Finish Types & Edge Profiles

 

Urethane Finish
These finishes go on thicker than water borne so less coats are needed.  This is the most common product used for unfinished floors installed in homes. Aging is common with this type of finish and can give a warm, amber tint, bringing out the natural beauty and grain of a particular wood species.

Aluminum Oxide Finish
This is a urethane based finish with an aluminum oxide & oxygen mixture added to make it one of the higher rated scratch resistance finishes. It also guards against oxidization and seals the board’s top surface to help lessen the effect of wood changing color overtime. This type of finish can only be applied at a manufacturing plant and cannot be applied on the jobsite. One of the hardest finishes today most commonly found on today's prefinished products. 

Oil Finish
Made of molecules small enough to seep down into the wood rather than merely sit on top. As a result, oil makes wood look richer and more translucent without adding a film on the surface. This also allows for the simplest methods when it comes to touchups. Oil finishes are recommended to use oil refreshers periodically to help keep the floor looking fresh and for lasting durability.

Lacquered Finish
Lacquered floors offer better durability than Oil floors, but still can provide a similar low sheen appearance for a natural wood look. This is becoming one of the more popular options with todays floors and requires very little maintenance.

 

Because wood can never be expected to have an exact cut on every piece, bevels were made to be applied to certain products. A typical wood product is meant to be installed with boards laying directly beside one another. When they butt up to one another, the heights are not always exactly the same height. This difference creates an area that can be noticable to view and even touch, which can cause premature wear on the higher edge. It can also be uncomfortable when stepping on that area while barefoot. So after an unfinished floor has been installed, and BEFORE a stain and finish is applied, the next step would be to lightly sand the floor. This will get rid of any height differences for a smooth feel throughout the floor. Since floors are also sold prefinished with the stain and finish already applied, sanding is not an option anymore. Because of this, bevels are cut onto the edge of the boards to avoid any height differences and to give the same comfortable feel after being installed. In some instances, a bevel will even be applied to an unfinished product for customers that prefer the beveled look. 

 

Square Edge
The edges of the boards are squared off leaving a uniformly flat surface giving a more formal look.

 

Full Bevel
Beveled edges have a deeper cut than a Micro Bevel or Eased Edge boards. This type also lends itself to a more informal look. This often looks good in a country décor.

 

Somewhat noticeable bevel and the most common among prefinished floors. Can also come as an "Eased Edge" which gives a rounded edge instead of the V Cut.