Hardwood Floor Polish

How would a person know how to select the most suitable hardwood floor polish from hundreds of brands and types available on the open market? What type of hardwood floor polish is the most durable and what type of hardwood floor polish is the most natural looking? How do you correctly apply hardwood floor polish? How do you maintain a wooden floor that was sealed or polished with a water based hardwood floor polish? How do you prepare the surface for polishing? Most people haven't got a clue about any of the preparation and application methods but they still proceed to apply the sealer. In this article we will explain the whole process in detail and we will make it clear what products do what and how to transform your hardwood floors from a dull and tired looking finish into an elegant and fully protected finish. 

Hardwood Floor Polish | What Is A Hardwood Floor Polish?

Most hardwood floors and most semi solid or engineered wood floors are sealed with some type of sealer to protect the wood from getting damaged by the daily traffic and the elements. Some real wood floors are sealed with a water based or a solvent based floor lacquer while other types of floors are sealed with a floor oil or some kind of hardwax oil. We want to make it clear from the start that all water based floor polishes are compatible with lacquered floors only and cannot be used on an oiled floor. There are a few waterborne floor sealers that can be used on both, but not many. So the point of this article is to explain the differences between a number of water based wood floor polishes that can be applied to all wooden floors that were sealed with a “water based or a solvent based floor lacquer”. A wood floor polish is basically a diluted floor lacquer that can be used to refresh, restore or protect pre-existing finishes. The wood floor polish is usually thinner than a floor lacquer and much easier to spread with a flat mopping system. Also, a water based wood floor polish will dry much faster and it is much cheaper than a floor lacquer. Less surface preparation is also required to be able to apply a wood floor polish than a floor lacquer. While there are hundreds of brands of wood floor polishes that are available online, most of them are similar products that can somehow restore, refresh or protect your wooden floors. Some wood floor polishes are 100% matt, other wood floor polishes are satin finish while others are high gloss. Some wood floor polishes will create a rich wet finish while others will maintain the natural look of your floors. The main differences between most of the wood floor polishes is the content and the level of sheen. 

Hardwood Floor Polish | How To Select The Best Wood Floor Polish?

Before even considering spending your hard earned money on a professional quality water based wood floor polish, you need to assess your own floors and decide what type of finish is on it right now and what way you want it to look after the floor is polished. Also essential is to see what type of traffic takes place on the wood floor and what type of daily maintenance is used. We can classify all types of wood floor polishes into 3 distinct categories:

1. Protectors | If you just had your hardwood floors restored or if you just had new floors installed but you are worried that all the future traffic could destroy the original look of the floor sooner than you would like, you could protect the pre-existing finish with a water based wood floor polish that works as a protector. Basically, you can find a product that has the same level of sheen as the pre-existing finish and you could add a few extra coats of wood floor polish to increase the wood floors resistance to marking, scratching and staining. The floors original protector is protected by an extra few coats of sealer. This extra protection can only be done on hardwood floors that are still in great shape and do not require any extra refinishing. 

2. Sheen Enhancers | Some people that are not happy with the level of gloss on their floors could easily increase or decrease the sheen with one of the numerous water based wood floor polishes. If a hardwood floor is too matt and hard to clean, the owner of that floor could buy a semi gloss or a glossy wood floor polish and polish it. One or two coats of a high gloss floor polish on a matt and dull looking hardwood floor could totally transform the look of the floor and make the floor nice and glossy. If the floor is too glossy and it creates an annoying mirror effect, the level of gloss can be dramatically reduced with 1-2 coats of extra matt wood floor polish. Another reason why some people might try to increase or decrease the sheen of a floor is to facilitate easy maintenance. A flat mop is likely to slide smoother on a polished and sealed wood floor. 

3. Repairs | Some floors that have lost their protection in patches due to intense traffic, poor quality cleaning products or whatever other reason, can be restored with a polyurethane or acrylic based wood floor polish. The repairing type of wood floor polishes are thicker and capable of re-glazing the floor and filling up all kinds of scratches and rough patches. The repair wood floor polishes are also available in a number of finishes and sheen levels. It can only be used on hardwood surfaces that are still in a decent shape but for one reason or another have lost a bit of their original finish and have scratched in places. Our company sells a number of wood floor polishes that can really restore and rejuvenate most types of hardwood floors. Wood floors that look hopelessly damaged can be brought up to top notch conditions in no time.

Before ordering any water based wood floor polish from an online shop or from a normal shop, you should be fully aware of all the options and all the finishes available. Do not use solvent based sealers if you are likely to have to strip it off over time or if you are not into artificial looking wood floors. A solvent wood floor polish cannot be removed without having to sand up the floor. 

Hardwood Floor Polish | Preparation

Before applying any type of sealer to any type of wood surface, the user has to make sure that the surface is compatible with the water based wood floor polish, that the wood floor is grease free and spotless. While the wood floor polish might attach to the surface initially, it might exfoliate over time if the surface is not 100% spotless. Also, the surface should be dry and stain free. To deep clean any hardwood surface, the user can use a number of different hardwood floor cleaners with different levels of strength. If the hardwood looks very dirty, it has to be done with heavy duty alkaline floor cleaners that are capable of safely removing the dirt without negatively affecting the wood sealer. If the hardwood floors are a decent shape without clearly visible markings and stains, it can be washed with a good quality wood floor cleaner and degreaser with a lower PH level. The idea is to deep clean the floor without having to use very strong cleaning products that can create porosity on the floor. 

The next step is to make sure that the floor is washed with as little water as possible. Using a lot of water to deep clean or maintain hardwood floors can be very bad for the hardwood and it can cause a lot of permanent damage on the wood surface. Tiny amounts of water should be used and all excess water should be removed within a few seconds. Before proceeding to the actual polishing of the hardwood floor the user has to make sure that the wood is fully dry on the top and on the side. If the hardwood floor polish is applied to a wet surface, it might attach for the moment but it could dry cloudy and patchy. 

Hardwood Floor Polish | The Application

Each type or brand of wood floor polish has a different level of coverage. Before even starting sealing or polishing the wood floors, the applicator has to make sure that there is enough product available to cover the whole area. The final coverage area could be affected by the condition of the wood, the type of wood, the type of wood floor polish and the way it is applied. We recommend the use of flat mop heads and short hair microfiber applicator heads. The floor should be sealed with a thin coat of the product making sure that there are no patches or missed areas. It is better to do a second coat instead of doing a very thick coat of wood floor polish that could take a very long time to dry. The wood floor polish should be applied at a low speed, moving from the wall into the direction of the door and moving along the fiber of the wood and not against it. The second coat, if required, should only be applied after the first coat is fully dried. Do not walk on the surface while the floor is drying and do not use air blowers or fans until the floor has developed a glazing and the wood floor polish is about 50% dry. Blowing air on a wet wood floor could create waves on the wood floor polish.

Hardwood Floor Polish I Maintenance

Now that your hardwood or semi solid wood floor has been restored and it looks brand new, you want to keep it that way for as long as possible. While the wood floor polish is very durable and it can last for many years even under a lot of traffic, there are a few things that could easily affect the finish. Avoid washing your hardwood floors with any other types of floor cleaning products besides the proper wood floor cleaners. Do not drag heavy items on newly polished hardwood floors, keep pets away from the floors, do not put plants pots directly on the floor and do not use a lot of water to wash your floors. Use a flat mopping system for your daily cleaning and maintenance routine.

Below, we will list a number of products that are highly recommended for polishing and restoring new or old floors. The type of wood floor polish you buy should tick a lot of boxes and you should pay attention to what you buy and how you plan to use it. 

Cleanfast Floor Polish 25% Acrylic I By far one of the most durable and most cost effective water based floor polishes in Ireland. This outstanding wood floor polish is mostly used to restore and rejuvenate high traffic commercial wood floors and badly worn residential wood floors.The product will create a high level of gloss and it will fill up small scratches and imperfections. One coat will do the job in most cases but two coats are also possible. This particular type of water based wood floor polish responds very well to high speed burnishing with a white floor pad. The Cleanfast Floor Polish 25% Acrylic is a thick wood floor polish with a high level of acrylic content. The product will glaze the surface and it will provide outstanding protection against all types of use. 

Carver Pronto Wood Floor Polish I A low cost but highly effective wood floor polish highly recommended for sealing and protecting all types of lacquered and varnished hardwood floors that are likely to be exposed to a lot of daily traffic. The product is not really suitable for repairing pre-existing damage but it does a great job at protecting the surfaces and preventing new damage. The new Carver Pronto Wood Floor Polish is a water based wood floor protector that has to be applied in a two coats system over a clean and dry surface. It responds very well to burnishing with a white floor pad. It can be applied over pre-existing water based or solvent finishes assuming that the right surface preparation was done. To be applied with a flat mopping system in thin coats. Not affected by the UV light or intense daily traffic. A non glazing wood floor polish that maintains the natural aspect of the wood.

Bona Wood Floor Polish I Probably the most well known and the most widely used water based wood floor polish in the world. The amazing Bona Wood Floor Polish is a thin non glazing water based wood floor polish that is available in a matt finish and a glossy finish. The product is a protector that maintains the natural look of the wood without creating surface glazing or artificial looking finishes. The amazing Bona Wood Floor Polish is suitable for polishing and sealing all types of light commercial and residential hardwood floors that were sealed with a water based or a solvent based finish. The matt option is literally invisible but it does a great job at preventing permanent damage to the top coat and at waterproofing the surface. The glossy option will create a slight wet look finish that will facilitate easy maintenance and it will also create a beautiful finish. The product will fill up all kinds of micro erosions and it will prevent stainings from happening. Use the new Bona Wood Floor Polish once every 6 months to maintain the floor in top condition. 

Bona Freshen Up | A polyurethane based wood floor protector and wood floor sealer compatible with all water based and oil based floor lacquers. The product is mostly used to rejuvenate and refresh matt and dull looking floors. Highly durable, non yellowing, fume free and very easy to apply. The new Bona Freshen Up will recoat your wooden floor with a high gloss coat of wood polish. It protects the wood against daily traffic, spills and superficial scratches. Unlike other types of wood floor polishes from Bona, the new Bona Freshen Up, will make your floors really glossy and it can be overcoated with all types of professional finishes in the future. Bona Freshen Up has to be applied in a two coats system over a clean and dry wood surface. Even with its high gloss finish, the amazing Bona Freshen Up is not slippery at all and it can be used on all wooden floors that are exposed to high commercial traffic. It contains no wax, it has great self leveling qualities and it is one of the most popular wood floor polishes from the Bona range. It can also be used to seal and protect wood wall panels, furniture and other types of real wood surfaces. Have your floors sealed and restored in no time with a high gloss wood floor polish from Bona.

Tover Lux I This product is manufactured from a blend of natural waxes and it can be used as a protector or refresher on all varnished and oiled floors. Safe to use on clear or coloured oiled floors that over a prolonged period of time have lost their sheen and look dull and patchy. Tover Lux has a matt finish, is fume free, does not yellow and it can be used on all commercial and residential wooden floors. It repairs small scratches, it restores dull patches and it rejuvenates all types of real wood surfaces. The product is available in a clear and a white option. To be applied with a flat mopping system over a clean and dry surface. Tover Lux covers around 30 sq meters per 1 L but the actual coverage area will vary from floor to floor. It does not create artificial finishes and it is 100% pet safe. One wood floor polish and one wood floor restorer for all kinds of oiled or lacquered wooden floors.

Bona Wood Floor Refresher I Wax free wood floor restorer and wood floor refresher from Bona. The new Bona Wood Floor Refresher is a high traffic water based wood floor refresher compatible with all varnished and lacquered wooden floors. The product can be applied before the floor is exposed to traffic to create an extra protective layer or it can be used for repairing and rejuvenating old and worn wooden floors. It will recoat the wooden floor with a matt coat of high traffic protector that will increase your floors life expectancy dramatically. The amazing Bona Wood Floor Refresher can be successfully used on all types of low, medium and high traffic wooden floors. The product will maintain the natural aspect of the wood without creating artificial finishes or coatings. 100% polyurethane based, non yellowing, fume free and very easy to apply. One of the most popular and most widely used wood floor polishes in the world. To achieve the maximum protection please make sure that the wood surface is clean, dry and residue free. Apply  two coats of the new Bona Wood Floor Refresher while moving along with the fiber of the wood. It responds very well to burnishing with a high speed floor buffer. The product is ready to use and it does not require any extra dilution. Not compatible with oiled or waxed wooden floors. 

Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack I A proper wood floor polish with top quality advantages. The new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack is basically a liquid lacquer that can and will repair all kinds of dull patches, medium and light scratches, stains and other damage caused by UV light or chemicals. The new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack is 100% polyurethane based, it is self leveling and its thick composition will really help fill up all the visible scratches. A professional wood floor polish highly appreciated by the commercial and residential floor polishing industry. The new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack has a superior coverage area, it dries in no time and it looks outstanding. The product is designed to seal, protect and refresh all kinds of commercial and residential wooden floors that were sealed or refinished with a water based or a solvent based floor lacquer. The product will create a high gloss finish and it responds very well to burnishing with a white pad. Apply the amazing Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack over a clean, dry and residue free wood surface. While in most cases the floor will be fully restored within 1 coat, two coats can be done without any problems. Apply the new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack with a flat mopping system and a short hair microfiber pad. This product is fume free, non yellowing and it will protect your floors for many years to come. Based on nanotechnology, the new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Lack is one of the most advanced wood floor polishes available in Europe.

Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Matt I If you are the lucky owner of a real wood hardwood floor that was sealed with a water based or a solvent based wood floor lacquer, then you can really enjoy the benefits of the amazing Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Matt. This water based wood floor polish is 100% matt, quick drying and it is not affected by UV light. It can be used to restore, repair and protect all kinds of wooden floors, tiles, plastic floors and natural stone floors. The product is polyurethane based, it has no sheen and it will instanly repair dull patches and light scratches. To be applied with a flat mopping system over a clean and dry surface. 1 L of the new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Matt will cover up to 50 square meters of floor. It can be applied in one or more coats. The product will maintain the natural look of the wood while allowing natural ventilation. A great solution for all those floors exposed to a lot of daily traffic, a lot of spills, leaks, friction and other things. The new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Mat has made history all over the world because of its simplicity to apply, its unique looks and its durability. A wood floor polish that should not be missing from any floor cleaning company van. The new Chimiver Velurex Re-Pair Matt can also be used to glaze and add extra protection to already polished wooden floors. It can be easily removed with a normal floor stripper. 

Each one of the wood floor polishes, wood floor sealers and wood floor refreshers listed above look the same but they achieve different results. Some will seal and leave the wood floor as natural as possible, some will repair and create a wet look, some will create a high gloss look, some will glaze the surface to repair dull patches, some dry fast, some dry slow, some respond to buffing while some don't. Each one of these wood floor polishes will do exactly as they say they will do if they are used as recommended by the manufacturers. Using a professional quality wood floor polish to seal, protect and rejuvenate your hardwood floors can really increase your floors life expectancy, it can facilitate easy maintenance and it can keep your wooden floors looking great for years. If you are not happy with the way your hardwood floors look or if you are looking for a way to increase or decrease the level of sheen, call us or email us today. We are available and happy to deal with any special requirements.

Wood Floor Polish