Okay lets get started with some basic types of hardwood floor finish products that could be used in your home, and add a wonderful new look to your home.

The first is the most common or has been until recent laws have been passed about using toxic chemicals. The solution is water based products we will go over this in just a few minutes, but first I want to tell you about oil based products. Oil base products depending on the manufacturer come in three shines.

First shine is flat and it is exactly what it sounds like flat. No shine and it looks like nothing was done to your floor. Hey some people like this look so if you’re into it then go for it.

Second is a semi gloss finish. It has a lot more life to it and it is not to shiny so you wont get the bowling alley effect if that’s what you want. Then you need the next finish that they make and that is high gloss and holy cow some times it is so shiny you can be blinded by it.

Oil base is ok but the least durable of the three types of finish I will be discussing today. It is also the most easy to use so most hardwood floor guys will tell you it’s the best and they will sell you on it.

The most durable was moisture cure and you could drive a tank on your wood floor and not see a mark. But this is not very safe.

Not really but you need a chemical mask so you don’t get sick. They had to cut down the finish because it was so bad for people the planet and everything else. It is still better than oil base even the cut down version. Although it is nothing like it used to be so they came up with some thing else my third finish and it is waterbase.

Listen you get what you pay for so I would only recommend pacific strong from bona kemi. Any one who say’s they used water base and that it didn’t hold up well they got the cheapest stuff they could find.


Listen water base is awesome and they even came out with water based products that are 10% harder then moisture cure. I think the new moisture cure not the old stuff but hey it is still strong but you don’t need that if its your house or rooms that never get anyone in them.

Water base is also much easier to fix if you scratch any part of your wood floor you can just spray some on and it will dry even. You could never do that back in the day.

You would need to re coat the whole job or room. That could be a nightmare and it has been for many people.

OK so let’s see if you have a house that gets a little traffic I would use oil base because it just looks good. Water base is much lighter and clear as oil is more orange and yellows over time.

I would stay away from moisture cure only if you have a dance studio or a bar you should get that stuff. You will have to shut down you business to. No one can breath that stuff in. You could use the strong water base but it does not drive very nicely.

Well I hope that you found this helpful, and I wish you luck with your new project. Take your time choosing the perfect hardwood floor finishing products and you will love the outcome.