffic, including heavy commercial use.

What finish sheen is recommended for hardwood floors?

This is a very personal choice, but the most popular sheen options these days are satin, matte and invisible. Manufacturers all offer different sheen options based on market demand and chemistry development. Clearcoat sheen range is usually similar to paint sheens: gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte, and invisible. These ranges are based on light reflectivity. Gloss will be shinier, and invisible looks almost as though no finish has been applied to your floors.

Alternative hardwood floor finish options

If we want to venture into the more extreme categories of hardwood finish options, there are two more worth noting: moisture-cured urethanes, and waxes / hardwax oils.

Moisture-cured urethanes used to be a very popular finish option. Glitsa Swedish Finish was a very popular finish in certain parts of Canada and the USA, such as the Pacific Northwest. It’s still used today, but because of it’s extremely toxic nature, Fournier Finishing prefers to stick with the two main categories noted above.

Hardwood floors used to be waxed before polyurethanes are varnishes were invented. They were phased out of popularity from the 1940’s to 1980’s, but are still around today. Hardwood was coated with shellac and then waxed, or just waxed. Wax has been re-formulated by a few popular finish manufacturers. The most notable waxes and hardwax oils are Rubio Monocoat, Pallman’s Magic Oil, Osmo PolyX, and Minwax’s Paste Finishing Wax. Wax is usually applied with a floor polisher once your hardwood floor has been sanded. They can be coloured or clear.

Alex refinished Lacoste’s head office in Toronto, Ontario, circa 2013, with Rubio Monocoat 2C Plus.

Rubio Precolor Easy, coated with Rubio Monocoat Charcoal on birch.

Can you stain my hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors can be stained brown, black, grey, beige, white and more. The question is, will you like the color you choose? Stain color is affected by the type of hardwood you have. Red oak, white oak, maple, birch, walnut, hickory and jatoba all take stain differently. Your room lighting, wall paint, and personal preferences can tell you if you should stain your floors. I normally include stain sample sessions if that was part of the initial consultation and quoting process.

Fournier Finishing prefers to use Duraseal stains, which are oil-based. Oil-based stains can be clear coated with water based finish. White, grey and beige stains look best with water based finishes.

A hardwood floor stain sample session

The quartersawn oak floor had six different sample stains applied to it, so the homeowner knew exactly how their floor would look with the samples they chose.

Can you custom color match my hardwood floors?

Yes, I can. Sometimes :) Custom color matches are possible. Wanting a 100% color match can be quite different than an 80% match. One might take thirty minutes, while the other might take multiple days. It depends on a variety of factors: The wood species may be different. The floors to be matched might not be real wood at all, like laminate flooring. The original color may have been applied in a factory. Sunlight exposure may have changed the original color. Also, your own definition of a color match might affect your satisfaction level. This is a very technical art form.