Because wood is a fibrous, organic material,
hardwood floors must be sealed to protect the wood from moisture, stains, scratches and everyday wear and tear
. Most wood flooring receives a stain before it is sealed with a protective finish.
How do I know if my hardwood floors are sealed?
To tell if your wood floor is sealed, find an inconspicuous area,
dab a drop of water on the surface
, and see if it soaks in or beads on top. If the water drop beads on top of the wood, your floor is sealed. Surface-sealed floors are stain and water-damage resistant and easiest to clean.
Is sealer necessary for wood floors?
Most unfinished hardwood floors require
one coat of sealer
and at least two coats of protectant finishing. Sealing is very important, especially under polyurethane finishes, because it seals the wood and helps to prevent panelization; the separation of groups of boards from others or from the rest of the floor.
How often do hardwood floors need to be resealed?
Generally, you should recoat
every 3-5 years
, depending on the amount of use your floors see. You’ll know it’s time to recoat when the floor looks dull and there are light scratches in the finish that aren’t removed by a deep clean and polish.
Can you leave hardwood floors unfinished?
Most hardwood floors are stained some color that enriches and deepens the natural color of the wood. … It’s not as common as it used to be, but
you can leave the floor unfinished
. These are often called raw floors or bare floors. Stains and finishes keep out dirt and moisture, though.
Can I use a steam mop on hardwood floors?
Avoid Using a Steam Mop on Wood
Although it may be tempting to deep clean your hardwood floors with a steam mop, don’t. “Drastic temperature changes and moisture may warp the wood,” says Steve Stocki, manager of marketing and merchandising at Lumber Liquidators.
What is the best way to seal hardwood floors?
Use a
brush or roller to apply a coat of polyurethane finish
. Follow the grain of the wood when applying the polyurethane. Let the first coat dry for six to eight hours. Polyurethane is durable and provides a glass-smooth finish that will protect your floor.
What is the most popular finish for hardwood floors?
Water-Based Polyurethane
Arguably the most popular surface finish for hardwood flooring, water-based polyurethane provides a clear finish and has the traditional hardwood look and feel.
How do I protect my hardwood floors from bare?
Now the floor has been prepared, it must be sealed with either a
wood floor lacquer or wood floor oil
. The choice of oil or lacquer (sometimes known as varnish), is completely your choice. A lacquer or varnish will provide a smooth finish to your wooden floor and is available in either a matt or semi-matt appearance.
What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?
If I had to pick an ideal time, I would say
spring or fall
when the indoor temperature is most consistent with outdoor temperature and it’s often easy to open the windows (after the work is complete) to help air out the smell faster. But, really, sanding and refinishing hardwood can take place any time of year.
How long does Polyurethane last on hardwood floors?
What a new coat of polyurethane does is it adds another layer of protection to your floors, extending the life of the floors usually for another
3-5 years
. Doing this every 4-6 years will prevent you from ever having to fully refinishing your floors again. Don’t wait until it is too late and “wear” begins to show.
How messy is refinishing hardwood floors?
If your hardwood floors are scratched and dull, you can bring them back to their former beauty by refinishing them. One major drawback of refinishing wood floors is the dust that is produced. Cleanup after your floors have been sanded can also be a nightmare. …
What do unfinished wood floors look like?
Unfinished flooring is
raw wood with no beveled edges
. When unfinished hardwood flooring is sanded and finished on site, there are no lines in between the boards, and you will get a perfectly flat, smooth floor.
Can you leave oak flooring unfinished?
Unfinished oak flooring is more natural and raw. You can order it like that and apply a finish of your own later. Or,
you can keep it unfinished
. Nevertheless, either finished, pre-finished or unfinished, wood flooring needs careful maintenance.
What do you put on unfinished hardwood floors?
Using water or harsh cleaners on these floors will warp the wood or cause discoloration. However, there are three highly effective products that will help to sanitize and clean your unfinished wood flooring
— mineral spirits, white vinegar and Murphy’s Oil Soap
.
