Whats the difference between surface and penetrating finishes?
A surface finish of polyurethane forms a protective layer on the floor. You’ll get an extremely durable coating. It’s moisture- and wear-resistant and suitable for use on any floor in the home. Penetrating finishes do just what the name implies. They’re absorbed right into the floorboards and are then covered with a coat of floor wax. Penetrating finishes provide a good durable finish for any floor in the house, with the added benefit of being less costly to refinish—just remove the old wax and lay down a new coat. Is one finish better than the other? “Urethanes” are usually recommended for kitchens or other areas exposed to stains and spills. The downside to urethanes is that once they wear through, they’re more costly and time-consuming to refinish than woods finished with penetrating stains. Refinishing urethane requires sanding down to bare wood and then refinishing. What about prefinished hardwood flooring? Getting flooring that comes from the factory already finished means you’ll
