Nothing is more important to the longevity of your wood floor than the proper sealers. This goes for all floors – wood, vinyl, tile, etc. – but wood is of primary concern.
1. Oil: In days long past wood floors were oiled. This was especially true for grocery stores and other small commercial outfits. Oil sealed the pores so that dirt and water wood not penetrate the wood and promote rot. Besides, it was more sanitary, especially for butcher shops. At the end of the day damp sawdust was sprinkled on the floor and this absorbed the dirt. But the floor always looked dirty even when it was clean.
2. Wax: Wax can be used on raw floors without first sealing them. A solvent-based wax – never water – is rubbed into the floor and then and buffed with a power polisher. For the first coat the wax is mixed with a small portion of mineral spirits to penetrate the wood. The buffing not only hardens the surface but helps the wax penetrate the pores. Waxed floors are high-maintenance and many homeowners in the 1960’s covered them with wall-to-wall carpet.
3. Polyurethane: This is the most used sealer of all and comes in both oil-based and water-based products. The oil-based polyurethane takes longer to dry and promotes a “yellowing” of the floor. However. it makes for a longer-lasting finish. The water-based can be re-coated in 3 – 4 hours so that more coats can be put on in a shorter period of time.
Some homeowners even seal floors which are pre-finished. This will void the warranty but wood floor warranties aren’t as important as a car warranty unless the installer puts it down wrong. Then it is the installer who has to pay for it.
