What Is A Sealed Hardwood Floor

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What is a sealed hardwood floor.

Hardwood flooring is sealed to protect the top surface of the wood but the floor is by no means waterproof. There are several different mixtures to use for hardwood floors and you ll. Shellac and lacquer finishes are sparingly used. Hardwood floors add a beautiful touch to just about any room but there s some debate about the best way to clean them.

Knowing how to stain and seal a hardwood floor properly pays off in having a beautiful finish and enduring protection. Sealing the wood protects the floor from moisture which is the floor s worst enemy. You also find the phrase used in instructions for steam mops which by the way should never be used on wood flooring of any type. Almost all hardwood floors are sealed even if the seal is just a coat of penetrating oil and a layer of paste wax.

The term sealed hardwood floors often comes up in reference to cleaning products or techniques for hardwood flooring. If it touches a seam try again with a smaller amount in another area. This is the most common type of wood floor. Pour a small amount on the wood.

As the name suggests sealants either cover the surface or penetrate into the wood. Gentle cleaners are best for any hardwood floor finish but oiled and waxed floors require a type of care you don t need to lavish on hard surface finishes. Engineered wood flooring looks very similar on the surface but it is made from a relatively thin layer of hardwood bonded over a substrate of high quality plywood. Apart from these finishes hardwood floors may either be simply coated with wax or varnish.

Sealed floors have been coated with a protective top coat such as varnish or polyurethane. Many newer homes today have sealed hardwood floors. If it stands for 5 minutes without soaking in your hardwood floors are sealed. However if the bead of water sinks down into the floor and makes a spot the sealant on your floors is no longer sound and water damage can and will occur.

It usually made of a hardwood species such as oak maple or walnut and its major advantage is that it can be sanded and refinished many times over the course of its lifespan. Staining and sealing hardwood floors the right way whether you re refinishing refurbishing or stripping the wood floor results in years of enjoyment. They can be shiny high gloss or have a matte finish. Protip don t do this in the middle of the floor where you could stare at it for a few days.

In this discussion we will talk about a couple of tests you can do to see if your hardwood floors are sealed.