I was just reading an article on the benefits of wood sealer from one of our suppliers and thought it pertinent to share. The article was originally posted here. It goes to say…
There is a balance in creating a perfect finish that is both durable and beautiful. Maintaining this balance can often make the difference between a masterpiece that brings a room together, or a disaster that requires hours of work and tons of money to fix. It all starts with choosing and applying the right sealer. When you properly seal your hardwood floors, you lay the foundation for creating a stunning appearance that will stand the test of time. Here are a few reasons why sealing your hardwood floor is so important.
Prevents Reactions to the Wood from the Finish
This is one of the most undeniable benefits of wood sealer. You spend time and money putting down the perfect hardwood flooring. You chose the perfect hardwood and the installation was a breeze. You apply the finish but do not seal. Disaster strikes. Instead of bringing your room together, they are an eyesore you are embarrassed to show to your family and friends. How could this disaster have been prevented? When you seal your hardwood floors correctly, you prevent the wood from reacting with the finish. The chemicals in the finish can damage the wood and leave your beautiful hardwood floors looking like a beautiful mess.
Prevents Particles from the Wood Mixing with the Finish
One of the best qualities of hardwood flooring is its natural beauty. You selected hardwood flooring for your home or business because of its organic qualities. Because it was once alive, it still possesses plant particles that can be pulled out of its structure. These tannins and extractives can mix with the finish. When they mix together, the extracts can cause the finish to discolor and even prevent it from adhering to the wood. This is especially true if you are using wood that is oily in nature. By sealing your hardwood flooring, you can prevent the rich, desired color from changing, and by using a sealant you will ensure that the finish binds with the wood.
Builds a Solid Base for the Finish
When you apply a finish to untreated wood, it will soak into the wood. This soaking effect can not only damage your hardwood floors, but it can also increase the amount of finish you need to complete the job. By sealing the wood first, you supply a base for the finish to sit upon. With the finish sitting on top of the wood, there is a barrier that is created between the floor and the finish. This barrier helps to protect the wood from damage and increases the life of the finish. Not to mention that the less finish you use, the less money you will have to pay to get the desired result you are looking for.
Helps Produce the Perfect Color
This is probably one of the most important benefits of wood sealer to the homeowner. The appearance and color of the hardwood can easily change during the staining and refinishing process. For this reason, using a sealer is imperative to achieving the desired color. Using a sealer gives you several options for how you want your hardwood floor to look. Sealers can be used to change or preserve the natural color of your wood floors. They can also be used to give your wood a three-dimensional look that cannot be accomplished by using finish alone. With the expanding number of paint options available for walls, homeowners are equally looking for numerous color options for their floors. Using a sealer allows for greater diversification of color options. Color options from greys and rich blacks to whitewash and natural are now available because of sealers.
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We agree, if you want to have the best-looking hardwood floors, it is important that you use a sealer. Sealing the wood helps to protect it from damage, increases the life of the finish, and allows you a greater range of color options to choose from. By properly sealing your hardwood, you will save time, money and will allow you to bring out the rich natural look of your floors.
We hope you enjoyed this article and if you have more questions, do feel free to contact us. We will be happy to assist.