Hardwood Floor Finish

How To Determine Your Type

Knowing what type of hardwood floor finish is on your floors will determine how to clean and provide the best possible care for them.

Remember, you are caring for the finish that protects the wood, not the wood itself...

Take The Test

These simple steps will help you determine the finish on your wood floor:

Surface sealed finish (Polyurethan/Urethane), if the finish does not flake when scratched and white spots do not appear from drops of water, the floor has a surface finish.

Lacquered, shellaced or varnished wood floors installed, or serviced before the mid 60’s, will more than likely have a lacquer, varnish or shellac finish.

Using a coin or sharp object, scratch the surface of the floor (where it will not be noticed) and if the finish flakes your floor is lacquer, shellac or varnish protected.

Penetrating oil sealers or "wax" finish, apply a few drops of water behind a door or in a corner, if within 10 minutes white spots appear under the drops the floor has a wax finish.

Unfinished (untreated) hardwood flooring can be easily identified by wear pattern(s) on the wood and/or how it absorbs liquid/moisture. Simply drop one to two teaspoons of water on the surface of the wood, if it disappears you know the wood is unfinished, or the finish has worn off.

Bottom line, Protecting the finish on your floor depends on the care it is given... knowing what type you are dealing with will determine the best possible hardwood floor care for your wood floor.

Choosing the right products for maintaining your floors will make cleaning hardwood floors a breeze, and at the same time keep the "finish" on the wood well-protected and always looking like new!

You may also benefit from the tips on our web page how to clean hardwood floors. Take a look! I think you'll be glad you did.

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