Going for Timber Floor Staining Services in Melbourne? First, know about staining types so that you get the best one.    

Water-Based Polyurethane

Best for: Clear finish that dries out quickly

Pros: Easy to apply and clean. Has fewer odors and contains low VOCs. It provides a smooth and shiny finish without yellowing.

Cons: High-gloss magnifies scratches and scrapes.

Water-based polyurethane looks milky and dries out in a few minutes. The best part about this finish is that it doesn’t get yellow over time. If you don’t like those high-gloss floors, go for satin and semi-gloss options. This water-based finish is made with synthetic resins and plasticizers, which offer durability that prevents moisture.   

Oil-Based Polyurethane

Best for High-traffic places

Pros: Affordable, durable, opposes moisture, and can be maintained easily.

Cons: Dries slowly, highly flammable, releases VOCs and turns yellow over time.

Oil-based polyurethane contains linseed oil, plasticizers, and synthetic resins. The biggest reason behind the popularity of this finish in Residential Floor Polishing and Sanding Company in Melbourne is the utmost durability and strength. That’s why it’s considered the best floor finish type for the high-traffic areas

Moisture-Cure Urethane

Best for Toughest floor finish demands

Pros: Extremely resilient

Cons: Difficult to apply and produces extremely high VOCs

This finish is extremely tough and provides utmost durability along with high shine. You can easily resist scratches, moisture, stains, and wearing. Its difficult application makes it non-suitable for DIY, but a perfect one for professional flooring service. Also, VOCs produced by the finishing can remain in the air for hours or weeks.

Wax

Best for Low-shine floor demands

Pros: Can be applied easily and gives a nice finish. It can provide some odor or VOCs. The materials get penetrated inside the wood deeply and suitable for combining with the stains. It dries easily within a few hours.

Cons: No durable, darkens or turns yellow over time, and labor-intensive.

Before the invention of polyurethane finish, the wax was the famous hardwood finish. Even to date, the wax is preferred by many residential and commercial property owners. Many people choose this method when it comes to DIYing their floor. The low-shine and natural appearance make it the first choice of many people. The wax finish can be found in liquid and paste form, which requires multiple coatings to provide that smooth finish.

Shellac

Best for Non-VOCs emission and natural product floors. It dries out easily.

Pros: Most sustainable, natural, easy to touch up or repair, and sticks perfectly to the tropical woods.

Cons: Extremely flammable, could be a bit difficult to apply evenly, not much durable, and you have to mix it freshly before applying it to the floor.

Shellac is made from denatured alcohol which is mixed with secretions of lac bug. This bug is found in Asia, used to seal and finish the hardwood for many (probably 100) years. Shellac dries out to a beautiful orange tint with a high-gloss finish. You can also tint or bleach it by mixing extra denatured alcohol for a perfect matte look.

Now choose the best finish for timber floor staining services in Melbourne.