{"id":1040,"date":"2014-10-17T08:44:49","date_gmt":"2014-10-17T08:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/napervillehardwood.com\/blog\/?p=1040"},"modified":"2026-01-07T04:35:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:35:17","slug":"how-to-choose-a-hardwood-floor-finish-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/napervillehardwood.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-hardwood-floor-finish-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a Hardwood Floor Finish \u2013 Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the final article in a 4 part series where we\u2019ve been discussing how to choose between ALL the hardwood floor finishes out there. This is obviously an issue with many people because I\u2019ve had quite a few messages about when this final article to the series would be ready\u2026 sorry for the delay over the holidays and thank you for your patience.<\/p>\n

\"Choose<\/p>\n

In the last article<\/a> we compared all of the finish systems side-by-side and ended up choosing the 3 best by process of elimination. But that still leaves the field pretty wide open as there are many different brands and products among those three groups.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In this article we will talk about the good and bad points of these 3 finish systems and reveal our recommendations for what we feel are the current top finishes in each category from our hands on, real world experience.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

High-End Single Component Water Based Finish:<\/h4>\n

As we talked about at the start of this series of articles, high-end water based finish systems are on the cutting edge of technology and are among the most durable finishes available. But let\u2019s go through the minor drawbacks of these finishes so you have the full picture.<\/p>\n

One downside to water based finishes is the color if you have Red Oak floors. If you just apply a clear water base finish to Red Oak it can look dull, flat and lifeless. So your floor will need to be stained first \u2014 either natural or in a color of your choice.<\/p>\n

White Oak, on the other hand, can look great in it’s natural state with a waterborne finish on top and no stain.<\/p>\n

Here’s a project we did not long ago with an ultra-matte water based finish over White Oak…<\/p>\n

\"White<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another downside to high-end water based finishes is the price. These are among the most expensive finishes. Our wholesale price for a gallon of high-end finish is in the triple digits\u2014compared to say maybe $30.00 for cheap \u201chandyman\u201d finish.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re also far more challenging to apply because of their extremely fast drying times. This means if your finisher isn\u2019t an expert at applying them and he messes a coat up, the entire floor will have to be re-sanded (meaning more flooring removed) and the finish reapplied from scratch.<\/p>\n

Now for the good points\u2026<\/p>\n

Like we\u2019ve already discussed, these high-end finishes are very durable, they provides a very nice build layer and they\u2019re very easy to clean and look after.<\/p>\n

They come with the option of multiple sheen levels. You have a choice between matte, satin, semi-gloss and gloss with most finish systems. Some even have ultra-matte option like the photo of the White Oak above.<\/p>\n

Below is a water based finish in satin sheen..<\/p>\n

\"Spice<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another huge benefit they have is they don\u2019t have the horrible fumes all the other solvent and oil based finishes have (although the stain and sealer will have a slight odor to them if they\u2019re used).<\/p>\n

They also have built in UV inhibitors, so they won\u2019t change color anywhere near as quickly as the oil based finishes.<\/p>\n

\"Pallmann<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our Choice:<\/i><\/h6>\n

After years of testing dozens of professional quality finish systems we have decided on a product from a German company with 120+ years experience in hardwood floor finishes called Pallmann. We\u2019ve been using Pallmann for many years now and have completed close to 100 projects with their waterbased finish systems in the last 12 months.<\/p>\n

The single component finish we use and recommend to our clients is called Pallmann Pall-X Power<\/strong>. We\u2019re convinced this is the best single component water based finish on the market today.<\/p>\n

These are some of the benefits of this finish system:<\/p>\n